Weed hatch sinkings
IT IS not only boats being caught on cills and in gates that cause sinkings, but leaving the weed hatch lid off is another cause, with Rob McLean of the Boat Safety Scheme giving a timely reminder.
Rob points out that owners of boats with weed hatches are being reminded by the Boat Safety Scheme to make a routine of checking the security of weed hatch covers before setting off, if they want to avoid that sinking feeling.
Recent sinkings
The advice follows a number of recent sinkings and partial sinkings where water ingress was through weed hatch openings. The routine should also include checking that the hatch seals are effective and are maintained in good working condition.
Boat Safety Scheme Manager, Graham Watts also presses the point:
"For boats with weed hatches, safety will likely depend on the effectiveness of the weed hatch sealing arrangements.
Accepted standards for boats suggest a distance of at least 150mm between the weed hatch top and the normal waterline on the boat, but changes to ballasting or adding equipment during the boat's life may mean the rear of the craft sitting lower in the water.
The boat's stern will also naturally pull down when underway, but the disturbance of water from the propeller may test the weed hatch seals every time the boat is put in gear. So make a routine of checking the hatch cover bolts are tight before setting off and any time the hatch is used.
You should also, at least annually, inspect the hatch body, the cover and sealing gasket to see if they are still in good condition with no early signs of problems."
Nearly sank boat
A few years ago boating partner, Jan Green, of the narrowboatworld boat wrote an article 'The time HE nearly sank the boat', when the editor inadvertently forgot to replace the weed hatch whist cruising the Tame Valley Canal—it was only her acute hearing of the water rushing in that prevented a disaster! It won't happen again! The photograph shows Jan clearing out the yards of sleeving wrapped around the prop shaft before the event.