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The words “we are taking on water” would scare the bejabbers out of a landlubber like me, but you kept calm and persevered successfully. As Churchill once said. ‘Nothing in life is so exhilarating as to be shot at without result”.
I am guessing, the calmness, comes from all of the years as a pilot! at least that is what help me stay focused when trouble arises for me… I am glad your problem was resolved relatively quick and it was nothing major! Safe Travels… and thanks for sharing your videos! John M. Kelly / Greenville, Ohio
You were smart not to panic. You were smart to dewater as fast as practicable, you were smart to practice handling on one engine, and you were smart to replace the hose on both engines. Glad you arrived in port safely.
I learned the term dewatering when I was in the Coast Guard. You are fortunate that your boat has thrusters. The big twin screw on board boat we had didn't have thrusters. It was not so bad getting back in the slip if the starboard engine was still operational, but damn near impossible to get her in when I had to come in on the port engine. Somehow I did it though. It was your pilot experience that lead to you remaining calm. Great job.
I can see the airline pilot training in your reactions. "Fly the plane" they used to tell us during real and simulated emergencies! Well, if you didn't have adventures would you be out there? This is all part of the journey. You will get through everything that comes your way! I love watching your stuff, keep up the great work!
I Just discovered your channel and now a subscriber. My wife and I own a 1993 Carver 390 CPMY. We bought it in Racine Wi and ran her up to Home port in Duluth Mn. We are hoping to do the loop in the next few years. We are considering the Carver 500/504 as our next boat as we have outgrown the 390. We enjoy virtually getting to know your boat and following your journey. Stay Safe and enjoy!
I bet the sunrises and sunsets are some of the best parts. So glad the motor was a simple fix and it's always a blessing when there are folks near by to lend a hand. Happy ya'll are safe. Be well and smooth water wishes for you guys.
Your calmness is amazing in light of what was going on. Was it just a busted hose that caused all of the issues? Glad it was nothing major that derailed your future plans. I always enjoy watching your videos and how you handle situations that arise.
WOW! That definitely falls in the "Never A Dull Moment" category for sure. I'm loving y'alls videos. My wife retires in 5 years (I am already) and we want to do the loop after that. We plan on getting our loop boat in about 3 years so we have time to gain and hone our skills before doing the loop. Your videos are entertaining, but most of all educational. I've already gotten some great ideas and picked up some tips. Thanks again for what you do and hope one day we cross paths so we can thank you in person.
There is always a new adventure waiting around the corner as you travel along America's Great Loop! Well Rev, I think Sam's answer to your question, "How do you stay so calm?" and his answer, "What else are you going to do?" speaks to his life experience in the Air Force, as a business owner, and as an Airline Pilot. Great example for all of us who are following your journey!
It's no fair that your service to our country makes you expert at directions and radio communication lol. Me and the wife will be doing the loop someday in our 1950 40 foot Richardson fbdc. My brain runs thru all that can go wrong on the water, grew up in buffalo and love the water, but can't swim lol yet. I never want anything to happen to you two, but when it does it puts me at ease about things happening. You are so thorough with the boat but things still come up. So I don't feel so bad in my mind about mistakes I'm gonna make, just pray nothing major and all fixable. Thanks for all the great video and you letting us all into your life. Thank you Sam for your service.
Thank you Dion. I have been blessed by the best training anyone could ask for between the USAF and the airlines. And having a wonderful first mate is a big plus! 😊
I think a little air force experience played a large part of your calmness. A tip of the hat. And that rubbed off on Rev and she seemed to have taken your attitude with all things under control. Hope the rest of the journey remains peaceful. Enjoy
Handled that well. Team work and nice weather and some willing helpful dock mates helps. I subscribed because Paul mentioned you guys on his channel recently. Take care.
I'm glad you got it all sorted out. Something similar happened to me on my 456 and when I opened the Engine room staircase , I was shocked to see the entire center bilge nearly full of water! Mine was a result of the hose clamps breaking on the Dripless shaft seal (Also Port engine) the seal holder started spinning with the shaft and tore the cooling hose clean off the nipple! Thus pumping raw cooling water into the bilge. I lost both engines and needed a tow in to the marina. I wasn't nearly as calm as you Sam.
Sam and Rev, Glad you are doing good!! Rev's reaction was awesome 👍 if the Captain is calm the crew stays reasonably calm... Where was the breach from?? Blown hose?? One heck of a way to take on fresh water... Safe travels 🙏 Scott At about 8:00 I think Sam named your next vessel " What else Ya going to do"
Thanks Scott. Maybe the next boat gets that name 🤣 The spill hole is about 8-10 inches before it will reach the bilge. That design ensures engine oil cannot flow over to the bilge. The aft and mid pumps came on automatically, but there was a wiring issue with the forward bilge. It did come on manually when I instructed Rev to turn all three to manual. Since then fixed the forward auto bilge. Water stopped coming in once engine was shutdown. Considered trying to get the seacock closed but it is difficult to do and felt the risk wasn't worth it underway and we were dewatering.
Losing an engine in any craft could creat some stress unless you are flying a B52 the dreaded 7 engine approach! I understand why she was talking on water, but why did the engine shut down? Nice job handling the abnormal 😁🛫
Hope you got to eat that fine breakfast! That was awesome how that worked out! I was thinking in my head how much a brand new caterpillar marine motor would be for that. You got out of that cheap! Cheers!
Couldn't have had a better outcome. No sense worrying about something that's happened, you just deal with it. Freaking out just clouds your thought process. Now, if you're sailing off a cliff in a car, go ahead and freak out! Can't wait for the next installment. Enjoy.
You flyboys are so calm in any situation. I know loosing your head doesn't help but that's where most people go. Good that you got it figured out. One question though. Should you have put the starboard engine in neutral so as to let the prop spin freely, reducing the amount of drag as you are under way? And your rudder angle meter may have been inop do to the port engine ignition switch shut off. Sail safely. Please continue to entertain us with your meanderings!
I thought of that (it was the Port tat was shutdown), but not sure it would have made much of a difference at that speed. Am investigating that but getting varied answers.😎
What a harrowing situation! Your calm demeanor under pressure is amazing. … As is your slip being between two mechanics! I am so glad all is well. Can you offer a hint as to how you compensate the mechanics? Would they be insulted if you offered money? Beer? How do you calculate how much to offer them? Thanks for sharing this. If I am in a similar situation, I hope I remember to follow your calm example.
Sure glad it all worked out! Gotta think your calmness is due to your pilot experience & training. Questions: why doesn't water flow between the stringers in the bilge? Are there no limber holes? Why didn't the bilge pumps come on automatically? Did you shut off the raw water intake seacock when you realized it was an engine cooling water issue?
The spill hole is about 8-10 inches before it will reach the bilge. That design ensures engine oil cannot flow over to the bilge. The aft and mid pumps came on automatically, but there was a wiring issue with the forward bilge. It did come on manually when I instructed Rev to turn all three to manual. Since then fixed the forward auto bilge. Water stopped coming in once engine was shutdown. Considered trying to get the seacock closed but it is difficult to do and felt the risk wasn't worth it underway and we were dewatering.
Awesome, what are the chances of getting a slip between two mechanics! Replacing hoses on both engines is a good policy, they were most likely the same age. All's well that ends well. Rev earns her "Bailing" Merit Badge!
I really appreciate your candidness and honesty in describing what happened. I am curious, though, given your experience with the hose rupture. Will you be putting hose replacement on a regular/different PM schedule, irrespective of what the hoses look like from the outside? (Or were there other causes (e.g., mfr defect) for which no PM could have prevented?) Thanks for this excellent series of videos.
One spot of bad luck followed by a good sized handful of good, can't complain too loudly about that! What are your thoughts on cut-off valves on through-hull fittings? Don't know if there's enough space to have the valve right ON the through-hull but I think that's where I'd want it.
Ours are right there at the thru hull. Just hard to get to and since the water leak stopped once engine was shut down, not a big deal. We were fortunate!
Are you able to install extra bilge pumps under the engines as a precaution for next time or is the engine pan/area equiped with a drain to where the bilges are ? Glad yall managed through it well...
Good job Cap. Do you have rescue tape on board? I had a anti-freeze hose from my port engine to the hot water tank start leaking. I shut the engine down and wrapped the hose with rescue tape and it let me continue 10 miles back to my slip with both engines running. I don't have thrusters so getting thru the locks and to my slip would of been a Rodeo...
Yes we have that except the leak was busted hose on the Port engine in a hard to reach place. It would have been next to impossible to do. It took two men one hour to get the new hose on that engine! 😎
Nice job. What was the single engine missed approach briefing like? Just out of curiosity and my lack of knowledge, was the fuel dock stop in order to off load fuel in the event you still taking on water? Again, very nice job and thanks for sharing.
LOL. Stopped at the fuel dock to be able to sort out what slip would be best for docking. Wanted to stern in so mechanics would have access, but it's a bit more difficult on a twin with only one operating engine.
Could not see any wear. Also had a survey done 4 months ago and replaced ones that the surveyor spotted. Just could not see any signs of wear on that one from the outside. 😎
We don't know since we bought the boat in 2017. But both engines have new ones on those parts now. I had the boat surveyed in April and replaced five other hoses at the recommendation of the surveyor.
If you guys havent been to sagutuck yet you should try it out! Its in southwest Michigan and theres so much to do and see. Its the perfect town. Much much better than South haven and the marinas are much nicer in sagutuck.
