Happens to everyone, right? :)~~~

[RCSConstruction]

Pulled up to the ramp today and got stopped by the coast guard right before I was about to grab the boat plug for the transom. Wanted to give me a safety check. I was like "damn" but better safe than sorry. After 25 minutes and getting flagged for having too small of vessel numbers (mine are 2", need 3") and getting three big stickers plastered to my boat "CO sticker,channel 16 sticker, waste sticker) I was ready to go. Launched the boat waited for the wife at the dock and went to start it. The warning beeper was blaring away and I was checking my oil gauge and everything else and couldn't figure out why the h@ll it was beeping. I looked back and saw water coming out of my engine cover............ I freaked LMAO! I jumped in the damn water, jacket,pants and shoes with plug in hand....
20 minutes later I realized that
A: I need a more powerful bilge pump...
B: What sensor saved my behind???
I had no idea it would beep on me and if it hadn't I may not have been so lucky.
I would like to know what and where that sensor is so I can keep it maintained...lolol
Thanks

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Happens to everyone, right? ~~~

never heard of a sinking sensor. do you have an auto bilge pump that may have an alarm?

 

[RCSConstruction]

Re: Happens to everyone, right? ~~~

I am not sure if it is an auto bilge.
Are you suggesting that the bilge triggers the engine alarm when it goes kicks on automatically?
That would make sense. Like a float switch in the bilge pump?
Thanks

 

[roscoe]

Re: Happens to everyone, right? ~~~

What are.... :

"CO sticker,channel 16 sticker, waste sticker"

And why are they stuck to your windshield?

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Happens to everyone, right? ~~~

Probably some friendly reminders the CG decided you must have for your own good.

One thing however, if your boat is plastered with them and the "heat" sees them, they know they have visited you and look elsewhere for some fresh pickings.

My 2c

Mark

 

[Boatin Bob]

Re: Happens to everyone, right? ~~~

I have 2 bilge pumps in the engine compartment and both are on their own float switches, the 2nd one (a little higher) also has an alarm tied to the float switch, I want to know if the second one comes on because it probably means I'm in trouble, also have a switch on the alarm to silence it incase it sticks on, could be very annoying.

 

[RCSConstruction]

Re: Happens to everyone, right? ~~~

What are.... :

"CO sticker,channel 16 sticker, waste sticker"

And why are they stuck to your windshield?

The co was a carbon monoxide warning (just in case I forget it's dangerous... )
The channel 16 was just a emergency sticker that allows anybody to operate the VHF in case of emergency, it's step by step.
The waste sticker is a reminder not to drain my oil,gas,fluids in the water and other warnings regarding an accidental spill.
Two big stickers by the throttle and 1 huge one in the engine compartment.

 

[RCSConstruction]

Re: Happens to everyone, right? ~~~

I have 2 bilge pumps in the engine compartment and both are on their own float switches, the 2nd one (a little higher) also has an alarm tied to the float switch, I want to know if the second one comes on because it probably means I'm in trouble, also have a switch on the alarm to silence it incase it sticks on, could be very annoying.

Does it have it's own alarm or is it connected to your engine warning alarm?
If it's not my bilge, what else could have sounded the alarm?
Keep in mind the water was up to the engine oil pan bolts.

 

[RCSConstruction]

Re: Happens to everyone, right? ~~~

One thing however, if your boat is plastered with them and the "heat" sees them, they know they have visited you and look elsewhere for some fresh pickings.

My 2c

Mark

Hope so....

 

[QC]

Re: Happens to everyone, right? ~~~

Well at least you got your first "forgot the plug" incident out of the way . . . It seems the alarm is still a mystery. Did it simply stay on after you started? Did it come on after a couple of minutes? Did it immediately go off after you put in the plug and it pumped some out?

 

[jtexas]

Re: Happens to everyone, right? ~~~

my plug rule is this: once I have a transom tie-down in my hand, I can't set it down until the plug is in.

 

[Coors]

Re: Happens to everyone, right? ~~~

I have a plug attached to one of the tie-downs.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Happens to everyone, right? ~~~

I have plugs everywhere. 1 on my boat key ring, 1 in the glovebox locker, 1 in the anchor locker, 1 by the primer bulb, 1 in the toolbox and by seeing all of these as I am preparing to launch it so far has helped me make sure that I have one in the plug hole !!!!

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Happens to everyone, right? ~~~

It happened to me once. Fortuantely, before I started the boat while it was on the trailer, was doing a "sniff" test for gas fumes. Saw a lot of water coming in!

Now, when I do my "get ready" the day before an outing, I put the drain plug in then and recheck before I launch in the morning.

I almost bought one of those laminaters at Harbor Freight to make a waterproof checklist. I still might. It will be just like the old days when I used to fly with my pre-flight check list.

Kenny, with all those plugs, won't you just say..."oh, I used that plug from "pick a plug" so I should be ok"?

 

[pipedup]

Re: Happens to everyone, right? ~~~

LMAO...........now if the CG only had put an "is your plug in?" sticker on your windshield the alarm mystery wouldn't even be here...........lol....

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: Happens to everyone, right? ~~~

That's a pretty deep well you have there, hell why didnt you just fire her up on plane and drain it and then plug her... I dont believe the alarm goes off when the pump starts.......... i would fill her again..Umm out of the water and see if you get the same alarm, The alarm is set up for the motor and leg funtion's......Becareful there RC that's a rare bird you have there...

 

[QC]

Re: Happens to everyone, right? ~~~

Now, when I do my "get ready" the day before an outing, I put the drain plug in then and recheck before I launch in the morning.

I used to do that until I towed overnight to Shasta in a downpour and had to pull the plug to drain it before I put it in the water . . . It's always sumpin' . . .

 

[Turin]

Re: Happens to everyone, right? ~~~

My boat (just a little zodiac.) has a little piece of rubber in the drain plug so water can only go out if you forget the rubber plug.
Thats handy maybe you can make some thing like that on your boat

 

[jtexas]

Re: Happens to everyone, right? ~~~

My boat (just a little zodiac.) has a little piece of rubber in the drain plug so water can only go out if you forget the rubber plug.
Thats handy maybe you can make some thing like that on your boat

now, where's the fun in that?

 

[RCSConstruction]

Re: Happens to everyone, right? ~~~

It seems the alarm is still a mystery. Did it simply stay on after you started? Did it come on after a couple of minutes? Did it immediately go off after you put in the plug and it pumped some out?

I had been sitting for 5 minutes (engine off, still breaking the motor in and didn't want to idle) and then started it and the alarm never quit. (as if it had no oil pressure) The alarm was not there when I launched and drove to the other side of the dock to wait for my wife.
After I pumped her out, the alarm was gone.
I am going to have to do what tailgunner suggests and try and replicate it I guess.
Maybe my guardian angel finally woke up and helped me out yesterday...