bluewater coastal cruiser engines

[cbelle]

thanks for all your comments. You have given me a lot to think about.

[valhalla360]

Agree with the others.




The motor failing in and of itself should not directly cause a sinking. Typically, you should be able to continue on with a single engine after checking the engine room.


On the other hand if the failure caused a leak (broken belt snagged on seacock in broke it off or in some other way

[sailnow2011]

A boat of that size, with freeboard that low should have no less then two properly setup bilge pumps of no less the 2000GPH each. This would deliver about 1400GPH each if properly installed, and keep a bad situation from being a lot worse.

A future tip. Anytime you have a problem, check to make sure the bilge is dry first before you do anything else. Every time we touched bottom on the ICW, step one, check the bilges, step two, back off the sand bar, step three, check bilges again. Belt may have broken off the alternator, and the alternator may have been the only things making the pump keep its speed high enough to keep the boat from sinking.

Good luck, next time don't take a house boat into the gulf.

[valhalla360]

Originally Posted by sailnow2011

A boat of that size, with freeboard that low should have no less then two properly setup bilge pumps of no less the 2000GPH each. This would deliver about 1400GPH each if properly installed, and keep a bad situation from being a lot worse.

A future tip. Anytime you have a problem, check to make sure the bilge is dry first before you do anything else. Every time we touched bottom on the ICW, step one, check the bilges, step two, back off the sand bar, step three, check bilges again. Belt may have broken off the alternator, and the alternator may have been the only things making the pump keep its speed high enough to keep the boat from sinking.

Good luck, next time don't take a house boat into the gulf.

I looked at the story and there was nothing to suggest freeboard or hull design was the issue. If water was coming in over the stern, a dozen 2000gph bilge pumps likely wouldn't solve anything but that doesn't appear to have been the issue.

A broken seacock or similar issue would be just as problematic on a blue water battle wagon.

I do agree that if you hit bottom or have a mechanical problem, taking a peek into the engine room and bilges is a good first step.