Forgot the plug, and sunk the Boat ...

[SnappingTurtle]

... not me, but some poor boater we saw today.

He tried to out run the water coming into the boat, while his friend ran to get the plug. It almost just almost worked.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Forgot the plug, and sunk the Boat ...

That's a sad photo. It's one reason I won't have a boat where the drain plug tube isn't accessible from inside the boat.

 

[Uraijit]

Re: Forgot the plug, and sunk the Boat ...

He couldn't hop out and stick his finger in the hole?

 

[SnappingTurtle]

Re: Forgot the plug, and sunk the Boat ...

He couldn't hop out and stick his finger in the hole?

It is a river used for commercial traffic. It gets deep really fast, and the current is pretty strong. Unlike the boat ramps in America, those in Germany tend to be very steep, and very short. It is over your head just 4-6 feet from the waters edge right there.

He tried to buy a little time by attempting to bring the boat up on plane, while one ran for the plug, and the another tried to stop the flow of water into the boat. It didn't work and he was lucky to have gotten the boat back to the launch.

It was going down fast.

 

[45Auto]

Re: Forgot the plug, and sunk the Boat ...

He couldn't hop out and stick his finger in the hole?

I'm with Urajit on this one. Don't see why he couldn't dump the anchor or run the bow on shore and hang off the transom to plug the hole. Had to do that to a boat once in deep water. He could have stuck his shirt or pants into it enough to slow it down so the boat doesn't sink.

It's one reason I won't have a boat where the drain plug tube isn't accessible from inside the boat.

Works as long as you're happy with the little boats and little water.

 

[SnappingTurtle]

Re: Forgot the plug, and sunk the Boat ...

I'm with Urajit on this one. Don't see why he couldn't dump the anchor or run the bow on shore and hang off the transom to plug the hole. Had to do that to a boat once in deep water. He could have stuck his shirt or pants into it enough to slow it down so the boat doesn't sink.

He did run the bow on shore, as shown in the pictures. When he ran it onto the launch it tilted the already full boat at such a extreme angle that water just pored over the transom.

We were about 500ft upstream and weren't really paying that much attention till the end when we started wondering what the **** was he doing.

Once we figured out he was in trouble we were there really quick, but it was too late. From start to finish, a couple of minutes. It was already so low in the water we thought he would not make it back to shore. He was fighting the current and a lot of water/weight.

I thought they would loose power before he got it back to shore.

I would say they panicked and this is the result. I don't think his friend knew where to stick his finger, and the owner didn't realize till it was to late, that it was taking on water. This is all just a guess, I wasn't in the boat, so I don't know what they were saying. Afterwards I think he was in shock and had very little to say, other than they were OK.

There were others there, and everyone was OK, so we took off. I shot the photos a couple of hours later. During a accident I think it is better to try to help if you can, rather than taking pictures, so I don't have any live "as it happened" stuff.

I felt bad for him, and didn't want to embarrass them anymore than they already were. He is also not in the photos I posted for this reason. No one wants to end up on the “Priceless” idiot boater website, and I respect this.

This being the only public boat launch within driving distance of Frankfurt, there were also other boaters that were waiting to use the launch, and I am sure they were telling him what a “dumb bass” he was.

Most local boaters here don't go out but several times a year (during vacation time), the weather (and bad economy) is just not the kind that allows them to gather a lot of experience, and unfortunately this is the result.

I am sure the expert iboaters, me included , would have reacted differently, but you never know till your in the exact situation, in the same place, under the same conditions, and it happens to you.

 

[jennis9]

Re: Forgot the plug, and sunk the Boat ...

since it is mentioned in your post... what would you do if you forgot your plug.

I ask knowing full well that you know how to react. And your years of boating experience would most likely prevent it...

 

[SnappingTurtle]

Re: Forgot the plug, and sunk the Boat ...

since it is mentioned in your post... what would you do if you forgot your plug.

I ask knowing full well that you know how to react. And your years of boating experience would most likely prevent it...

If you are addressing me, accidents happen to everyone, now don't they. That is unless you are perfect, I am not. Nor do I find humor in other peoples suffering. I can laugh, and be sarcastic about myself though.

The situation wasn't funny, and no one was laughing, they were trying to help as best they could ...

I can only say, to answer your question, that none of my boats have this type of plug. Two have no plug at all, and one has two screw type valves. You can't forget them, you can't lose them, if they are open, you just screw them shut.

I have been with a friend (years ago) who did this twice in one summer. The first time I stuffed a empty plastic ice bag in the hole and ran the boat back up on the trailer. The second time I stuck the plug in. It had been safety wired to the transom after the first time so you might forget it, but it would not be far from where it was supposed to be.

Now how about you? What would you do with all your years of boating experience?

 

[45Auto]

Re: Forgot the plug, and sunk the Boat ...

If it was already so full of water that putting the bow on shore put the transom underwater, he was in real bad shape!

As you say, you never know how you'll react until you actually have to deal with a situation. Hard to discuss anything but generalities unless you were there and know ALL the facts.

I left the plug out of my boat once when there was an altercation on the ramp and I stopped in the middle of my launching routine. Went ahead afterwards and launched the boat without putting it in. Boat sat in the water tied to the dock for about 10 minutes while I parked the truck, got everyone together, etc. Saw the plug in the engine well when we went to get onboard. Threw phone, keys and wallet on the dock, grabbed the plug and jumped in with it. Stuck finger in drain hole, then put plug in hanging off the back of the motor. After getting out, turned on bilge pump (no auto pump switch - learned from that - current boat has TWO auto bilge pumps!) and watched it pump out water. Boat never was low enough in the water to notice missing plug, only reason I noticed it was because I kept it in the engine well.

 

[wildmaninal]

Re: Forgot the plug, and sunk the Boat ...

I hardly go fishing by myself, I believe that might be the only time I would forget the plug. I normally have somebody with more experience then me in the boat with me, never forgot the plug and don't believe I ever will I hope.

The worst thing is sometimes one of us will take on the winch and one will take on the tansom straps and plug and sometimes we'll swap up but I have double checked the plug to make sure it was tight enough before launching

You never can tell when I bilge pump will fail on you, as my uncle found out in his new fishing boat. He left the plug out and turned on the pump but it didn't work, he had to get it on plane to empty the water.

You would think that backing the boat to the ramp or shore would of at least saved the motor from getting sunk. If it was me, I would of drove the boat up the ramp as hard and fast as I could, if I didn't have any choice but to go forward. Otherwise I would of tried to back the boat up just to try and save the motor.

 

[jennis9]

Re: Forgot the plug, and sunk the Boat ...

I am a new boater, so I would panic a little - that's why I asked since I have no idea how to react on that one. Looks like a very serious/frightening incident. You guys with the experience and safety training would most likely know how to handle it. Our ramp wouldn't give us the luxury of trying to get on plane.

Luckily, my husband and I have a routine - and we always ask each other a few times about the plug. And I usually take the boat off the trailer and if it hits the water - the bilge shoots water out if it's not in.

Ours is located under the outboard on the outside of the transom... I have no idea how we'd get to it if we forgot to secure it.

My first thought would be to beach it - but our area has rocky breakwall. Probably just get back to the dock and put it in if we can. We had the forethought to have three spares in the toolbox.

 

[5150abf]

Re: Forgot the plug, and sunk the Boat ...

Almost did a similar thing a couple years ago, there was only 2'' of transom left when I noticed it.

We were fishing a no wake lake, ran for 15-20 minutes, opened the rod locker to see swirling water.

The next day I put an alarm on my second bilge pump so as soon as it turns on you hear a high pitch scream and know something isn't right.

Should be a standard feature on all boats if you ask me.

 

[SnappingTurtle]

Re: Forgot the plug, and sunk the Boat ...

I am a new boater, so I would panic a little ...

... My first thought would be to beach it - but our area has rocky breakwall.

I am not new to boating, but I took about a twenty year break, in that time I played with other peoples boats a lot, but that doesn't make me a expert by any means.

This title I reserve for the others here, and there are some REAL experts among us.

Rocks are also a big problem on the river here. The shore is made up entirely of sharp, pointy rocks the size of trash cans or bigger. There is no place to beach a boat, and the only public ramp, this one, is short & steep.

The boat I was in, was launched on this ramp the day before. It is a small speed boat, with little freeboard, and a very large & heavy motor. The water came really close to coming over the transom as we launched it. Had one of the larger container ships come by while launching it, it would have filled it with water from the bow wave, with plug or not. The tow vehicles people have here are not those that are used in the States, and on this steep grade we would have never got it out it it was full of water. It now has a permanent place in the water.

So even if it all goes right at this launch, it is difficult to time it when there is no traffic coming on the river.

Maybe just a big piece of paper on the dashboard that says, “DON'T FORGET THE PLUG” would be a good idea.

 

[xxxflhrci]

Re: Forgot the plug, and sunk the Boat ...

Maybe just a big piece of paper on the dashboard that says, ?DON'T FORGET THE PLUG? would be a good idea.

That is exactly what I do with a Post-It note. I rarely take my plug out, but when I do, I leave a note for myself. Just last week, it shocked me to pull the cover off and see the note. I had completely forgotten that I had pulled the plug.

 

[Wingnutt]

Re: Forgot the plug, and sunk the Boat ...

LOL, I think anybody that has spent time on the water eventually forgets the plug. I have a routine that I follow to the letter every time I launch.

When I replaced my last plug I purchased one with the cross bar tightener. This leaves a small indention in my finger and thumb tips that lasts until I am underway, I also do a complete walk-around the boat immediately before it goes into the water (much like an aircraft pilot does before takeoff). If the Admiral goes with me, she has permission to nag me about the plug. And lastly, I have a small plaque that I made that is mounted right above the ignition switch that has two reminders on it. The first says "don't forget the plug", and the second says raise the drive!".

 

[Expidia]

Re: Forgot the plug, and sunk the Boat ...

When I had a smaller boat I plugged the plug in from the inside.

I used to pull it out sometimes when planing and the water drained right out.

Bigger boats have the plug (if they have one at all) on the outside because there are closed hatches and compartments in front of the transom making an inside plug inaccessible. My plug has a wire attached thru the hole and onto the plug. It may hang out on the wire, but at least you can't forget it or loose it.

Seems like good insurance to me for those of you with just a standard plug to upgrade for a few dollars to a plug that has the wire attached.

There are also upgrades to a plug that's a one way valve. Once you start moving, any standing water flows out automatically.

Always good to get in the habit of checking the plug as you take your transom hold down straps off because a prankster could have popped it out as a sick joke.

And oh ya . . . even after 30 years of boating I too have left the plug loose many times. But I usually catch it on the walk around before I launch. It's like the other poster said . . . A pilot is not going to let the plane off the ground until he does a walk around. I rarely take it out anyway because I have a bilge pump.

But sometimes when I'm hosing the soapy water off the deck when cleaning the boat in my driveway I crank the 3rd wheel up to it's full height and pull the plug. That's usually the time I forget to tighten it back into the hole again as I get involved in other things as the water drains out the hole.

 

[TriadSteeler]

Re: Forgot the plug, and sunk the Boat ...

My daughter and I always launch the boat together. I have drummed it in her head so many times that she always reminds me about the plug. Normally, I put the plug in before I leave the house.

The best method to prevent this from happening is to have a set of checklists. One for launching with a partner, one for launching by yourself. Don't chit chat when you are launching, one distraction can cause you to forget a step. (Same goes when hooking up or unhitching the camper.)

The most important thing however, is that even if there are 20 people lined up behind you, don't rush. Provided you aren't loading coolers, life jackets, fishing gear, etc. while you are on the ramp, no one is going to mind you working thru your routine. There is nothing wrong with taking off your winch hook and safety chain/cable/strap at the bottom of the ramp. Take your time and stay calm. More times than not, that will expedite your launch/retrieval time. Nothing holds up the ramp longer than a sunken boat or a skeg skidder because someone was careless or in a hurry.

 

[jennis9]

Re: Forgot the plug, and sunk the Boat ...

[QUOTE If the Admiral goes with me, she has permission to nag me about the plug. And lastly, I have a small plaque that I made that is mounted right above the ignition switch that has two reminders on it. The first says "don't forget the plug", and the second says raise the drive!".[/QUOTE]

I so want to be called Admiral from now on.....

Love the idea of mounting a reminder by the ignition because as I read all of the suggestions - it probably won't do me much good to have extra plugs if I cant put them in.