Introduction.
Avoiding and monitoring the entry of water on board is a permanent concern of the skipper and a task for everyone, not only to prevent the boat from flooding, of course, but also to keep the boat as dry as possible at all times. Salt water can also cause significant damage to the electrical circuits on board, causing lumps, leaks, corrosion or even a short circuit.
If knowing the boat in depth is essential for the skipper, knowing in detail where the bottom valves are located, the holes in the hull and all possible points of water ingress, is of the highest priority and a prerequisite before going to sea.
In this first chapter of the on-line book “SAFETY ON BOARD” we will give 10 simple practical tips to keep a good watch and avoid possible water ingress.
10 tips for monitoring and preventing water ingress.
1) Make a plan (as in the example in the figure above) showing the location of all hull holes and possible water inlets.
The plan shall include at least the following:
– Hull bottom valves: engine cooling water inlet, toilet water inlet/outlet salt water, galley and sink drain inlets, watermaker inlet, etc.
– Shaft seal.
– Rudder shaft seal.
– Engine exhaust.
– Cockpit drains.
– Sounder and speedmeter.
– Water and fuel intakes.
This plan must be in a visible place on the boat, and all these points must be known by the crew.
2) When the boat is the dray dock, take the following actions:
– Grease and tighten the bottom valves.
– Take advantage of the shipyard to clearly identify on the hull (from outside the boat and also from the inside) all the points of possible water ingress, following the plan indicated in point 1).
– Clean the outside of all the water inlets, removing dirt and any scaling that may have adhered to them.
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