Captain's Quarters

The Moral of the Story

2011-06-06T07:56:00.000-04:00

Misadventures on the water always have the potential to turn in to real trouble, even deadly situations, at the drop of a hat. Although we did not get ourselves in to a situation that could have resulted in damage to the vessel or bodily harm one simple decision could have quickly changed the outcome.

After running a boat in poor shape down the river toward Lake Michigan for a 4 hour trip back up to Saugatuck I decided the boat was running too badly and had too many other things wrong to make the trip safely. The oil in the port transmission and v-drive were leaking and the pressure warning light was flashing intermittently, the port engine would not spin up past 1800 rpm, and there were several other issues which concerned me.

What really forced me to stop the trip were little things, all of which may seem unimportant by themselves but added together they did not make me feel confident about the trip.

1. The VHF radio did not broadcast.

2. There was no canvas for the bridge and no way to drive from the cabin.

3. Some of the navigation lights were not working.

4. The port gas gauge was not working.

5. We had messed around for so long getting the boat to even run down the river that it would now be dark before we got across.

6. Spring storms can come out of no where on Lake Michigan with a ferocity that rivals Florida Hurricanes. Fog can also drop out of no where in a split second making visibility nearly non-existent in the day time let alone at night.

Could we have made it? Probably, but it would have been a long ride without the ability to get on plane. People knew were we were and where we were going, but if the boat had broken down we would have been bobbing around in the middle of the lake for a long time before anyone got there to tow us in. With no radio I would have had to rely on cell signal from fairly far out on the water for communication, that alone is too sketchy for me. It's a big lake and with unreliable lights and no ability to connect to potential rescuers the chances of them finding us would have been too slim for comfort.

The owner was disappointed that we were unable to get the boat delivered but after explaining why he was alright with it. The bottom line is my safety and the safety of any passengers in my care comes first. I would rather lose a client than a life, mine or otherwise.

A wise man once told me - if you think you shouldn't do something, even for a second, then you shouldn't do whatever it is. Trust your instincts and put life and limb before any other factor when choosing a course of action.

Thanks!

Capt. Chuck Warren

Friday's Adventure - Part II

2011-05-26T07:48:00.000-04:00

The boat was in poor condition overall but since the marina it was in was just as bad we decided to try to get it over to Michigan City or somewhere a little farther down the lakeshore. After checking the boat over a bit more I decided it would be safe to make the short trip. It was a clear, calm day and

The guy who contacted us to run it up to Saugatuck had just bought in to the boat and I don't know that he had a very clear picture of the vessel's condition. As far as he knew the boat had been inspected and was in great shape, and would run well on the open water. My "co-pilot" and I set out down the canal and headed for open water.

We didn't make it 1 mile before the oil pressure light for the V-Drive came on. I shut down the port engine and left Joel at the helm so I could check things over. The drive's dipstick showed the oil as pretty low but not empty so we continued. I figured this was the source of some or all of the oil in the bilge. As soon as we got out of the no-wake zones I tried to run up both engines and found the port side would not tach past 1800 rpm. That left us making the trip at a high idle across open water. I called the man in charge of this poeration.

Since my GPS showed it to be a 5 and a 1/2 hour trip to make the 30 mile trip to Michigan City we decided to call it a day. I turned around to find a place to tie up for the night since the last place I wanted to go was the dump we just left. The second place I came to had a place to tie up but as I pulled in all I got from the employees was basically "What the f**k do you want" as I came down the dock. Let's see, I have a boat, you store and fix boats, WHAT THE F**K DO YOU THINK I WANT. Jackass.

Once I got them to understand they had the opportunity to make money off the repairs on the boat they softened up and we got the thing tied off and our ride came back to get us. I had now spent about 4 hours on this boat to go absolutely no where. The moral of the story is next.

Friday's Adventure

2011-05-23T07:54:00.000-04:00

I went over to Calumet City to pick up a 32 foot Carver and bring it back over to the Saugatuck area on Friday. The customer had represented the boat as in "great condition" but when we got there to pick it up we found a disaster. The boat was kept at a dump of a marina where no one knew anything about it or the customer. When we finally found the boat it was a disaster.

Besides being filty, the boat was in no shape to make the trip. There The canvas was shredded and balled up on the floor of the bridge along with a deflated inner tube. The keys were nowhere to be found. The fuel gauges didn't work. There was about a quart of oil in the bilge. There was lots of other things we needed to move/clean/adjust to get the thing running, but that was only the beginning.

Engine oil levels were good, but the port transmission appeared to be a little low. Once the engines started the port side wouldn't run for long or very well. When it finally smoothed out a bit there was no forward gear. After an adventure tracking down the only mechanic in the place to get some trans fluid we were told there wasn't any any he went off to the store to get some.

Once he returned and the trans was topped off we were able to get the boat about 1/4 mile upriver to fuel it up. One tank was full, and one was dry. This was a bad sign, and I was quickly losing confidence in the boats ability to make the 80 mile trek back up the lake.

More shortly...

Spring 2011

2011-05-07T10:53:00.000-04:00

Spring is here and that means it's time to get the boat cleaned up and ready to float. The list always looks huge when I first write it out but once I get going most of the tasks seem to fly by. Of course, bottom painting does not count, that never flies by.

One of the most important tasks is inspecting the boat for potential problems while it's still on land. The changing temperatures can cause things to expand and contract and loosen the old sealant around fittings. Hose clamps rust and break, especially older ones. Hoses themselves can also crack, which may not show until the engine is started with water pressure building up. Leaks and drips may not be easy to spot until the boat is in the water, but the most obvious problems can be soved before it's time to launch.

Remember to carefully inspect through-hull fittings as part of your Spring routine, the sealant around them can crack and separate from the hull, and they can crack themselves with age. Even one above the water line can cause problems, if the boat is heavily loaded or hangs on a dock line the fitting may become submerged long enough to take on water. When in doubt, reseal or replace them.

More soon,

Capt. Chuck Warren

Driving a boat is like trying to herd a snake...

2010-06-03T19:47:00.001-04:00

Imagine trying to herd a snake across a busy street. Got a good picture of that in your head? That's your first glimpse at driving a boat.

Boats don't really handle well. They are just as quick to react to the environment as they are to your commands, and when you ask them to go a different direction than they are already moving they are slow to respond. They are slippery and rarely stay still, and will bite you if you put your hands in the wrong spot.

Learning to handle a boat, whether it's small or large, takes patience and caution. It's easy to become overwhelmed by the vessel when you are new to the helm, but a few simple rules can help the most inexperienced boater build confidence quickly. Here are my four favorites.

1. The slower you are going, the less damage you can cause.

You're in a boat, what else could possibly be better? So why hurry to get anywhere. Take your time while docking or running through a no-wake zone. Keep off the throttle and let the wheel and shift lever do the work. Adding throttle increases the amount of damage a mistake can cause. Speed can turn a simple bump against another vessel or piling into thousands of dollars in repairs.

2. You can't fight the wind.

The wind always wins, so don't fight it - use it. Instead of trying to fight the bow in to a hard wind in tight quarters, let the wind spin you away from your desired direction. Once the bow swings use the momentum to complete a 360 degree turn to face the heading you want.

3. Assume the other guy is an idiot.

Boaters are general friendly and kind, but not always. There will always be arrogant and obnoxious people out there who think their years on the water has given them the experience and wisdom to stop thinking about safety and courtesy. These are usually the first people to crash, sink, or run aground. Assume any other boater in your vicinity is an idiot until they prove otherwise. Avoid close calls by swinging wide and steering clear. If you are meeting someone on the water head on and need to avoid to miss them, make a maneuver that's easy to interpret. Don't turn two degrees to port or starboard, make a hard turn so there's no misinterpreting your intentions. Let the other guy clearly know what you are doing so he can do the opposite. In a situation where someone is overtaking you, stay your course until they are well clear. And when all else fails, if you're completely unsure of what to do simply stop the boat if it's safe to do so and let the situation come back under control.

More soon, stay safe!

Chuck

Learning to Drive

2010-04-19T14:31:00.000-04:00

I recently spent several days teaching handling and safety to a new boater. I've been teaching for somewhere around 25 years now, and truly enjoy it. I love to see the confidence and abilities grow in new boat owners as they start to get a feel for how the boat reacts to their control and heading changes, whether out on the water or while maneuvering in tight spaces.

Many new owners make the mistake of thinking that since they can drive a car, they are qualified to operate a boat. After all, it has an engine, a steering wheel, and goes forwards and backwards depending on what you do with the controls. How hard can it be, right?

We are in cars from the day we're born until the day we die. We are driven home from the hospital shortly after we come in to existence on the planet, and also make our trip to our final resting place on four wheels. By the time we are ready to learn to drive we already know what the steering wheel, pedals, and most of the buttons do. We've seen the whole operation in action over and over for 16 or 17 years.

The problem with boats is not necessarily the actual driving of the vessel. What many new boaters don't understand and fail to take in to account is the environment and it's affect on the boat. The wind and current all work to change the intended direction of travel, or disrupt the state of rest which the vessel is placed in. A car goes where you point it, a boat goes where you point it eventually. If you're lucky. And the weather cooperates. An no one else is trying to help you by pushing off pilings and things.

Boats don't react to course corrections immediately, and even if they do they may continue to react until they have passed the result you were aiming for. Boats are also uncooperative when asked to stop moving in any direction they may already be heading. To top it off, the available paths available for travel tend to be very poorly marked. There are no lines or curbs, no signs, and no stoplights.

Boating is a fun and exciting sport, but also a sport that can go wrong very quickly. From minor damage caused while docking to major problems miles from shore, the results of bad judgement and inexperience can be expensive or even deadly. As an experienced teacher I can not stress enough the importance of any kind of instruction for a new boater. If you're buying a boat for the first time, moving to a larger boat, or throwing a second engine and set of control in to the mix I would highly recommend spending time with a licensed Captain who teaches handling and safety.

Before you throw a full cooler and your family on board that new boat, make sure you are truly ready to hit the open water. Learn the concepts of docking and maneuvering before you get caught in high winds or low visibility. Get recommendations on safety gear or equipment that is not required by the Coast Guard, but will get you out of a bad situation. Books and videos can help, but there is no substitute for hands on experience in your own boat. Get some lessons, insight, and instruction from a professional and keep your time on the water safe and enjoyable.

Chuck

Slips and Docks

2010-04-09T10:52:00.001-04:00

Even though we had snow here yesterday many boaters have set their sights on a date for launching their boat here in West Michigan. The weather is showing signs of improving, and that means it's time to get to work. Cleaning, tune-ups, oil changes, and more need to be done to make the boat reliable before heading out anywhere far, but there are other responsibilities at hand as well. For people who slip their boat for the season, it's time to inspect the lines and available mooring gear.

Docking or slipping a boat without proper lines is like leaving your car in neutral instead of park. There is a chance nothing bad will happen, but it's more than likely some damage will occur if the car starts to roll. Boats need to be properly and securely tied to the dock or seawall where it is left unattended, and the dock lines need to be configured correctly to keep the vessel from damaging itself or other boats and structures.

Before you even think about heading to the slip, take the lines out of their winter storage hiding places and lay them out for inspection. Look for rot and frayed sections, and make sure splices are secure. Be sure the lines are long enough to reach the pilings or cleats you'll need to use. Don't skimp on dock lines, replace or add any as needed before you hit the water.

Spring lines are often overlooked and can be the best way to prevent damage without restricting your ability to board the boat. Stern lines should be crossed to allow for changes in water levels without giving the boat too much lateral movement in the slip as the water rises or lowers. A good boat hook can allow the Captain to reach the lines from the boat much easier, which can also counter a decision to take the easiest path when tying up instead of the proper one. And although bumpers or fenders are useful, they should not be the cure-all for keeping teh boat from becoming damaged. There is no substitute for properly securing the vessel.

The worse thing a boat owner can find when he's driven down to the boat is that it's full of water, but a close second is finding it has beaten itself against the pilings or seawall in a heavy wind. Take the extra time and effort to carefully and securely tie off the boat and you'll take one more step to ensuring a trouble free season.

See you on the water...

Chuck

Summer's Coming...

2010-04-06T10:26:00.000-04:00

Preparing for the summer boating season can be a daunting task. There seems to be so much work to do to get the boat ready, and everything I finish either uncovers or leads to something else I didn't plan on. And no matter what, cleaning, painting, repairing, all seem to lead back to cleaning.

There are plenty of things to think about before launching, but the most important is seaworthiness. No matter how pretty the boat is when it gets wet, it still has to float. Before the boat is turned loose from the trailer or lift, spend some time with your head in the bilge.

There are so many things that can sink a boat, some obvious and some not. Loose or broken hose clamps on engine hoses can pour gallons of water in to the bilge and go unnoticed. Leaking seacocks can send a boat to the bottom overnight. Through hull fittings can also crack or loosen and allow water in, especially if they are close to the waterline. Check for leaks before the boat is left unattended, especially if you live far away from it.

Spring snow or rain storms can also sink a boat if the batteries or bilge pump can't keep up with the demands placed on them. Blige pumps need to be checked carefully for proper operation, and their abilities actually verified. Just because a pump makes noise doesn't mean it will remove water from the bilge, to be absolutely sure you can count on it run a hose in to the boat and test it for yourself.

There is nothing worse than that sinking feeling you get from a call coming from your marina, but you can take the steps necessary to make sure they are always about upcoming events and not high water alarms. Take a minute to ensure your boating season will get off to a problem free start, take the time to look and listen for leaks.

See you on the water...