When do you abandon ship?

[zeehag]

a captain goes down with his ship
the only time to enter a life raft is when you step UP into it.

it is called responsibility, but somehow that got ditched years ago in this disrespectful society which has spawned lack of responsibility for actions.
until that boat sinks, you do what you can to unsink it. then go. only when you have ruled out ability to save boat you go. it is unlawful to litter, remember??

[capngeo]

I've gone swimming (for the dinghy) twice in my years on the water. The first was an old woodie I was delivering which lost a plank and went down off Cape San Blas. Everything fine one minute; the next I was in the water. No time for a Mayday, life vest, ditch bag, nada! Only towing the dink (inflatable) on a LONG painter saved my life that day (and a wind that blew me to shore). The second one was 400' long! I was working on a welding crew on the Spiegel Grove when she rolled... the "dinghy" was a TowBoatUS captain!

[SaltyMonkey]

Originally Posted by capngeo

I've gone swimming (for the dinghy) twice in my years on the water. The first was an old woodie I was delivering which lost a plank and went down off Cape San Blas. Everything fine one minute; the next I was in the water. No time for a Mayday, life vest, ditch bag, nada! Only towing the dink (inflatable) on a LONG painter saved my life that day (and a wind that blew me to shore). The second one was 400' long! I was working on a welding crew on the Spiegel Grove when she rolled... the "dinghy" was a TowBoatUS captain!

OK, I'll bite. You have to expand on this story! What happened?

[S/V Alchemy]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

I won't leave mine unless it sinks from under me, I figure it is better equipped to handle whatever than a life raft or dinghy, and you always have that as a last resort.

On edit, it is not all that uncommon to hear of a boat that survived after being abandoned, not as uncommon as I would have thought anyway.


Sent from my iPad Pro using Cruisers Sailing Forum

The crew is the weakest link. Short of a gash or puncture that overwhelms the pumps and/or the ability of the crew to deal with it, or a severe fire, the boat is always a better option than a raft or dinghy. But it may not appear that way at the time.

It's clearly staged for obvious reasons of danger, but Yachting Monthly's "Crash Boat Testing" shows pretty clearly how long it takes to finish off a boat and how long you have to stop that:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUg3TUmnQBs

[Last Gasp]

You abandon ship when it goes beneath the waves. "Till then it's the safest place to be! Hope you never have to do it. Cheers

[timbenner]

Originally Posted by Delancey

I recommend you abandon ship the minute your wife gets scared. Beats listening to her complain. Just push a button and they come get you! Easy peasy.

When they come, can you have them just remove the wife??

[SaltyMonkey]

Originally Posted by S/V Alchemy

It's clearly staged for obvious reasons of danger, but Yachting Monthly's "Crash Boat Testing" shows pretty clearly how long it takes to finish off a boat and how long you have to stop thatl]

Great video. Not only the timing but also imagine in a rolling sea how difficult all these techniques are to deploy. Also the place of the hole and how to access it below WL is paramount.

[uncle stinkybob]

Originally Posted by Delancey

I recommend you abandon ship the minute your wife gets scared. Beats listening to her complain. Just push a button and they come get you! Easy peasy.

I'll never need that little red button.......I got a divorce! HA HA HA

[Stumble]

I don't disagree with anything posted here, but I do want to point out that in the first case (run aground on the rocks) the owner is legally responsible to remove the vessel, as well as for any damage done to the reef or if oil/diesel leaks out for the cost of an oil spill as well (it can be up to $10,000/gallon).

Technically you can be required to remove any ship from any sinking if it is a hazard to navigation, but so long as she comes to rest below 100' most countries will waive removal.

[uncle stinkybob]

The last three guys timed it well.
https://youtu.be/8Yau9A7XDHs

[SaltyMonkey]

Originally Posted by uncle stinkybob

The last three guys timed it well.
https://youtu.be/8Yau9A7XDHs

That has got to be one of the most amazing things I've ever seen on here.

[deblen]

Most "safety experts" recommend staying with the vessel as long as possible-because it is a safer place than a raft.
No one expects you to lose your life over it though.
Things to consider when evaluating abandon :
Your crew & passenger's age,physical condition,etc.
The danger of becoming entangled in vessel gear/rigging,when it goes down.
Is the vessel in danger of turning turtle & trapping crew/passengers
Seastate--is it safer to abandon before decks are awash & when.
Daylight or dark.
The video showed a very "relaxed" & safely done escape in near excellent conditions-well done! except for the sailboat that cruised between the sinking & rescue boats. His mast could have easily entangled the sinker's rig,or been caught if sinker had rolled at that moment.
Each "possible sinking/abandoning" situation is different.
The capt. is responsible-legally & morally-to ensure that he makes the safest decision for his crew-the hell with the boat & POSSIBLE later consequences.

[30yearslater]

When do I abandon ship? Never! No dinghy, no VHF, no EPIRB, no Cell or Sat phone. I better keep it upright and floating as I limit my options.

[alaskaflyfish]

Originally Posted by jwcolby54

Naw, they stay on board because some ... what to call them... "posters / eco protesters" from the forums will complain about their leaving a hazard in the middle of the ocean, no plan for recovering it etc. Call them fuzzy brained school children etc.

Can't have that. Better to go down with the boat!

You should post something intelligent and apropos to the topic instead of name calling. It seems you have hurt feelings. Counseling will help.

[jenders]

There are legitimate reasons to stay with the vessel, even if she's taken on a lot of water. Many stories out there about sailors being lost at sea, but their boats found days or weeks later, still afloat. I agree with that adage above: Stay on the boat until you have to climb up into your life raft.