Meteorologists predicting a mild winter—causing the atmosphere to hold more water, leading to frequent and intense rainfall events.
River Canal Rescue managing director, Stephanie Horton, is advising how to protect boats against sudden downpours and changes in water levels:
Should be loose
Mooring ropes should be loose enough to cope with sudden changes in water levels. If a moorings at risk of flooding. Run a rope to locations that can still be accessed even in a flood situation.
To stop a vessel drifting onto land when water levels rise, position a scaffold pole or poles, or a boarding plank, between the boat and the river/canal side edge and fix it into position. This acts as a mooring post, preventing flood waters from floating the boat onto land.
Consider, when mooring up, what could happen; will you need additional mooring lines (if so, rig them so you can adjust from the boat and get on and off easily)? If on a river with a strong flow,investing in chains is an option. Importantly, moor to something strong enough to hold 20 tons of boat.
Water ingress
Alongside weather-related emergencies, Stephanie reports badly-worn deck boards and leaking stern glands are key contributors to water ingress.
Engine bays covered by marine-ply deck boards are supported by a C-shaped steel channel with drain holes to collect any seeping rainwater. If the drain holes block with debris, leaves and dirt etc,water flows over the channel sides into the engine bay. Over time, the wooden deck boards decay,creating a wider gap between them, and so the downward spiral continues; more debris falls into the channel holes and more water flows into the engine bay. Prevent this by replacing worn deck boards and clearing drainage holes.
If a stern gland leaks when the vessel is stationary, it can potentially flood the engine area. As this collar of rubber or brass forms a barrier where the propeller shaft exits the hull, it must be well-greased with tight packing. The grease should act as a seal while not in use and you can tighten it by adjusting the nut on the stern tube.
May need replacing
If greasing and tightening the adjust bolts fails to slow the leak, the packing may need replacing. Address this fast; a quick build-up of water will cause the vessel to sink—even if you have a bilge pump, it will soon be overwhelmed.
When the propeller shaft is turning, a stern gland should only leak a few drops a minute (dependent on age and type). Water must circulate through the stern gland to keep it cool. If you’re unsure what adjustment to make, check the stern gland temperature; if it’s too hot, the packing’s too tight.
Water build up in the engine bay will cause the vessel to sit lower in the water, which in turn puts shower, sink or air outlets nearer to the water level, often with devastating results.
Bilge pump
Water ingress should not be a problem if you have a bilge pump. If possible, invest in an automatic one as it’s more reliable than a manual. Once left on the ‘automatic’ setting, its float switch dictates when it should pump, ensuring an immediate response to water ingress. And should a leak develop from elsewhere, such as the cooling system or hull, it will keep your vessel safe. If leaving your boat for long periods, regularly check the battery.
If you have a bilge pump, install an environmentally-friendly bilge filter, such as Bilgeaway—this stops your boat pumping pollutants into the waterways and is a condition of the BSS. And reminds Stephanie:
“Warnings against torrential rain may appear out of place, given this year we’ve witnessed numerous canal closures, restrictions and groundings due to low water levels, but as we know, climate change is leading to more extreme weather conditions.