Waterways and floods What are they and how to act?

If there is something that can scare us on board a ship, especially in the open sea, it is that a uncontrolled entry of water into the boat that can cause flooding and, in extreme cases, its collapse. Would you know what to do if a leak occurs? We tell you everything in this post.

What is a waterway?

A leak is one of the biggest emergencies we can encounter on board and occurs when a water inlet is created through the hull of the boat. Although it does not always cause fatal consequences, it is especially dangerous in the case of small boats, especially recreational, whose bilges have little capacity.

Sometimes, there can be voluntary floods to avoid the loss of the boat, which happens when to put out a fire that we cannot control, for example in the engine compartment: in this case, the bottom cocks are opened and the boat is taken to shallow water to beach it.

In any other case, if you discover water inside the ship, do not lose calm and act quickly. Below we indicate the steps you must follow.

What to do if you discover water on board?

As we have already explained, the time is the key factor when saving the boat. However, before implementing the anti-flood protocol, you must check if the ship is really in danger. To do this, the first thing you should do is check the type of water:

• Fresh water: This is probably due to a leak in the tank. The problem is not serious, although you must solve it to avoid deterioration of the interior of the boat due to humidity.
• Hot salt water: This is a leak in the engine cooling. You just have to find it and repair it.
• Cold salt water: There is a water leak that must be dealt with as soon as possible to minimize risks to the crew and boat.

Where does the water come from?

Depending on where the water entry route is located, the problem may be more or less serious, although it is always important to try to stop it as soon as possible. The most common causes of water ingress are:

• A poorly closed hatch. It is not serious as long as it does not affect the electronic equipment, although humidity can damage the interior and finish of the boat.
• Lack of maintenance: Inadequate conservation can cause the hull of the boat to deteriorate, giving rise to cracks and holes through which water can enter. Take care of your boat properly to avoid this.
• Collision or stranding: it can cause a hole of variable size in the hull, although the advantage is that, if you have noticed it, it will be easier for you to find where the water is entering and tackle the problem faster.
• Loss of tightness of bottom valves, below the waterline. Check these items periodically to make sure they are in good condition.

How to avoid flooding in the boat?

Once the water entry route has been discovered, it is essential to obtain dislodge more water than enters on the boat. To do this, the entire crew must work at the same time and in a coordinated manner:

• The first thing is to discover the waterway and plug it. In the next point we will explain to you in more detail how to do it.
• Next, you must start the electric bilge pump, always without turning off the engine, since doing so runs the risk of running out of battery in a short time. These are pumps that have a small electric motor that, when supplied with power, are started at will. There are also automatic pumps, normally installed in the bilges, which are those that turn on automatically when the water reaches a certain level.
• A crew member must take charge of the manual pump, while everyone else tries to scoop out as much water as possible with buckets.
• Depending on the position and gravity of the road, you should head towards the nearest port and ask for help by radio.

This is how you should plug the water inlet

Plugging the path as soon as possible is always the first step because, no matter how small the hole, it is impossible to drain the water at a faster rate than it enters: up to 240 liters of water can enter through a hole of only 10 square centimeters. minute, depending on the distance from the waterline (the greater the depth, the greater the water pressure).

When preventing water from entering, it is acceptable to use any type of material or object capable of covering the hole, although the most common is to use espiches: This is a conical object, made of foam or wood, especially indicated in the case of breakage of flow valves or bottom taps.

In the event that the route occurs on a sailboat, one of the most effective solutions is to pass one of the sails under the hull, wrapping it, so that the water entry from the outside is blocked, using its own pressure. In other types of boats we can count on collision pallets (reinforced canvas) or turafallas (a kind of threaded shafts with both sides reinforced with rubber).

Furthermore, and in the case of small holes in recreational boats, there is a type of polymer wax, capable of hardening under water, which can facilitate repair. In case of emergency, mats, furniture or even the body itself, can serve to prevent or delay the entry of water.

What are the highest risk points on the boat?

Leaks can occur for different reasons: in addition to being hit due to a grounding or collision, there are critical points on the boat that cross the hull through which buoyancy can also be put at risk. 

One of these points is the horn, the entrance hole of the propeller shaft, which is usually an anti-friction bronze bushing, the stuffing box with its gasket being the element that prevents the entry of water. This is an element whose good condition we must always ensure, since its breakage can cause the boat to flood. 

Another element to take into account is the limera, the hole through which the rudder stock passes, since a simple friction of the rudder on the bottom or a blow can cause the seals to bend or break, causing a leak.

Other points of utmost importance, and which must therefore always be in good condition, are the service download points and all the bottom taps, as well as the clamps and sleeves through which the engine cooling water intakes, washdown intakes, slide inlets, probes, etc. circulate.

It is, therefore, very convenient that every time the boat is in the dock, all these points are thoroughly reviewed and confirmed to avoid problems due to lack of maintenance.

How to prevent water from entering the boat?

There are certain measures that can help prevent water leaks from forming on the boat that gives us a good scare:

• Batch down the hatches as soon as the weather starts to get worse.
• Keep all doors closed valves not in use. During boat maintenance, open and close all of them to ensure that none are blocked due to lack of use.
• Periodically review all tubes coming out of the bottom valves and check that they are in perfect condition.
• Tie to the side of each valve a skewer of the right size to always have it on hand in case of emergency.
• Ensure that the bilge is always completely dry: This way, we will quickly detect any leak, no matter how small.
• At least a couple of times a year, check and regrease the tows.

Remember: the best way to prevent a scare from turning into a serious problem is keep calm. Send a signal S.O.S., try to reach the boat nearest port and prepare to abandon it if necessary, but don't do it until sinking is imminent.