They will sink fast

[Joshua Nichols]

My friend sunk his 36ft twin engine cabin cruiser.. All from losing a bellows clamp we assume.. You would think after dumping out tons of cash for repair and maintenance he wouldn't of had such issues.. BTW company who did the work is now outta business.. I wonder why
Also.. Paid someone to get the boat cleaned up and ready to go out.. Well they removed all the life jackets to clean it up and didn't put them back on.. He didn't check and bam.. By the end of it all they are floating on coolers and cushions from the boat..

Do a safety check before you get on any vessel.. Yours or your friends.. The big boys will sink like a stone too..

You had repair work performed?? Check for issues.. Don't assume they did it correctly since ya gave them a couple of grand to do it..

Hey a quick look into the bilge, every once in a while, won't hurt nothing

 

[jmarty10]

Re: They will sink fast

How about an auto pump. At a minimum once you see the boat peeing from the side for 15 minutes straight it may be a good indication youre taking on water. An excellent boating safety feature!

 

[Don S]

Re: They will sink fast

Something else happened. I can't imagine a 36' boat not having an automatic bilge pump.
Now, to the bellows, even if the bellows was not installed, the water going through a gimbal bearing (has metal seals over the ball bearings) and through the little 1/8" hole ever being enough to quickly sink a 36' boat. Even a small bilge pump (500 GPM) will easily keep up with that flow.
Even if the pump failed, the amount of water needed to sink a 36' boat is going to be noticed as the boat gets lower and lower in the water before it goes under. It would all be in SLOOOOOOOW motion, if it was a bellows problem.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: They will sink fast

He who pays someone to clean and ready their boat for sea and it sinks, either "A" ______________
or "B" ______________ fill in the blanks.

 

[25thmustang]

Re: They will sink fast

A 36'er should have more than one, and lots of times more than two bilge pumps.

Glad mines got straight inboards!!

 

[dingbat]

Re: They will sink fast

Bilge pumps is not going to keep you afloat should something happen. A pump rated at 500 GPH is only going to push 4-6 gallons per minute in reality. A 1" diameter hole, 12" below the surface is pushing 11.3 gallons (#94) per minute into the boat. A 2" diameter hole is going to push 46 gallons (#380) per minute into the boat

 

[skargo]

Re: They will sink fast

Who doesn't check for safety equipment before they go out?

And small ones will sink like a stone too

 

[Joshua Nichols]

Re: They will sink fast

It would all be in SLOOOOOOOW motion, if it was a bellows problem.

I agree Don.. They been out a pretty good while from what I gather.. I asked about pumps... I don't think he knows what they are. For sure didn't know how many the rig had or anything about float switches... Check this out.. Didn't realize they was going down till water was on the deck.. Only one engine would run at that time.. Other was waterlogged already.. Made a run for it.. Lost the other engine and he said in about fifteen minutes or so.. They lost the vessel.. Had enough time to get folks something to float on and make a emergency call before he had to abandon it...

He is lookin into buying another...

We are just assuming it was a bellow issue.. I asked if he hit something and that was a negative.. I think by the time they realized they was in trouble.. The boat had water getting close to the edge.. Once water started coming over it went fast... Major bummer.. Was a nice barge from what i gathered.. A/C ,slept like 6, generator all the bells.. It's a BUMMER

 

[Stamey]

Re: They will sink fast

Aren't they going to try to recover it? What water was it on?

Chris

 

[Philster]

Re: They will sink fast

If the insurance company deems that poor maintenance (failure to maintain the clamp) led to the sinking, it's probably not covered.

Do you know what your insurance policy says?

 

[robert graham]

Re: They will sink fast

Seems like a guy would "feel" water in the boat, just standing on the deck. I've had 10" in my large jon boat from a heavy rain and the boat was sitting a bit lower in the water and definitely had a "heavy" feel to it. Guess the guy was just new to boating, thought he'd "just buy a boat and go boating", like buying a new car! Live and learn! It's good nobody died in this adventure!

 

[25thmustang]

Re: They will sink fast

Glad noone was hurt of worse as well.

I would recommend though, that your friend learn a bit about boats before leaving the dock. I have never met a boat owner who has no idea what a bilge pump is, where they are on his boat, or if his safety items are on board.

 

[DuckHunterJon]

Re: They will sink fast

I'm with 25thmustang. I'm not trying to throw stones, but rather friendly advice. He needs to take a boating course, and probably start out with something smaller than a 36'er. One can learn a ton about the water in a small BR, CC, or Tinnie. Always time later to move up.

 

[Joshua Nichols]

Re: They will sink fast

If the insurance company deems that poor maintenance (failure to maintain the clamp) led to the sinking, it's probably not covered.

Do you know what your insurance policy says?

It was covered... With the check he bought a 33ft BAJA I think.. Twin supercharged 502s... Does that make ya feel safe :facepalm:

that your friend learn a bit about boats before leaving the dock. I have never met a boat owner who has no idea what a bilge pump is, where they are on his boat, or if his safety items are on board.

I agree... Money can't buy brains or peoples life back...



I think they was chilling in the cabins a/c and wasn't paying attention to the deck till water started coming in...

There was no recovery that I know of.. It is at the bottom of Galveston bay as far as I know

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: They will sink fast

There was no recovery that I know of.. It is at the bottom of Galveston bay as far as I know

I hope not. Excluding channels Galveston Bay is only 12 ft. deep. So if this thing is totally under, it is a hazard to navigation.

 

[25thmustang]

Re: They will sink fast

Well that is a shame. I see no problem starting with a larger boat (my 29 is technically my first boat) but I think boats should be taken more seriously than just purchasing and going for it.

Is he a friend or an aquaintance? If a friend I would probably take some time and go over the new boat with him. Might save his or someone elses life.

 

[oops!]

Re: They will sink fast

Something else happened. I can't imagine a 36' boat not having an automatic bilge pump.
Now, to the bellows, even if the bellows was not installed, the water going through a gimbal bearing (has metal seals over the ball bearings) and through the little 1/8" hole ever being enough to quickly sink a 36' boat. Even a small bilge pump (500 GPM) will easily keep up with that flow.
Even if the pump failed, the amount of water needed to sink a 36' boat is going to be noticed as the boat gets lower and lower in the water before it goes under. It would all be in SLOOOOOOOW motion, if it was a bellows problem.

totally agree.....that would allmost be a drip...

as most people here know....i fix boats that have come back up from davy jones locker.

case in point......2007 30 foot regal 3060...twin 305's with bravo 3s i just finished this one in may.

the operator hit a log boom at 30 mph in the gulf islands by nanamio.
both the drives tore off, as well as a few small 3 inch holes in the hull. the biggest at the hull transom joint.

the operator started the 3 bilge pumps as well as taking the cover off the grey water bilge pump under the cabin stairs and let that one rip.
the boat stayed afloat long enough to call the coast guard to the area....when the coast guard arrived...the boat was still afloat,,,,the cg tried to pump the water out of the boat and tow it back to safety...but the cg's pumps didnt work !....they took the passengers on board the cg boat.....handed the owner a coffee......and they all watched the 30 footer go down !.
it took over two and a half hours from the collision....bigger boats have more than one pump !

hence....we bought it......it is for sale if you want it....full rebuild....i went thru every inch of that boat...air cond...water systems, electrical systems.....head (ugh) both motors and drives. rebuilt or replaced everything! i had that boat back up and floating in time for the boat show this spring!.....

where did you say this 36 footer was?

 

[Joshua Nichols]

Re: They will sink fast

I hope not. Excluding channels Galveston Bay is only 12 ft. deep. So if this thing is totally under, it is a hazard to navigation.

Part of the bow is still sticking up as far as I know... Someone may have got it of the bottom by now.. It's been a few months...


He is a friend.. I don't go boating with him....

Maybe his own exaust filled the bilge up.. IDK what happened.. I wasn't there and am kinda glad I wasn't...

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: They will sink fast

many years ago I nearly lost a 20'er I had just bought to a torn driveshaft bellows.... I was young and really knew nothing about I/O boats at the time.... I was on the missippi and was getting very frustrated at what I thought was a lack of power ..... The boat had been in the water for maybe an hour and could hardly get on plane.... I had my dad with me at the time and we were both oblivious to the water coming in..... Maybe another 10 minutes and we were able to see water on the floor..... Now It's "oh crap" time I yanked the engine cover off and looked for a few seconds figured out that the bilge pump was working but just could not keep up and then started it up gave it full throttle in forward gear.... The water level in the rear rose to the point that it nearly covered the distributor instantly as thee bow went up and the stern went down so I backed off. I trimmed down all the way and smoothly increased throttle.... she finally got on plane and the bilge pump was then able to start lowering the water level.....

I later figured out that when I was first gassed it the vents for the blower went under and allowed a LOT of water in FAST..... In the next couple weeks I learned how to change my bellows and I installed a 1500 gph pump and a float switch...

I have much more experience and much more respect for the dangers now but I can easily see how a novice could get in trouble in ANY size vessel.