Take time to assemble a damage control kit for your vessel. Be prepared for unforeseen events on the water!
I manage the Small Boat Harbor in Valdez, Alaska. This is a working harbor and we provide berthing to many different user groups. These include commercial fishing boats, oil spill response vessels, cruise ships, and fishing charter boats. One of the things I do working with the Coast Guard and fishing fleet is to conduct commercial fishing vessel safety inspections and assist with training exercises for fishermen. Crews on commercial vessels train in using damage control procedures needed to control flooding caused by a collision or equipment failure. Learning to control a leak can be a major factor in surviving water borne incidents. This is an area of training that recreational boaters should regard as worthy of their attention.
A number of factors can cause uncontrolled flooding. The worse case scenario would involve collision with another vessel or coming hard aground on a rock or other submerged object. Boats can also develop mechanically related problems that lead to flooding. Things like corroded thru-hull fittings or failed exhaust manifold gaskets can allow large volumes of water to be shipped aboard your vessel. A two-inch hole on the bottom of a typical recreational boat can flood at a rate of 136 gallons per minute. Putting together a simple damage control kit can prove invaluable during an emergency.
A damage control kit can be assembled at a nominal cost. Many of the useful items found in a good kit are commonly available and readily at hand in your home. You can start out modestly and add to your emergency kit over time. Damage control involves fixing or fastening a patch or plug over an active leak. To control a leak you need three types of things: plugs or patches, fasteners, and tools.
Plugs and Patches
- Wooden Wedges - Wooden wedges are available from hardware stores or shops that specialize in chainsaw related equipment. Loggers used wooden falling wedges that are perfect for damage control use.
- Tapered Wood Plugs - Tapered plugs are sold through most marine supply stores. Purchase an assortment of sizes and focus on sizes that match your boat's thru-hull fittings. International Sailing Federation (ISAF) Special Regulation 4.03 requires "Soft wood plugs, tapered and of the appropriate size, shall be attached or stowed adjacent to the appropriate fitting for every thru-hull opening." Experienced sailors will attach a tether to the plug at each thru-hull fitting to ensure it's available when needed.
- Rubber Sheets - Put together an assortment of rubber inner tube strips, rubberized gasket material and rubber sheets for use as patches. There are also rubber and neoprene impregnated fabrics that work very well for this purpose.
- Filler Material - Rags, oakum, silicon impregnated fiber, and waterproof putty can be used in and around plugs or patches to help better seal a leak.
Fasteners
- Tapes - Carry an assortment of tapes aboard. Everyone knows about duct tape, the number one repair product sold in Alaska. There are also grease, rubber, and fiberglass tapes on the market.
- Hose Clamps - Nothing can quite replace a hose clamp when you need it to hold a hose in place under pressure. Hose clamps also work well to hold patches in place on leaking lines.
- Wire Ties - Nylon wire ties work well to hold things together and are almost indestructible. You will need a wire cutter or knife to remove them once in place.
- Twine - Small line can be used to hold a patch securely in place. Carry a couple different types like jute bailing and nylon twine.
Tools - Carry a good variety of hand tools on your boat. A simple mechanic's tool kit is available at your local hardware store. Consider having screwdrivers, a hacksaw, an adjustable wrench, a pipe wrench, and a hammer in your tool kit. A nut driver sized for the hose clamps you are carrying will be a great help.
A good mariner is a little like a good Boy Scout, the motto "Be Prepared" should often come to mind. Find a canvas bag, tool box or five-gallon bucket with lid to store your assembled damage control kit. Take one of your wire ties and attach a small flashlight to the handle of the kit. Mark the container and mention its location to other people on your vessel. Training on damage control is available through the Coast Guard and professional vessel owner associations. Contact your local harbormaster or Coast Guard office and ask about training opportunities that might be scheduled nearby.
