Safety At Sea & Bilge Pumps

Just to clarify something from a closed thread as to make sure those who read this will have a true understanding of the situation which came to be yet another topic of that thread. This is a boating forum about Hatteras yachts, isn't it?

Pascal
Member Posts: 3,185
Join Date: Mar 2005

Re: Fort Myers to New Smyrna via Lake O - Today, 12:29 PM
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"Posts such as finding you have a leak that cant not be stopped as there is no access to rudder post and no bildge pumps and you are 30 hours off shore."

lol, sounds like a good hollywood script... who goes offshore without multiple bilge pumps?

and only Sea Ray makes boats where you cant' get to the rudder shafts!

It would indeed be foolish to venture offshore without multiple bilge pumps. In this instance, the aft bilge pump (which had recently been serviced) stopped working. This was discovered some 75 miles offshore (hardly 30 hours) though a routine safety inspection while underway. In anticipation of such a malady, there was onboard (in addition to two hand pumps, one stationary and one portable) a 12V bilge pump with a fully charged, dedicated, portable battery. This would allow for an emergency bilge pump with its own power source that would be totally portable. There was also a new in the box 32V pump onboard as a spare if needed.

As for Sea Ray making the only boats where rudder shafts are not accessible, I can testify as a multiple Sea Ray owner that that is not the case. How Hatteras originally provided access to the rudder shafts on a 58TC, I can't tell you. My guess is that Pascal can't tell you either seeing as how it's highly unlikely he has ever been aboard a 58TC, much less serviced one. There are two access panels which allow access to the tops of the rudder shafts, but one would have to be a very slim contortionist to be able to reach the nut which allows tightening the packing. Perhaps another 58TC owner can share with us how they go about adjusting pressure on the rudder shafts.

BTW, if you ever find yourself having to run a considerable distance on one engine, be prepared to address a leaking rudder shaft. The additional pressure caused by running at a constant angle to offset the torque of single engine operation is enormous.

This is your Captain speaking, enjoy the rest of your cruise.

I have 4 or 5 pumps and only one is on a separate electrical system. If I lose the house bank I can run one on the genny battery. I am thinking of adding a 110 volt pump to the emergency spares too.

I have been offshore when the unimaginable happens. I tore lose the plank on a stuffing box and used a friend with a 5 gal bucket to keep up with the pumps after using the engine to empty the bilge.

FWIW the engine hose is great unless you try to run in then you need to pick up the water at the transom.

THis should be an interesting thread, want to know how inventive members are. What did you do when the stuff hit the fan or what did you do to improvise. Making your own tools for maintenance will also qualify.

Why was the other thread closed? I just read it and went to reply but already closed. Sure it went a bit off topic but that is not unusual here. Now the original poster feels it's a waste of time to post a question. FWIW that post made me think that it's time to check the pumps on my boat. I bought a new emergency back up pump last year that I will now install as a high water pump under the cockpit. I have 2 pumps back there now but a third would help in a bad situation.

As for boats having easy access to rudder post, I watched a 40' Riviera get the deck cut out and the fuel tank removed because that was the only way to get to the rudder ports. They were glassed into the hull and damaged when the boat hit a submerged coal barge. Seen many boats, many built by quality builders, that had poor or no access to critical items like struts and rudder post.

67hat34c said:

THis should be an interesting thread, want to know how inventive members are. What did you do when the stuff hit the fan or what did you do to improvise. Making your own tools for maintenance will also qualify.

Click to expand...

I agree. It goes back to the McGuyver analogy Dave used in the other thread. Google doesn't work when you're 50+ miles offshore.

I wont travel offshore without a sawzall, a 24" pipewrench, and a 110 vac sump pump with 30 feet of hose. If any of the "off shore wizards" had a clue or any REAL WORLD experience, most of these threds wouldnt be happening, would they? This is how its done on a 58 TC.
For the record, THIS NOT, I REPEAT NOT, and will continue to repeat NOT GORETEX. In my opinion, and the power generating industry in general, that junk is a waste of time. Its as bad as dripless junk. Stationary equipment with mechanical seal is another story.
Of course however, after that big run offshore from lets say, Fort Pierce to Melborne, you run in against the tide with strong cross winds and find your GPS and plotters all dead because you lost your ground on the battery and have marginal fuel filtration left from dock queen sludge in your tanks, otherwise dont have a clue where you are and the owner is going to meet you for the "next big leg", you can arrainge for the gas jocky to call a mechanic to come down and squeeze your nuts (the packing nuts that is!). If you are really lucky, you MAY know how to do it yourself in an "under" air conditioned cabin.
It amazes me how many people dont realize the signifigance of keeping water OUT OF THE BOAT. Im headed up to the FLYBRIDGE for a margarita... ymwilly


exhibit A



ever see one of these??
exhibit B


exhibit C
Today, two years later. I am thinking about an adjustment around
2012 or 13... maybe if it really needs it. Gotta go brush up on pasco's book on how to survey boats with no clutter, tell people that everything they know is wrong, and dream about, well you know...

Dang Willie, your inspection hole looks amazingly like mine. I take it your 58 was also devoid of the factory option for accessing these man-sized nuts. I figure at some point I'll put a door with hinges and a latch on it.

OK, maybe I can share another helpful hint for those leaving sight of land on a budget. Realizing the possibility of finding myself dead in the water at depths of 150'+, I "borrowed" some extra anchor rode from West Marine, just in case. Sure is nice to do business with folks who have a 30 day return policy.

I did keep the 12V bilge pump, heavy gauge wire, hose clamps, alligator clips, and 20'+ of hose I bought from them. I figured it would come in handy sooner or later. Personally, I think anybody running one of these old 32V Hatts would be wise to do the same thing while keeping a 12V battery around. Getting to a 32V source quickly or replacing a pump while things are rocking and rolling (let alone sinking) wouldn't be a lot of fun.

Finally found where Hatteras stuffed the boxes. I knew it was a matter of time and I knew where they should be, but...
Under the headboards and mattresses of the twin beds, through a 1 foot square hatch on the bed and in about 3 feet. Did bubba have some chinese magicians that were relatives?
I was able to make 1/2 turn on them and get home to Chicago before undertaking the rehab/debubb and get into the real world. I wish I had a charter captain to show me how to do it... ymwilly




YGBFSM !!


this leaves almost 20 inches to lay down and get intimate with the friggers.


a couple of warm up laps before the big race

Dont soil the linens or get yer grubby fingers all over that paint!! What would that charter captain do??? Head for the gas dock! ws

Is that the new decor on the hatt trick?

yachtsmanbill said:

Dont soil the linens or get yer grubby fingers all over that paint!! What would that charter captain do??? Head for the gas dock! ws

Click to expand...

Man, them's some purty covers. Where's ole' Barbara Streisand when you need her?

Didn't realize your's came with Jack & Jill's. That had to be an even bigger PITA to get to those rudder shafts through there. Good thing Hatt's always have access panels to fix them big nuts.

Good help is good to find! ymwilly


I said a funny and Ppat almost made, well you know


then the subject changed to well, you know WHO LOLOLOL

Boatsb said:

Is that the new decor on the hatt trick?

Click to expand...

RRRRRRRRALPH ... Im hurlin' chunks...

Freeebird said:

Man, them's some purty covers. Where's ole' Barbara Streisand when you need her?

Didn't realize your's came with Jack & Jill's. That had to be an even bigger PITA to get to those rudder shafts through there. Good thing Hatt's always have access panels to fix them big nuts.

Click to expand...

More like Rob and Laura Petry. I couldve hit her from three feet away... DONT WORRY !!
The access to the BIG SHAFTS matches my, er, those BIG NUTS !

yachtsmanbill said:

RRRRRRRRALPH ... Im hurlin' chunks...

Click to expand...

C'mon... Ppat woulda fired me if I painted all that wood white. She likes the ambience of those earthy wood tones... lites her FIRE... if ya know what I mean!

yachtsmanbill said:

I wont travel offshore without a sawzall, a 24" pipewrench, and a 110 vac sump pump with 30 feet of hose. If any of the "off shore wizards" had a clue or any REAL WORLD experience, most of these threds wouldnt be happening, would they? This is how its done on a 58 TC.
For the record, THIS NOT, I REPEAT NOT, and will continue to repeat NOT GORETEX. In my opinion, and the power generating industry in general, that junk is a waste of time. Its as bad as dripless junk. Stationary equipment with mechanical seal is another story.
Of course however, after that big run offshore from lets say, Fort Pierce to Melborne, you run in against the tide with strong cross winds and find your GPS and plotters all dead because you lost your ground on the battery and have marginal fuel filtration left from dock queen sludge in your tanks, otherwise dont have a clue where you are and the owner is going to meet you for the "next big leg", you can arrainge for the gas jocky to call a mechanic to come down and squeeze your nuts (the packing nuts that is!). If you are really lucky, you MAY know how to do it yourself in an "under" air conditioned cabin.
It amazes me how many people dont realize the signifigance of keeping water OUT OF THE BOAT. Im headed up to the FLYBRIDGE for a margarita... ymwilly

exhibit A

ever see one of these??
exhibit B

exhibit C
Today, two years later. I am thinking about an adjustment around
2012 or 13... maybe if it really needs it. Gotta go brush up on pasco's book on how to survey boats with no clutter, tell people that everything they know is wrong, and dream about, well you know...

Click to expand...

Of course however, after that big run offshore from lets say, Fort Pierce to Melborne, you run in against the tide with strong cross winds and find your GPS and plotters all dead because you lost your ground on the battery and have marginal fuel filtration left from dock queen sludge in your tanks, otherwise dont have a clue where you are and the owner is going to meet you for the "next big leg", you can arrainge for the gas jocky to call a mechanic to come down and squeeze your nuts (the packing nuts that is!). If you are really lucky, you MAY know how to do it yourself in an "under" air conditioned cabin

could see why you need all that stuff as its pretty hard to get into melborne since theres no inlet.I guess those rudder posts realy leak when you cross A1A

A 5 gallon bucket brigade will out preform any dc pump in a emergency and they dont clog with that crap floating around in the bilge

Melbourne Australia.

That 5 gal bucket does move a bit of water if you have the manpower to run it.

From experience, By the time You can actually Scoop out say, 3 gallons of water with that 5 gallon bucket.....The game is already over for most of the boats on this forum. Think about it, where could You scoop a 5 gallon bucket on Your boat unimpeded and how high would the water have to be, to do it?

How far would You have to travel with the bucket of water to get it overboard?

I'd take 2, 2000 GPH DC pumps with minimal head over a 5 gallon bucket Myself, but still carry one 5 gal bucket.

Kinda scary ain't it, Kiwi

Kiwipushrod said:

From experience, By the time You can actually Scoop out say, 3 gallons of water with that 5 gallon bucket.....The game is already over for most of the boats on this forum. Think about it, where could You scoop a 5 gallon bucket on Your boat unimpeded and how high would the water have to be, to do it?

How far would You have to travel with the bucket of water to get it overboard?

I'd take 2, 2000 GPH DC pumps with minimal head over a 5 gallon bucket Myself, but still carry one 5 gal bucket.

Kinda scary ain't it, Kiwi

Click to expand...

You never know. The aft section of my 41 will hold about 12 inches of water and not leak into the engine room. I found that out when we had the 30 inches of rain and my hatches leaked.