Carpediem44DB
Well-Known Member
- Aug 18, 2015
- 3,230
- Boat Info
- 2000 Carver 506
2006 44 DB Sedan Bridge
- Engines
- Volvo TAMD 74 P
We departed right on schedule from Benicia for the 20 mile ride to the boat yard for the haul out and survey with a professional Veteran Captain and Surveyor (also veteran Captain). After a few miles of cruising at 12kts we start the engine performance and SOG tests. RPM we were shooting for was 2500 RPM and expected SOG around 18 knots. The best we could get was 2200 RPM and 13 kts. Its been 7 months since a bottom cleaning so I expected to not get to spec but....
The boat seemed to list a bit and the tabs were ineffective and the steering indicator started to to read way off yet we were not turning. I went below to the aft cabin to see what might be up, Pulled the aft hatch open and about shit my self! The bilge was full of water! I looked out the aft escape hatch and found the the swim platform 2 feet under water, Ran forward to open the ER hatch and found the ER flooded all the way forward. I reported the water to the captain and he immediately hit the manual bilge pumps. We slowed to idle, continued on course although closer to shore and found that the pumps significantly bailed the bilge in about fifteen minutes. Where could that much water be coming from? We had to use an auxiliary pump to bail out the engine sumps to reduce the water level where we could see the prop shaft PSS seal assemblies. At 1100 RPM they were both dry. Once the water level was getting to a comfortable level we increased RPM to 1600 and the starboard seal began leaking, we finished the trip at 10 kts at 1500 RPM and the yard was ready with the travel lift as soon as we got there.
I am not convinced that that much water could pass by the seal at speed and be completely dry at rest or low RPM. The props were pretty encrusted and the cutlass bearings looked a little warn and we did have a bit of vibration at speed so that may be it. Interested to know what you guys think.
I am seeing where Carver falls short on design and appointment though. No high water alarms and no emergency secondary bilge pumps. If we buy the boat I will be adding several safety features for sure.
Incidentally everyone stayed calm, worked together to form a plan and stuck with the plan. No call was made to Coast Guard.
We ordered the yard to wash the bilge down with fresh water as a few components did flood including the brand new Side Power Bow Thruster. The relay on it fried and stuck on to port so we just killed power to it. Ill call Side power to ask what we should do to mitigate the salt water intrusion.
All in all not the way I wanted my sea trial to go. The owner was not along for the ride and upon getting the report from his captain told him to FIX EVERY THING!
We are going to go thru the entire boat again and rule out any other water intrusion sources
Carpe Diem
The boat seemed to list a bit and the tabs were ineffective and the steering indicator started to to read way off yet we were not turning. I went below to the aft cabin to see what might be up, Pulled the aft hatch open and about shit my self! The bilge was full of water! I looked out the aft escape hatch and found the the swim platform 2 feet under water, Ran forward to open the ER hatch and found the ER flooded all the way forward. I reported the water to the captain and he immediately hit the manual bilge pumps. We slowed to idle, continued on course although closer to shore and found that the pumps significantly bailed the bilge in about fifteen minutes. Where could that much water be coming from? We had to use an auxiliary pump to bail out the engine sumps to reduce the water level where we could see the prop shaft PSS seal assemblies. At 1100 RPM they were both dry. Once the water level was getting to a comfortable level we increased RPM to 1600 and the starboard seal began leaking, we finished the trip at 10 kts at 1500 RPM and the yard was ready with the travel lift as soon as we got there.
I am not convinced that that much water could pass by the seal at speed and be completely dry at rest or low RPM. The props were pretty encrusted and the cutlass bearings looked a little warn and we did have a bit of vibration at speed so that may be it. Interested to know what you guys think.
I am seeing where Carver falls short on design and appointment though. No high water alarms and no emergency secondary bilge pumps. If we buy the boat I will be adding several safety features for sure.
Incidentally everyone stayed calm, worked together to form a plan and stuck with the plan. No call was made to Coast Guard.
We ordered the yard to wash the bilge down with fresh water as a few components did flood including the brand new Side Power Bow Thruster. The relay on it fried and stuck on to port so we just killed power to it. Ill call Side power to ask what we should do to mitigate the salt water intrusion.
All in all not the way I wanted my sea trial to go. The owner was not along for the ride and upon getting the report from his captain told him to FIX EVERY THING!
We are going to go thru the entire boat again and rule out any other water intrusion sources
Carpe Diem