Summer is the perfect time to take a boat out on a lake or the ocean, whether it is just to soak up the sun with friends and family, waterski or maybe fish. But a fun afternoon on the water could turn into a disaster should corroding parts give way to gradual leaks, and the boat unexpectedly begin to sink.
Unfortunately, when a boat sinks, that is likely the end of her simply because repairs to a sunken boat often cost more than the value of the boat; therefore, boaters want to prevent a sinking at all costs.
Approximately two out of every three boats sink at the dock or mooring, and the remaining 31% sink while underway. But according to a study by the Boat Owners Assn. of the United States (BoatUS), which analyzed boat insurance claims since 2006, most boat sinkings are preventable.
According to the study, out of all of the dock or mooring sinkings, 39% occur when some small part ceases to function due to wear and tear or corrosion. The slowly failing parts can give way to gradual leaks, causing boats to exist in a “zombie state,” which is somewhere between floating and sinking, dependent on the bilge pump, which may postpone the sinking until the pump fails or is overwhelmed.
For boat sinkings while underway, the most common cause (43%) is hitting something, whether it is the log, the bottom, or perhaps colliding with another boat or dock.
These sinkings could be prevented if boat owners had taken some extra care in advance and through proper maintenance. For boaters, taking the right steps to maintain their boats can save them a boatload of money in the long run, as the expenses of replacing the watercraft are high.
Click through the following slides for 10 Tips from the Boat Owners' Group to learn how to help clients prevent a sinking.
1. For inboard-outboard powered boats, be sure to inspect sterndrive bellows on an annual basis, and replace every three to five years. The shift bellows is usually the first to fail, according to BoatUS.
2. Boaters who own inboard powered boats should check the stuffing box every time they visit the boat, and repack every spring, rather than simply tightening down the nut.
3. For engines with raw water hoses, replace them the moment they begin to show some wear and tear. Signs of dilapidation include the appearance of small cracks or feeling “spongy” when squeezed. Rusty hose clamps should also be replaced.
4. Replace the engine cooling system impeller approximately every two to three years.
5. Inspect the boat's cockpit and livewell plumbing. Take careful consideration to look at hoses, clamps and cracked or broken fittings. All of the plumbing should be inspected, and if a boat owner is unable to inspect the plumbing in its entirety, installing inspection ports can make the task easier.
6. Look at all below-waterline fittings, hoses and clamps before the start of each boating season.
7. Don't forget the drain plug!
8. When boating with friends and family members, ask guests to help keep their eyes peeled for deadheads. If the boat has grounded or hit something, consider a short-haul to inspect the bottom or drive gear.
9. When storms are in the forecast, always pull trailerable boats from the water. These boats generally have too little freeboard to stand up to any kind of wave action.
10. Dock line management systems that keep the boat centered in the slip can prevent snags that could potentially lead to a sinking.
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