Learning from Incidents
Looking back over our records, it’s interesting to note that engine failures and groundings consistently make up almost half of all the incidents that we in NCI Gosport record in our official log. In 2021, there were 9 were engine fails or groundings out of 19 logged incidents. In 2022 the figures are 16 out of 36. For this year so far the figures are 10 out of 21. These events – which mainly ought to be avoidable – usually put an end to a good day’s sailing or boating. It makes you stop and think. How do you avoid falling foul of them ?
In the case of groundings, the short answer is to know your position, understand the charts, and understand the effect of tides. A GPS-based navigation system and a depth sounder are a big help, but to keep it simple, if you don’t stray into shallow water you wont get stuck on the bottom.
For engine failures, she short answer here is maintenance and fuel. We cant know how many of these reported engine failures were actually caused by running out of fuel, but it’s simplicity itself to check the levels of fuel and lubricants, and do any of the other routine checks recommended for your vessel, before casting off.
You may not be mechanically-minded, but it makes a lot of sense to have a qualified mechanic service your engine, change filters etc, at the recommended intervals. Well maintained engines and fuel systems are much less likely to fail.
You may think of these items as just nuisances that you have to go through before you can enjoy yourself, but in reality they are important safety checks.
If you do have the misfortune to go aground, or have an engine failure there are two other important safety items that will help you whilst in difficulties - a lifejacket and a means of communication. Make sure the former has been serviced and that the latter is working correctly. The lifejacket is literally a life saver, because whatever your skills and type of vessel you never know when you might end up in the water, and in what condition.
The communication device is a means of summoning help, but for yachtsmen and motor boaters there an important issue to consider. Mostly these vessels have a radio built-in. All fine for routine chat. Not so fine for a yachtsman who loses his mast or capsizes, putting the antenna into the water. Not so fine for anyone sinking or on fire and needing to speedily evacuate; there won’t be time to get the tools and rip out the radio and battery, so they will go down with the ship. The answer is to have a second means of communication (such as a cell phone or a handheld radio) conveniently to hand, in a waterproof pouch. Maybe it’s a good idea to keep it with or near your life raft or tender. Maybe keep your flares with it too, so you can pick them up easily in case of an emergency. In fact, why not put an emergency kit together, with these plus some extra necessities (eg a first aid kit) that you can keep handy ‘just in case’.
