As you head out onto the water in your boat, you anticipate a day of relaxing in the sun, with a gentle breeze blowing and peaceful views all around. Things don’t always go as planned. Few things strike fear in the heart of a boat owner as quickly as the idea of the vessel going down and getting swallowed up by the ocean. Even if you have excellent OC boat insurance, it does little to tame the fears of a flooding boat. Though the situation rarely arises, it’s best to arm yourself with information on how to manage flooding onboard your boat to ensure your outing does not turn into a life-threatening disaster.
Sources of Flooding
Every boater knows to stay alert to dangers on the water. You keep your eyes peeled on the horizon, track the weather, and remain on the lookout for obstacles. You should also know the signs of potential flooding when you spot them.
It may be obvious that a torrential downpour can lead to too much water in a tightly sealed boat. You should also be aware that livewells and bilge pumps can become a source of flooding from malfunctioning parts. Other sources of potential trouble include loose rivets, through-hull failures, or holes in the hull from a minor collision.
Temporary Fixes for Flooding
It’s important to know how to keep a boat from sinking. When you know the steps to take, you can remain calm and take care of the situation when it arises. If water begins filling your vessel, take these steps to stop the flooding:
- Anyone who is not wearing a life jacket needs to put one on.
- If your bilge pump is not automatic, turn it on. Have someone on standby with a manual bilge pump or hand bailer, if possible.
- Close all doors and hatches. This helps to maintain buoyancy and slows down water intrusion.
- Close any discharges and drains that normally sit above the water line to prevent more water from coming in if the boat dips lower into the water.
- Identify the cause of flooding.
- Use anything you have to stop the influx of water. Duct tape, rags, pillows, plastic bags, and plungers are just a few ideas of common items that can be used. Get as creative as you need to!
- Once you have the flooding under control, even if you haven’t stopped it completely, moor safely or move to shallower waters. Contact the local Coast Guard or nearby boaters for help.
OC Boat Insurance Coverage
Even though flooding is rare, you should make sure your insurance provides consequential damage protection. Many policies do not cover consequential damages that can result in your boat sinking. Without that protection, you could be responsible for repairing flood damages or raising your boat if it does sink.
About Mariners Insurance
Mariners General Insurance Group was founded in 1959 to protect boat owners and marine business clients. We are marine insurance experts and insure boats worldwide – in every ocean on the planet. Marine insurance is critical if you own a boat or nautical business. Trust the professionals with all of your Boat Insurance needs – trust Mariners Insurance. Call us at (888) 402-5018 any time you have questions or concerns about insurance for your vessel or marine business.
