New boat repairs

[novapamela]

The worst kind of repairs?

You, hypothetically, must deliver a new 42'+ wooden schooner. You're 100 miles off shore and something goes wrong. What could it be that breaks and means you cannot go on without a repair?

How would you fix it and with what?

I'd appreciate both routine and creative atypical stories and ideas.

Thank you!

Pamela

[Excalibur]

A really bad thing would be a broken through hull , which would create an instant hole in the boat. A broken though hull will prevent using the shut off valve to seal the leak, as the break is on the wrong (water) side of the valve. I carry tapered wooden plugs to pound into a hole for just such an occurance. The problem would be getting to the hole before the boat fills and sinks. A few inches of water really makes doing things fast tough, especially if the hole is inconvieniently placed. In a real emergency, you can disconnect the water inlet hose from the engine's though hull (use the shutoff valve to the engine first, or you'll have TWO holes), start the boat's auxillery engine, and then use the engine to pump water from the boat while you find and plug the leak...

[outofthenorm]

Equally bad would be the loss of the forestay. On a schooner it is one of the key links in the chain - without it the whole rig could go. Imagine that the wire broke above the turnbuckle - incipient corrosion or poor workmanship that would easily be missed - or foolishly ignored - during the pre-delivery inspection.

The repair would have to be done quickly, and it would have to be strong. A halyard could be used instantly to take the strain, but it wouldn't last long, especially if there was a sea running. One solution would be to turn the broken end of the wire back on itself to form a loop. The hard part would be to make the loop secure - lashing might work or wrapping with wire, bulldog clamps if you had some would be best. When the loop is made, you could pass a strong lashing between the wire and the stem-head to take the place of the turnbuckle.

With all that done, you'd then start worrying about the rest of the rigging. What else is corroded or badly made?

- Norm

[Tylerdurden]

I lost an entire shaft while backing down on a sailfish off Ft.Lauderdale.
I was lucky for two reasons. I saw the prop and shaft depart as I was looking that way and being ex-navy I always carried and assortment of wooden plugs. Some serious scrambling, cracking the intake to the engine driven pump and some minutes of pounding later we were pretty safe. I did learn that plumbing strap would come in damn handy the next time as I had to use a filter bracket to hold it in place for the trip home. Also I did notice the flow subsided while maintaining some headway with the other engine. Timing was critical as she was putting on some serious water and it was creeping up the sides of the block by the time I stopped it. There was talk of staying on station and recovering the prop and shaft but I felt better to get her to safety and on the travel lift. I guess with more experience I would have probably done so. But a couple of grand over the loss of the entire boat didn't seem worth it at the time. I did pull the shaft that was left and had both notched behind the couplings and installed collars. Those suckers where never leaving again.;)

[Mike Vogdes]

From the flavor of some of your threads you seem to be concerned about catastrophic break downs at sea. Not everybody has the "Macgyver" on the spot repair tactics for emergency's. Your best defence is familiarity of your boat and a good supply of tools and materials that will see you through a journey. If you are unsure of the condition of your boat maybe a survey by a marine surveyor or a knowledgable boatwright would be a good idea, that way you will learn the weak areas that need attention or will need attention, and plan your material and tool list accordingly. And whatever you do don't forget duct tape..

[Thad Van Gilder]

Oh I know, I was delivering a 52 or so foot Elco down the intercoastal waterway with the owner and restorer on board.

This boat was fresh from a restoration and headed for cape may when The owner wanted to take a spin at the wheel behind Ocean City, NJ.

I went below to relieve myself, and instantly the boat ran aground. just as fast, the owner gunned it in reverse, had the boat off the mud, and plowed into a mud bar backwards, pulling the rudder hard to one side, and ripping the sheaves off the mounting board on the side of the hull. The owner admitted to failing to replace that board while restoring the boat.

We drove the boat down to sea isle city, NJ with me on a pipewrench on the rudderstock, and the owner yelling out "PORT" and "STARBOARD" ...

I wish I had a video camera. I earned my cash that day!!!!

-Thad

[brad9798]

I have quick-releases on both motors for raw water intake ... those motors will remove a LOT of water, if necessary! Won't work forever, but that, coupled with three oversized bilge pumps should keep me in good shape ... when I am less than a mile off shore! ;)

[Hwyl]

I had to wach the dishes once.