We don’t know yet why this boat sank at the dock in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea yesterday, but we do know that twice as many boats sink at a dock than sink underway. Here are some tips from BoatUS to keep it from happening to you:
Most boats sink because of the gradual failure of a part below the waterline. A small drip can become a big leak before long, producing more water than the bilge pump can handle. The stuffing box is often the culprit; adjust it so there are no leaks when the engine is not running, and just two or three drops a minute when the engine is running. Repack the stuffing box every season.
Replace raw water hoses at the first sign of wear. They can rupture or come off if the clamp fails.
Replace the impeller every two years or so. If it doesn’t pump enough water, the engine will overheat; hot gas will melt the hose, and water will flow into the boat.
Check the cockpit drains, hose clamps, broken drain fittings or loose hoses.
Inspect all waterline fittings each season, including through-hulls, hoses, clamps, transducers and senders.
Tie up the boat so it will be centered in the slip and will not go under the dock during a tide or weather change. Keep lines relatively taut but still able to move up and down a piling with the tide. Use long spring lines.
Peter A. Janssen
Boat Sinks at Dock. Could This Happen to You?
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