Why boats sink

Have you ever wondered why boats sink at the dock? According to the BoatUS Foundation, for every boat that sinks at sea in open water, four sink at the dock.

When a boat sinks at the dock, the skipper is most likely to ask, “What happened to the bilge pump?” However, that’s the wrong question to ask. Bilge pumps can actually hide the real problem because they periodically empty the bilge until they either clog or the battery dies, the bilge fills with water, and the boat sinks.

Examine all fittings and hoses

The skipper cannot expect the boat to take care of itself. In the spring and again during the season, examine all fittings and hoses for water tightness at through-hulls. Leaks at underwater fittings occur in 50 percent of sinkings, with the majority happening at stuffing boxes.

Watch the weather

Accumulating rain, snow or sleet accounts for another 32 percent of sinkings. By lowering the waterline, the precipitation makes a boat more likely to flood during any minor mishap on board.

Take docking precautions

Poor docking arrangements can allow the boat to get caught under a dock or bang against a piling, damaging the hull to the extent that the boat can take on water and sink. Arrange bow, stern and spring lines to keep the boat in the center of the slip.

Examine and replace worn rubber

What can you do to protect your boat? Examine your outdrive boots for deterioration two to three times a year, and replace any rubber that looks dried out and cracked. Store the outdrive down to prolong the life of the rubber. Examine the seacocks and gate valves for corrosion, which looks pinkish on bronze.

Check your through-hulls

Inspect transducer and raw water intake strainer through-hulls as well. Hoses connected to the fittings must be double-clamped with stainless steel clamps. Through-hull connected hoses should be the black reinforced kind, not PVC hoses, which can rupture and crack.

Turn off freshwater systems

Anytime you are using the dockside freshwater system, turn the water off at the dock whenever you are away from the boat for more than a few hours. Make sure you have a pressure reducer valve and reinforced hose (if the hose is clear PVC, look for the crisscross pattern), which will accommodate the greatly increased pressure from a city water system.

Visit the boat

If you need a reason to visit your boat more often, consider that repairing a boat that has been underwater usually costs about 40 percent of the boat’s value. If you cannot visit regularly, consider implementing a buddy system with other boat owners. Many marinas offer inspections at an extra cost.

Your boat is a large investment. Keep it afloat; don’t let it sink. –Kathryn Byrd