4 Out of 5 Boats Sink at the Dock

BobCT · Post by **BobCT** » Sat Apr 28, 2012 7:22 am

Groco makes them, I installed one on each engine. I use them for flushing out the raw water side and it makes winterizing a little easier because you don't have to disconnect the hoses.

But, the big benefit is being able to remove one or both and use the engines as bilge pumps. Mine are about 6-8" from the bottom of the bilge.

The Dog House · Post by **The Dog House** » Sat Apr 28, 2012 7:32 am

Big D wrote:Touched base on this topic in http://www.trojanboats.net/wforum/viewt ... c&start=15

Dog House, though you have the right idea, I have a bit of an issue with your particular set up as described for this particular purpose. A garden hose is made for pushing water through and may collapse in a suction application. Further, a typical garden hose at half inch or 5/8 is an insufficient ID and will starve the pump at anything over idle. I suspect reving her up will certaily collapse that small a hose. The best set up is using a valve that is fully ported to the size of the original intake hose to ensure maximum pumping capacity in an emergency. Something to think about.

Good point. I'm not planning on doing a major refit, but for now if I need to use the engine as a bilge pump I'll simply open the garden hose fitting side of the seacock but not attach the hose. The fitting is about 4 inches above the bilge, but if I need to use the engine as a bilge pump I'm sure the water will be that high. The ID will still be small, but I won't have to worry about the hose collapsing.

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Sat Apr 28, 2012 1:54 pm

Plan C if all else fails I done leave home with out it

http://inflatableboats.com/index.php?ma ... ts_id=1036

alexander38 · Post by **alexander38** » Sat Apr 28, 2012 3:46 pm

or make sure the Dink comes off fast..pull two pins on mine and it's off the stern... or never go in water deeper then your air draft....

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Sat Apr 28, 2012 5:34 pm

alexander38 wrote:or make sure the Dink comes off fast..pull two pins on mine and it's off the stern... or never go in water deeper then your air draft....

good point

aweimer · Post by **aweimer** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 6:15 pm

prowlersfish wrote:Good discussion . Crash valves are a good thing to have . However the title to you post is " 4 Out of 5 Boats Sink at the Dock " very true and I will bet 99% of them the owner was no ware around so crash valves would be of no use . But hit something under way the could be a nice thing to have as long as the hole is not to big . I had to deal with a 4" x 5" hole a few years back , Crash valves may have been nice but would not have been enough in I took the time to open them.

Having a way to stop a leak should be part of your emergency plan . And you should have one if not a writen plan , something planed out in your mind . Think about what you you would do if the worst happens and be ready if it happens . I have been down that road and am happy to say boat and crew are fine

If i might ask, what did you fill the hole with? I've always thought if i get too big a whole I would cut a life vest up and shove it into the whole.

rooferdave · Post by **rooferdave** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 7:31 pm

aweimer wrote:
prowlersfish wrote:Good discussion . Crash valves are a good thing to have . However the title to you post is " 4 Out of 5 Boats Sink at the Dock " very true and I will bet 99% of them the owner was no ware around so crash valves would be of no use . But hit something under way the could be a nice thing to have as long as the hole is not to big . I had to deal with a 4" x 5" hole a few years back , Crash valves may have been nice but would not have been enough in I took the time to open them.

Having a way to stop a leak should be part of your emergency plan . And you should have one if not a writen plan , something planed out in your mind . Think about what you you would do if the worst happens and be ready if it happens . I have been down that road and am happy to say boat and crew are fine
If i might ask, what did you fill the hole with? I've always thought if i get too big a whole I would cut a life vest up and shove it into the whole.

yes please, I would love to hear this

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 10:51 pm

aweimer wrote:
prowlersfish wrote:Good discussion . Crash valves are a good thing to have . However the title to you post is " 4 Out of 5 Boats Sink at the Dock " very true and I will bet 99% of them the owner was no ware around so crash valves would be of no use . But hit something under way the could be a nice thing to have as long as the hole is not to big . I had to deal with a 4" x 5" hole a few years back , Crash valves may have been nice but would not have been enough in I took the time to open them.

Having a way to stop a leak should be part of your emergency plan . And you should have one if not a writen plan , something planed out in your mind . Think about what you you would do if the worst happens and be ready if it happens . I have been down that road and am happy to say boat and crew are fine
If i might ask, what did you fill the hole with? I've always thought if i get too big a whole I would cut a life vest up and shove it into the whole.

Life vest jamed in with a stick , was nor a good seal but slowed it down a lot . It kept trying to come out .

BTW even thou a life jaket saved the day , I never did put one on .

just4plaay · Post by **just4plaay** » Thu Jun 07, 2012 4:16 pm

The Dog House wrote:
Big D wrote:Touched base on this topic in http://www.trojanboats.net/wforum/viewt ... c&start=15

Dog House, though you have the right idea, I have a bit of an issue with your particular set up as described for this particular purpose. A garden hose is made for pushing water through and may collapse in a suction application. Further, a typical garden hose at half inch or 5/8 is an insufficient ID and will starve the pump at anything over idle. I suspect reving her up will certaily collapse that small a hose. The best set up is using a valve that is fully ported to the size of the original intake hose to ensure maximum pumping capacity in an emergency. Something to think about.
Good point. I'm not planning on doing a major refit, but for now if I need to use the engine as a bilge pump I'll simply open the garden hose fitting side of the seacock but not attach the hose. The fitting is about 4 inches above the bilge, but if I need to use the engine as a bilge pump I'm sure the water will be that high. The ID will still be small, but I won't have to worry about the hose collapsing.

When you open the garden hose valve does it close the thruhull? If it doesn't all you will do is let more water into the boat.

The Dog House · Post by **The Dog House** » Thu Jun 07, 2012 4:44 pm

It is a 3 way valve: off (down to the right), thru hull (straight up), garden hose adapter (down to the left). A plug is typically installed where the garden hose adapter would be so the boat doesn't sink with the valve in the thru hull (straight up) position. If the valve was straight up without the plug, water would flow in freely from outside the hull.

In an emergency situation where the engine is being used as a bilge pump, the valve would need to be down to the left. This closes the thru hull and opens the garden hose adapter if the plug is removed.

rbcool · Post by **rbcool** » Thu Jun 07, 2012 7:49 pm

Here's my crash plan until I install crash valves
I have an awesome set of tin-snips on board....I have cut many hoses in less than 10 seconds. I can cut it just above the seacock and let it rest on the bilge floor.

Ron

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Thu Jun 07, 2012 8:10 pm

Ron thats a great idea