Almost had a heart attack.

askipper3 · #1 09-21-2007, 05:08 PM

I really HATE to say it, but my beautiful seacraft sunk. Well, not to jump the gun, she is currently floating in my back yard, and runs great, looks great, and rides great,.!

But, the story is, I did not realize my float switch was not working, and I was at school all day, on a rainy day.

Came home she was looking fine, but I did not bother to run the pump, as I thought it was working. .....my dad had mentioned he thought she was sitting a little low a few days before......

But I come out 10 minutes later to go to my shed....and all I see is the bow flair of the port side.

I FREAK, PANIC, SCREAM, HOLLAR,.....I could not believe it, it was the most horrible thing I have ever seen.

The Mercury was half-way under, and the gunnels on the starboard side were under, in the stern.

Luckily, our neighbor across the street has a huge Penn-yan, and he winched up the back until the scuppers were above the water, and then we kicked the bilge on....now she floats.

Next day....Installed float switch, re-did bilge wiring, etc.

Engine fired right up!!!!!!!!1

I have learned a lesson I will never forget.......always be aware of your bilges! The boat did nothing wrong...I did.

But, Im puzzled on how it went down so fast.

I believe it was this:

-Boat took on water to the point the scuppers by the engine compartment were below the water line.

- Water came in boat and filled up in deck live-well(not sealed).

- Water level became substantial in weight, and boat took on access water over gunnels.

My theory......I hope I will never have to relive such a nightmare.

Blue_Heron · #2 09-21-2007, 05:53 PM

Yow! Sorry to hear that! Hope none of the engine electronics were submerged.

I have two bilge pumps, two float switches, and two batteries in my Seacraft. Each pump is wired directly to a separate battery through a separate float switch. So there are two complete systems that are independent of the battery switch. Cheap insurance.

Dave

Snookerd · #3 09-21-2007, 06:15 PM

askipper3-Good to here the motor is kick'in

Quote:

- Water came in boat and filled up in deck live-well(not sealed).

That live well is a great place to add the extra water weight to sink'em. My old 18 had it sealed on the deck and plugged inside (water could still come up over the lip of the well from below the deck where it's not connected).

Blue197320 · #4 09-21-2007, 07:44 PM

i have a story for u about the livewells. well as u know that it picks up water while running and then drains into the bilge. well i didnt know that my valve was open. and that the livewell was not plugged. after running about 30 minutes we stop and both of the plugs in my floor drains pop out and water coming pouring in faster than ever. we opened the rear hatches and the entire bilge is full of water up to the floor! well turns out float switch was not able to move because the bilge pump hose was on top of it. always watch the livewell!!!

askipper3 · #5 09-21-2007, 08:50 PM

My livewell does not drain into the bilge. It picks water up and puts into the well....it fills up and comes over the top of the well...goes out the scuppers. But the lower the waterline( people, weight, etc)....the more water comes in on deck. You can be standing in a foot of water.!

askipper3 · #6 09-21-2007, 08:52 PM

Some engine electronics were submerged. But only for a short while., everything was immediatly rinsed with fresh water and corrosion block/wd 40.

Hopefully that did the trick!

wavelength · #7 09-22-2007, 09:14 AM

Someone else had the same problem within the last year and it caused me to install a high water alarm. You would have heard it going off long before it went under.

askipper3 · #8 09-22-2007, 04:58 PM

How much does a high water alarm cost? Sounds like a good idea!

Blue_Heron · #9 09-23-2007, 09:30 AM

Quote:

How much does a high water alarm cost? Sounds like a good idea!

You should be able to improvise an inexpensive high water alarm by mounting a float switch in the bilge, a couple inches above the float switch for the bilge pump, and wiring it to the alarm buzzer for your Mercury engine. The buzzer should be mounted inside the console.
Dave

Fr. Frank · #10 09-23-2007, 12:00 PM

Quote:

You should be able to improvise an inexpensive high water alarm by mounting a float switch in the bilge, a couple inches above the float switch for the bilge pump, and wiring it to the alarm buzzer for your Mercury engine.

You can also wire the float switch to a small 12v. electronic siren or bell, like a old fashioned phone bell, all available from Radio Shack. If your boat is behind the house, you may want to mount it under the T-top, or externally, so that you can hear it in the house.