Why boats sink at the dock
 

In another post I listed Boat/US reasons for boats sinking underway.

The top reasons for boats sinking at the dock a

Where the Water Came From
:
Reason Percentage
Underwater Fittings: 50%
Rain and Snow: 32%
Fittings Above the Waterline: 9%
Poor Docking Arrangements: 8%
Other: 1%

Underwater fittings include : "In 50% of the dockside sinking claims, water
found its way into the bilge through leaks at underwater fittings. The
majority of the leaks were at stuffing boxes (12), followed by outdrive or
shift bellows (11), failed hoses or hose clamps (eight), sea strainers
(four), and drain plugs (four).

There were two sinkings each from air conditioning fittings, gate valves,
transducers, mounting bolts, and mufflers. One boat went to the bottom as a
result of a leaking speedometer impeller. It is certainly possible that more
than one fitting had been leaking. "

An interesting note concerning claims due to rainwater/snow was:

"Water falling from the sky, either rain, snow, or sleet, accounted for a
whopping 32% of the sinking claims. Everybody has seen a rowboat or two
awash, so this shouldn't be a surprise. What may be startling is that all of
the claims involved boats with self-bailing cockpits that should have shed
the water overboard."

"The real ME" wrote
"Water falling from the sky, either rain, snow, or sleet, accounted for
a
whopping 32% of the sinking claims. Everybody has seen a rowboat or two
awash, so this shouldn't be a surprise. What may be startling is that all
of
the claims involved boats with self-bailing cockpits that should have shed
the water overboard."

No surprise there. The self-bailing design is only intended to clear the
partially enclosed cockpit from wash over the gunnels or transom. Many or
most of the engine compartment and/or bilge-access hatches are either not
waterproof, or develop leaks over time. Sitting unattended for two or three
months of winter rains is more than enough for any slow leak to claim it's
victim.

Jack

Jack,

The problem I have seen is the scuppers get clogged with leaves or trash and
the water then floods into the engine compartment or bilge.


"Jack Painter" wrote in message
news:Ih97e.7012$5J3.5861@lakeread01...

"The real ME" wrote
"Water falling from the sky, either rain, snow, or sleet, accounted for
a
whopping 32% of the sinking claims. Everybody has seen a rowboat or two
awash, so this shouldn't be a surprise. What may be startling is that all
of
the claims involved boats with self-bailing cockpits that should have
shed
the water overboard."

No surprise there. The self-bailing design is only intended to clear the
partially enclosed cockpit from wash over the gunnels or transom. Many or
most of the engine compartment and/or bilge-access hatches are either not
waterproof, or develop leaks over time. Sitting unattended for two or
three
months of winter rains is more than enough for any slow leak to claim it's
victim.

Jack

Jack,


The problem I have seen is the scuppers get clogged with leaves or
trash and
the water then floods into the engine compartment or bilge.


****

Precisely.

My boat may yet be sunk by a maple tree, 30 feet from the water.
There's a big maple tree
near my slip. In autumn, the leaves blow in behind the bulwarks and
tend to collect atop the scuppers. I check the boat every couple of
days when I'm not actively using it, and I have arrived to find a *lot*
of water accumulated on deck after one of the fall monsoons moves
through.

Ah yes, the Seattle dilema: Covered moorage inside the locks (adding up
to six hours combined waiting time on a busy summer weekend), or open
moorage outside. :-)

Harry,
And make sure birds can't perch under it either. :-)
I lived on Lake St. Clair for a time, I had a seawall with 7 feet of
water there. My neighbor to the left of me had a covered boat lift, but
it was cut into the land on one side, his property line was about 25
feet more into the lake. One day I was talking with my neighbor to the
right, I was admiring our neighbor's boat hoist and inquired what he
thought it might cost. He replied about $15K, (it was a while ago), I
told him I didn't think that was too bad. He said "Yeah, I had one just
like it till one spring the ice flows took it away. Then he told me that
they're not insurable for ice damage. Sure changed any plans I was
thinking about.
Paul


Harry Krause wrote:

Get yourself a covered slip. Keeps most of the crap off the boat, keeps
the UV off the boat.

"Paul Schilter" ""paulschilter\"@comcast dot net" wrote in message
...
Harry,

[snip]

Harry Krause wrote:

Get yourself a covered slip. Keeps most of the crap off the boat, keeps
the UV off the boat.

What did you do Krause, look up on the internet how UV is bad for boats?

LOL!

--
-Netsock

"It's just about going fast...that's all..."
http://home.columbus.rr.com/ckg/

"Netsuck" wrote in message
...
Netsock wrote:
"Paul Schilter" ""paulschilter\"@comcast dot net" wrote in message
...

Harry,


[snip]


Harry Krause wrote:


Get yourself a covered slip. Keeps most of the crap off the boat, keeps
the UV off the boat.


What did you do Krause, look up on the internet how UV is bad for boats?

LOL!




Hmmm. It's Netsock, but this time he's not using the anonymizer he's been
using lately.

This is the same Netsock who a few years ago after a bit of posting
annoyance dared us to get his ISP at OSU to cancel his account, and also
the same Netsock who posts with the ID of other posters here.

This is the same Netsock who gets to drive his daddy's jetboat once in a
while.

This is the same Harry Krause who single handedly ruined this NG with his
21,000 OT posts and his constant stalking and personal attacks of members
here.

On Thu, 14 Apr 2005 08:36:01 -0400, Netsuck wrote:

Netsock wrote:
"Paul Schilter" ""paulschilter\"@comcast dot net" wrote in message
...

Harry,


[snip]


Harry Krause wrote:


Get yourself a covered slip. Keeps most of the crap off the boat, keeps
the UV off the boat.


What did you do Krause, look up on the internet how UV is bad for boats?

LOL!




Hmmm. It's Netsock, but this time he's not using the anonymizer he's
been using lately.

This is the same Netsock who a few years ago after a bit of posting
annoyance dared us to get his ISP at OSU to cancel his account, and also
the same Netsock who posts with the ID of other posters here.

This is the same Netsock who gets to drive his daddy's jetboat once in a
while.

Who's always bitching about fake names?
--
John H

"All decisions are the result of binary thinking."

UV will degrade just about everything, including asphalt.

Most plastics if not protected by a UV block of some sort will degrade
fairly quickly.


"Netsock" wrote in message
...

"Paul Schilter" ""paulschilter\"@comcast dot net" wrote in message
...
Harry,

[snip]

Harry Krause wrote:

Get yourself a covered slip. Keeps most of the crap off the boat, keeps
the UV off the boat.

What did you do Krause, look up on the internet how UV is bad for boats?

LOL!

--
-Netsock

"It's just about going fast...that's all..."
http://home.columbus.rr.com/ckg/