dimer2
Moderator Emeritus
Well, went out on a four boat raft up, had a great day upriver, swimming and enjoying good company. We left first and were tidying up the boat in our slip when the next boat came in listing badly. The captain yelled that he had hit a log and assumed a cracked hull and was sinking. We grabbed lines and had them in the water when he came in nose first and managed to get him secured with 3 lines below his stern/midships and around the large pole/roof supports. Got everybody off the boat and opened the engine roof cover. With the aid of a wet n dry vac, and his onboard bilges and eventually a 110 volt sump pump, got the better of the leak. Every inch gained allowed us to cinch the lines tighter and we finally got to where the water was level with the engine oil pans. It was then discovered that the rubber shaft log had a two inch slit in it. A rubber sleeve, lined with butyl tape and 4 hose clamps later and not even a drip. The shaft and prop are of course toast. I estimate 3 - 5 more minutes and he, his wife and 6 month old baby, mother and 2 friends, would have been swimming. It DOES happen that quick. We noticed several logs, both on the way there and again on the way back, which is perfectly normal on a river. This may or may not have anything to do with it....but he was the only one without a flying bridge and said he never saw a thing. I am NOT trying to start a debate on this, just stating a fact.
