What to do if you flip your boat.

[glennandskinner]

Hi, i have a 2.5m dingy to travel, some times it gets quite rough and my boat nearly flips / turns upside down. if this happurnes and my engine gets full of water, what should i do to start it? (once i unflip myboat and empty it of water) i dont carry tools as my boat is quite small? do i just try to start it or what??

thanks in advance.

 

[Sea Rider]

Re: What to do if you flip your boat.

Welcome to the forums.

If engine is completely flooded (too much time flipped) will have my doubts if engine will produce a spark on plug once boat is flipped back, eventually will need to remove spark plug and carburetor and clean them out among other things. If engine flips on salt water environments, remove and rinse well with fresh water and take to dealer inmediately as near inmediate internal corrosion of parts will start.

Happy Boating

 

[Silvertip]

Re: What to do if you flip your boat.

If it happens to be a four-stroke you should not try to run it as the crankcase will be full of water. It needs to be drained, filter changed, plugs removed and engine spun over to blow out the water. New plugs, new fuel and then fire it up. Repeat the oil change. If it's a two stroke AND you were using the lanyard, the engine would kill as you were pitched overboard. A two stroke would likely fire and run IF it was NOT running when it went over. If it was, pull the plugs, spin the engine over, dry the plugs and fire it up. Up here in the tundra there is a rather odd form of recreation called water skipping where snowmobiles are raced on open water. Yes -- it can be done. A jug is tied to the sled and should it go down, the sled is retrieved plugs pulled, water expelled and she fires right up.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: What to do if you flip your boat.

if you can't get to fixing it right away, leave it under water. Sounds like you have a small motor that could be stored in a tank.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: What to do if you flip your boat.

A couple of thoughts . . .

Oars,

PFD

Bigger boat.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: What to do if you flip your boat.

Take it from one who has flipped a 10 foot tunnel hull three times: #1 STAY WITH THE BOAT! It will float and you will almost undoubtably be helped.

Once you get the boat back to shore, remove the sparkplugs and turn over the engine to reduce/remove the water in the cylinders and crankcase. On a small engine remove it from the transom and point the plug holes down. Now, after removing as much water as possible, remove the carb bowl and drsain it--it will bve full of water. using a fresh tank of gas re-prime the engine, replace the plugs, and try to start it. The electric starter will work but it will take much cranking to do it. In your case, your arm will get tired. Once the engine starts, run it for at least 1/2 hour to heat it and drive off any residual water that may be present.

I have started a 55his manner, at the launch ramp. It had been under water for about an hour while being towed back.

As said earlier, if it is a four stroke, oil must be changed

 

[cyclops2]

Re: What to do if you flip your boat.

Glenn

I am going to tell you HOW to NEVER risk flipping any boat & saving your life.

DO NOT go out in risky waves & wind.
Do NOT try a MAKE IT BACK in risky conditions.

Take the OATH that I made to myself.

Have enough common sense to RUN THE BOAT ONTO A BEACH. Wait out the storm / waves, on a mostly downwind side.

Simply put. SCREW THE BOAT. Do not get tossed into the water with a upside down boat. Some areas have no people to help you. People are NOT LOOKING for a upside down boat. Plus they are very had to spot. People look for a upright boat with waving arms.

Screw the boat & beach it EARLY enough to pick a safe spot to wait out the bad weather. Then you can push off & motor back VERY SAFELY.

I have done it 2 times with sudden squalls in my 16' Alumimun with a short 15" transom.

DO PUT YOUR CELL PHONE in a plastic zip lock freezer bag & put that into a pocket with nothing else. I have had the small boat drop me into the space between it & the dock . Boat moved away & I fell into 3' of water. FREEZER BAG