What’s wrong with this photo? Hint: the freeboard is touch low.
Our hearts ache for the owners of this yacht.
We have always been obsessive about risk factors, none of which is bigger than through hull penetrations. They are a flooding risk, maintenance headache, and if bronze, a potential exit point for lightening if you suffer a direct hit.
Have you counted your through hulls? Do you know where they are? Can you get to them? Do you close them when leaving the boat unattended for long periods? And how about fridge and air conditioning plumbing? How secure is it, and what are the unattended risks associated therewith?
As boat owners continue to stretch the complexity of systems aboard, the temptation to riddle the hull with underwater thru-hulls increases. Owners are often uninformed to the potential problems and risks associated with fittings below the waterline, and many builders and boatyards find it tough to deny the wishes of a paying client.
It does not have to be this way. We are not trying to push our concepts on the back of anyone’s disaster, but there are some systems design principles that will mitigate these risks:
- Watertight bulkheads, in particular around the engine room and shaft logs.
- Single incoming salt water point with easily valve to turn off when leaving the boat.
- Fridge and air conditioning cooling systems that do not rely on pumping salt water through the condensing coils.
- Standpipes for below the waterline fittings with shut off valves above the waterline (fiberglass and metal construction).
- Dual automatic bilge pumps in high rish (engine room) areas.
Comments are closed.