Oceanis 485 steering failure

[Terra Nova]

Originally Posted by ontherocks83

Normally i'd say yes but given it was a charter and not there boat I'd be inclined to give them a pass

What competent crew would NOT check a (especially charter) boat's bilge pumps before a passage? You might assume your own boat's pumps have not failed since you last checked them. But an unfamiliar charter boat? Serious incompetence, there.

And how long can a spinning wheel prevent the helmsman from shutting off the autopilot before hitting the stop? A few seconds?

[Kenomac]

Originally Posted by Terra Nova

What competent crew would NOT check a (especially charter) boat's bilge pumps before a passage? You might assume your own boat's pumps have not failed since you last checked them. But an unfamiliar charter boat? Serious incompetence, there.

And how long can a spinning wheel prevent the helmsman from shutting off the autopilot before hitting the stop? A few seconds?

Some of these coastal cruisers like our previous Hunter 450 don't have a proper deep bilge, so if the water is coming in too quickly for the pump to handle the intrusion, the pump shorts out just as soon as the water level goes above the pump.

Nothing to do with crew competence, more to do with boat design.

Manual bilge pump? That's a laugh.... nothing more than a "feel good" option when the water is coming in at any significant rate.