Sinking in ICE !!! (???)

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Tanqueray

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I've been wondering about this for quite some time now.
For those of you that leave your Boats in the water all Winter where Ice forms and use Bubblers and things of that nature......What would you do if you suddenly had a major failure and the Boat was sinking?
For instance...I just read the thread entitled "ICE!" and wonder what would happen if the Bubbler on BOTH sides had quit....the Ice totally formed around the Boat....forced out a Seal or some other Major Component....the Boat starts sinking....and now what do you do? Obviously the River/Lake is frozen so you can't start it up and take it to a Marina to have it hauled.....there isn't any boating going on because everything's frozen so you can't call Boat US or Sea Tow....the Marinas are all closed for the season anyways......but your Boat is sitting at a Dock sinking.
So what would you do?
Another question....Are you still covered by Insurance?
 
My insurance is set-up so that it requires that i remove the boat from the water from December 1st through April 1st. So, if I stayed in the water and if I had a failure, I would not be covered by my insurance. That said, if I was planning to leave the boat in the water, as some in my marina do, I would make sure my insurance allowed it- -in writing. As for I would do, my marina is in salt tidal waters and as such, the water does not freeze, Yes I would call Boat US and expect them to show-up, after all, I pay them for the full year, not just a partial year.

I think the problem you bring up is more related to those in fresh water lakes....
 
You treat the same as in warm weather. You pump it out and find where it has been compromised and patch or repair it, until you can have the boat hauled. Trust me on this one. I speak from first hand experience.
 
Another reason why I keep my boat on a lift 12 months of the year. Even if the bladders failed and deflated, they would prevent the boat from sinking because the continue to float under the hull.
 
Saltwater doesn't freeze? Spent some time in the North Atlantic, Haze grey and far away, sure looked like frozen salt water to me.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Gregory S

Saltwater doesn't freeze? Spent some time in the North Atlantic, Haze grey and far away, sure looked like frozen salt water to me.

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Oh yes it does freeze, and it can cause havoc when it does.

I have no idea what Liz is talking about, I have seen air docks destroyed by ice before.

As for the original question:

1) Make sure your insurance policy allows you to keep the boat in the water year round.

2) If it sinks, call the insurance company referenced in item 1 above.
 
Yeah......You need a back up plan ( extra pump ) and be sure your insurance company is aware that you do in-water winter storage.

My insrance company is aware....that I do in-water winter storage.....and my coverage is in writting. The boat must be winterized and wrapped.....from Dec 1 thru April 1......and I do have a large 110V pump in my garage in the event of any problems..........so far its been 6 years....and no problems. I do keep a close eye on it everyday ! In the event we loose electric for any length of time and I start to freeze in.....I'd need to un-winterize the gen.....and run the ice eater.
 
My canal is frozen just south of my house. I am 4 houses from the bay and its only wave action that has kept it clear by me. All we need is a few really cold days without wind for the bay to freeze over. In the 70's the clammers all walked out to their favorite spots and opened up the ice with chainsaws. Some entrepid souls even drove out their pickup trucks. Salt water freezes!

I keep a HUGE sump pump in my foward bilge as a fail safe. My retired neighbor is around all the time. He knows to call me if he sees my pumps running. He knows to call asap if he sees the sump running. He has permission to board and do whatever it takes to keep her afloat if I am not around. I stay in for 2 winters, and out for 1. I make adjustments to my insurance when I stay in all year.
 
Shot yesterday and originally posted elsewhere on the forum...
Moriches.jpg

Moriches Bay, Long Island.
Salt water, tidal and frozen.
 
oldidler.png


In the old days, when the boat was iced in it gave us a chance to check on it.

Billy K.
 
Yep salt water certainly does freeze..takes a number of days at or below 20 and calm winds (lots of wind will stir up the water to the point where it won't freeze)...and it will certainly freeze...often we have both Northport and Centerport harbors frozen in the inner harbors to the point where you can walk on them..typically we don't get this until mid January....one winter it was frozen solid for about a month...no way I'd leave a boat in during the winter around here..just too risky...
 
quote:
Originally posted by In the know

I have no idea what Liz is talking about, I have seen air docks destroyed by ice before.
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LOL you got me! I forgot we were talking about frozen water. There is none in the CA Delta, even when water pipes freeze. My bad.
 
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