Autoteacher
Senior Member
Hi All, Please take a look and advise me as this has not happened to me before. I was rescued by the CG from a hurricane in a sailboat 20 years ago and that was nothing compared to this.
We were cruising at 1500 rpms and no worries when suddenly the tachs went crazy on our twin Volvo powered 40 ft marine trader. I knew something had to be wrong with both alternators. I went and pulled a floor plate and water is going everywhere. Called CG and reported position then went below and found a sea water pump hose had come off a fitting when the stainless steel hose clamp rusted out at the screw. Quickly closed the sea cock and the water flow stopped. Before long 15 or so boats were at our position, Coast Guard (great people, My favorites!) sheriffs, police, water police, and 10 or so towing and independent rescue people. All the towing people giving bad advisement and saying their competitors will rip me off. Pumps were offered @ $3-400.00 to use them. Being a member of one of the services I was surprised when a competitor offered a pump for free. 10 mins of pumping and I was dry. No leaks or incoming water ( I tipped him well). A CG inspection and sheriff's inspection revealed no problems with safety or the vessel. They checked for illegals, drugs, papers etc and safety. A CG Chief pulled me aside and said "Don't let any of these guys tow your boat , They are crooks!"
My wife and motored on another 55 miles with me checking the bilge every hour and stopped in a marina.
They sea water had killed my AC pump so I checked it and pronounced it dead at 9:30 Pm During that time I checked and my bilge pump, alarm for High water all worked. During the accident the bilge pump had jammed on a piece of flotsam in the bilge. The water had sprayed on the engine drive belts and went everywhere but did not rise very far. Engine started and ran fine. The alarm could not be heard up on fly bridge. (I will place an alarm up there next along with a new bilge pump) So at 9:30 last night we were safe and secure. We had washed everything down with fresh water and pumped it out with the bilge pump. At 9 am I prepared to replace the AC pump with a spare I carried because the pump in use was 28 years old. When I raised the floor plate my heart fell as I looked at over 2 ft of water in the bilge, another 3 inches and the air cleaners would have taken on water. I felt and closed All sea cocks. I called the company I am a member of and they came right out with pumps and all. After pumping the bilge dry they looked for the source. Diving on the boat, checking all the sea cocks, damage and hoses. They spent 4 hours on this and no leak found???? They towed me to a marina where they service Volvos. The service was recommended by my friend and surveyor I rely on. Sadly he can't help as he is busy and too far away. They found one engine full of sea water in the oil pan only. the gen set was covered half way up, all the pumps in engine room refuse to operate. We opened all the sea cocks and watched. No leaks. The exhaust hoses are new and no leaks. All sea water hoses with the exception of the wash down pump hose that came off are double clamped and replaced in the past 2 years. Yes I am very upset with the company that sells me stainless hose clamps that rust out at the screw. The shafts are goretex packing last month and no drips.
We have insurance. I will not name the company. Here are the questions I have: What will the insurance company do, If the source of the leak is my fault and how will that play out? What can I expect from the insurance company? What can I expect from a local surveyor hired by the IC? What should I be doing during this process?
What are my rights? What is worst case scenario? Any one else been thru this?
We did not hit anything as best we can tell.
The sea cock to the sea water pump can be open and no water comes out hose unless pump is on. I closed it during the first incident and shut the breaker off. The front sump and aft sump are normal and show no excess water. The divers and response team checked all thru-hulls. They impressed me how hard they worked and were as mystified as I am about the leak.
Please don't post any questions about who is involved. Until this is settled I will not name names. Negative commentators can go to Face Book and have fun being negative. We are at a life changing time here and I am asking for help. It is like being grounded, If you have not ever been aground you ain't boated much.
Thank you,
S
We were cruising at 1500 rpms and no worries when suddenly the tachs went crazy on our twin Volvo powered 40 ft marine trader. I knew something had to be wrong with both alternators. I went and pulled a floor plate and water is going everywhere. Called CG and reported position then went below and found a sea water pump hose had come off a fitting when the stainless steel hose clamp rusted out at the screw. Quickly closed the sea cock and the water flow stopped. Before long 15 or so boats were at our position, Coast Guard (great people, My favorites!) sheriffs, police, water police, and 10 or so towing and independent rescue people. All the towing people giving bad advisement and saying their competitors will rip me off. Pumps were offered @ $3-400.00 to use them. Being a member of one of the services I was surprised when a competitor offered a pump for free. 10 mins of pumping and I was dry. No leaks or incoming water ( I tipped him well). A CG inspection and sheriff's inspection revealed no problems with safety or the vessel. They checked for illegals, drugs, papers etc and safety. A CG Chief pulled me aside and said "Don't let any of these guys tow your boat , They are crooks!"
My wife and motored on another 55 miles with me checking the bilge every hour and stopped in a marina.
They sea water had killed my AC pump so I checked it and pronounced it dead at 9:30 Pm During that time I checked and my bilge pump, alarm for High water all worked. During the accident the bilge pump had jammed on a piece of flotsam in the bilge. The water had sprayed on the engine drive belts and went everywhere but did not rise very far. Engine started and ran fine. The alarm could not be heard up on fly bridge. (I will place an alarm up there next along with a new bilge pump) So at 9:30 last night we were safe and secure. We had washed everything down with fresh water and pumped it out with the bilge pump. At 9 am I prepared to replace the AC pump with a spare I carried because the pump in use was 28 years old. When I raised the floor plate my heart fell as I looked at over 2 ft of water in the bilge, another 3 inches and the air cleaners would have taken on water. I felt and closed All sea cocks. I called the company I am a member of and they came right out with pumps and all. After pumping the bilge dry they looked for the source. Diving on the boat, checking all the sea cocks, damage and hoses. They spent 4 hours on this and no leak found???? They towed me to a marina where they service Volvos. The service was recommended by my friend and surveyor I rely on. Sadly he can't help as he is busy and too far away. They found one engine full of sea water in the oil pan only. the gen set was covered half way up, all the pumps in engine room refuse to operate. We opened all the sea cocks and watched. No leaks. The exhaust hoses are new and no leaks. All sea water hoses with the exception of the wash down pump hose that came off are double clamped and replaced in the past 2 years. Yes I am very upset with the company that sells me stainless hose clamps that rust out at the screw. The shafts are goretex packing last month and no drips.
We have insurance. I will not name the company. Here are the questions I have: What will the insurance company do, If the source of the leak is my fault and how will that play out? What can I expect from the insurance company? What can I expect from a local surveyor hired by the IC? What should I be doing during this process?
What are my rights? What is worst case scenario? Any one else been thru this?
We did not hit anything as best we can tell.
The sea cock to the sea water pump can be open and no water comes out hose unless pump is on. I closed it during the first incident and shut the breaker off. The front sump and aft sump are normal and show no excess water. The divers and response team checked all thru-hulls. They impressed me how hard they worked and were as mystified as I am about the leak.
Please don't post any questions about who is involved. Until this is settled I will not name names. Negative commentators can go to Face Book and have fun being negative. We are at a life changing time here and I am asking for help. It is like being grounded, If you have not ever been aground you ain't boated much.
Thank you,
S