Rotted transom causes sinking?

The square is probably where the outboard engine mounting plate was. You can clearly see the rotted coring in the video.
Bill
 
"two people on board and they didn't have any life jackets"

Crossing the stream to Bimini with no life jackets? "Stupid" just doesn't even start to cover it.

Bob
 
Bob there are conflicting reports one said it happened so fast they couldn't get to the floatation devices only that they made a Mayday call with GPS coordinates then one saying there were no PFDs onboard. This supports Pascals great idea that PFDs should be near the rear of the boat in case you can't get into a cabin.
I don't trust the News service to get it right.
Bill
 
Looks like an older Grady White, can't tell much of vessel condition based on the a quick video clip. These folks did have enough sense to STAY WITH THE BOAT.

USCG requirements say PFD's must be accessible. On a commercial passenger vessel, PFD's are distributed through-out the vessel, any where the passengers are likely to be. They will be in well marked, easy open lockers, over head racks some with quick release mechanisms, PFD's are stored in open racks overhead in the pilot house for easy access by the crew. Stacking ALL of your PFD's in one locker is not good practice. Keeping your PFD's in one of those zippered bags that says "Life Jackets" that the strip mall marine store sell will get you written up if you are boarded as those PFD's are not considered accessible.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Billylll

Bob there are conflicting reports one said it happened so fast they couldn't get to the floatation devices only that they made a Mayday call with GPS coordinates then one saying there were no PFDs onboard. This supports Pascals great idea that PFDs should be near the rear of the boat in case you can't get into a cabin.
I don't trust the News service to get it right.
Bill

Click to expand...


It was the LE that said on camera that they radioed their GPS coordinates and said they had no life jackets on board.

Either way though, Pascal is right, all the PFD's on the planet will do you no good if you can't get to them.

I've often wondered though about the best place to keep them. For me, when underway, I keep two up on the bridge and two in the salon. But, what about in the case of an engine fire? Engines are in the rear so you may not be able to get to anything in the rear. Should a couple be stowed on the bow as well?

Bob
 
I keep a few on bridge.
My boat has life jackets in fold down storage compartments on overhang just over engines.
I thought about this one day and decided that there is no way to reach them in the event of a engine fire and heavy smoke.
I have seen people hang them on the back of the bridge seats.
I may add some more on bridge.
In anchor locker I have fenders, which could always be used as well short term and if I abandoned ship off front I would throw them in water. Lash them together and float on that!
 
Just thinking -- if I was offshore in an older outboard powered boat I'd be very tempted to actually wear a comfortable PDF, particularly if the seas were kicking up.
 
It is not clear wether there were pfds on board and they didn't have them while in the water or there were no pfds at all.

While under way mine are in a ditch bag in the cockpit. If the boat goes down quick the'll float.
 
quote:
Looks like an older Grady White, can't tell much of vessel condition based on the a quick video clip
Click to expand...


I once saw an older Grady White being towed in Jones Inlet by the Coast Guard, the outboard was gone and you could see the transom was badly rotted and broke off at the top. The older Gradys are known for transom rot issues.
 
It looks like a rotten transom core. I am not suprised that this happened given the design and age and location. This is great example of catostrophic failure due to water entering the core. I am sure there were signs, cracking, before that failure occured. I was about the same distance from shore fishing here on Saturday in my OB skiff. My boat is 1964 model. I rebuilt my transom this past winter with wood and fiberglass then capped it with 1/4 alumimum plate. I could see flexing, more than it should, so I had braced it with 90 dgree angle iron thru bolted, in a prior season. I'd say they were lucky! REGARDING THE PFD: I wear a PFD all the time... I even went with a jack line Saturday due to the conditions plus I was alone. I can not imagine not having a PFD within reach in their situation. In our water temp you'd be beyond recoveable in about 10 minutes, that's with the PFD on! Without most people quickly cramp and sink. Geez... I don't get it... I like to go out as much as I like to come back.
 
Yeah, it happens -- and hopefully the extent of the damage is losing the motor. It just doesn't make a lot of sense to me (warning - rant). They're building these big fishing platforms today with 6 or 7 outboards hanging off the back. That's a lot of weight and propulsion cantilevered out over the transom. When the boat is pounding through the chop that weight is out at the end of a long beam taking a real beating.

Add to that the engineering problem of making a transom strong enough to take the load while keeping it light. You can't make the transom overly heavy because you're going to add the weight of the motors. Then you've got time to worry about. Nearly all materials degrade over time, and for some of the materials they're using we don't have any real long term data -- we're guessing.

Then you've got the fact that outboards are inherently problematic. You have to sacrifice durability for weight. You have to pack everything into a small package, figure out how to dissipate the heat, deal with corrosion, make it serviceable (or at least one would hope). And of course you lose the use of the transom for anything fun like fishing.

Boat builders love outboards because there's no engine installation to speak of. Outboards make a boat easier to put onto a trailer. Outboards make re-powering a cinch. Outboards keep outboard motor shops in business. They're great for skiffs, inflatables and small sailboats. Offshore??? Maybe in a nice new one from a reputable builder, but other than that I like having the engine where it belongs on a boat.
 
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