supersailor
Contributing Partner
Well Guys, I almost lost Terra Nova Thursday. I got a call from the Harbormaster at about 4 pm that she was taking on water fast. By the time I reached the boat ten minutes later, the anchor was resting on the dock. Upon opening her up, the water was up to the bottom of the chart table. I tossed my shoes and the wallet on the deck and went for a quick swim. I found the tops of the sink drains floating loose and the seacock open for the sink drain. I shut the seacock and between two large pumps supplied by the harbor, someone on the manual bilge pump and three of us on a bucket brigade, we had her empty in about twenty minutes. The rest of Thursday was spent washing down the interior with fresh water and taking soggy manuals etc., home to save. Yesterday, the cushions and all savable items were piled into the cargo trailer and serious work was started to save the engine. The crankcase was emptied (lots of water in the crankcase and the oil replaced. All water was removed from the intake manifold and it was thoroughly dried with a heat gun and air compressor. The glow plugs were removed (they needed replacing anyway). The engine was turned over by hand for about a dozen turns and then the starter was tried. No spin. Troubleshooting showed a blown fuse for the starter to relay line ( I have everything fused). Hitting the starter again gave instant spin. We ran the starter for about two minutes with the glow plugs out. Very messy but highly effective for cleaning the cylinders. The new glow plugs were installed. The plugs were activated for 10 seconds then the starter activated. The engine started on the first spin of the starter, thak goodness! We ran the engine for 1/2 hour and shut it down. I The only problem noted so far is the alternator is dead. After the oil is changed again and the transmission fluid is changed, I will bring it home, soak it in a bucket of fresh water and thoroughly dry it and see if it works. It also could be the three stage regulator which also was underwater. If it still doesn't work, I will have it tested to see if it is bad. Today, I will replace the oil and filter and change the tranny oil. then take it out for a little run around the harbor. I need to pump the holding tank. It filled up during the submersion.
I still have not tested the stove. The engine was more important. Hope all is well with it as parts are no longer available for it.
The batteries were dead when underwater. They came back after they surfaced and are at full charge. All systems seem to be working (except the alternator). The settee cushions were all underwater. They are now at home and will be thoroughly washed in fresh water. The weather is supposed to be beautiful over the next few days so they should dry out nicely on the driveway.
Looking at what happened, I had been working under the sink over the last week removing the old fridge lines, wires, etc. and blowing out the water tank vent lines. I'm sure I jostled the sink line as there is not much room under there. I probably broke the seal at the top of the line where the lines connect to the tailpieces and they worked their way loose from the tailpieces and the drain line sagged over until it was below the waterline. The seacock was open so the rest is history. If the seacock was closed or if the drain line had been stiff, this would not have happened. Working under the sink for hours had been punishing so I missed closing the seacock this time. Recognizing this possibility, I'm replacing the flexible drain hose with a length of Trident 101 so it can't flop over again.
A moment's inattention to details can be punishing. Thank God Terra Nova is still above the surface.
I still have not tested the stove. The engine was more important. Hope all is well with it as parts are no longer available for it.
The batteries were dead when underwater. They came back after they surfaced and are at full charge. All systems seem to be working (except the alternator). The settee cushions were all underwater. They are now at home and will be thoroughly washed in fresh water. The weather is supposed to be beautiful over the next few days so they should dry out nicely on the driveway.
Looking at what happened, I had been working under the sink over the last week removing the old fridge lines, wires, etc. and blowing out the water tank vent lines. I'm sure I jostled the sink line as there is not much room under there. I probably broke the seal at the top of the line where the lines connect to the tailpieces and they worked their way loose from the tailpieces and the drain line sagged over until it was below the waterline. The seacock was open so the rest is history. If the seacock was closed or if the drain line had been stiff, this would not have happened. Working under the sink for hours had been punishing so I missed closing the seacock this time. Recognizing this possibility, I'm replacing the flexible drain hose with a length of Trident 101 so it can't flop over again.
A moment's inattention to details can be punishing. Thank God Terra Nova is still above the surface.
Last edited:
