Safety with flooding cockpit

We've taken water into the cockpit twice. The first time coming into Deception pass on an very rough day combined with the wrong tide, took a pretty nasty wall of water over the bow and cabin. Enough water back there to take notice.

The second time when a gale kicked up on one of the short Puget Sound shrimping days. We had to retrieve the heavy gear 2:00 pm or risk loosing it and possibly get a ticket from fish and wildlife. We probably should have just left the gear and took our chances with the authorities, but instead we used the electric pot puller from the rear of the boat, which in turn acted like an anchor tp pull the water line down. Took a solid wave or two over the splash well. That ended up being about 8-12" of water in the cockpit.

Both times the pumps kicked on and moved it all out. I agree with two bilge pumps in the 22. That's an easy upgrade everyone should do.
 
Baxter":hoguypi7 said:
The best large volume of water in a cockpit removal is a frantic person and and a good bucket.
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Not when your afraid to open the door due to the in rush of water :lol: :thup
 
Wandering Sagebrush":3ch102ux said:
Even though I haven’t practiced what I am about to preach here, I’m of the belief a good manual pump (E.G. Whale Gusher) is a good idea.
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''

I have owned two of the Whale Gusher 30's in Sail boats, and had to use them several times. They will move about 30 gallons a minute. But it is hard work.

This is a double diaphragm pump--pumps out on both push and pull strokes...Also any plug can be relieved in seconds by opening the chambers. A bit of large kit for a c Dory 22 however..

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T.R. Bauer":y3siioj1 said:
This is a terrible thread....gave me nightmares last night!
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:lol: Tonight before heading to bed imagine each successive wave coming before your pumps have cleared the cockpit. Each one adding more water than the last because of your compromised freeboard. You decide its time to head to cockpit with your 5gal bucket to bail. The door is locked from the outside from the pressure of the water. You thank Cdory for building such a stout bulkhead with quality marine rated glazing. Then the other half of your brain thinks no, it would have been better if the glass broke sooner. You don survival gear/ditch bag and head towards the forward hatch. Standing on the bunk you unlock hatch and mentally prepare to open it, exit as quickly as possible then close it behind you to seal. Standing by the windshield you attach your tether to the roof rail and prepare to ride this bucking bronco back to the cockpit like The Lone Ranger running along the roof of a racing freight train. Halfway there the final wave completely fills the cockpit continuing to crest the roof sweeping you onto the foredeck. As you struggle to regain footing, pulling on a tether that somehow appears suddenly very flimsy your mind wanders to that moment in Cabela's and are eternally thankful that you didn't cheap out and splurged for the climber rated carabiners. Shivering in the ice cold water you AWAKE realizing its just cold sweat,,,,,

You will thank me for not being able to sleep all night because you will be first in line tomorrow morning at marine supply to buy every available pump.

You might even thank me for my post 7-8 years ago when I went against the flow and urged people not to remove their flotation foam.

Bored here decided to write a novel,

Rob
 
Rob, Thanks a lot :shock: For a minute there I was thinking "Perfect Storm"

You forgot the part about cutting the inflatable loose, clipping that bow line to my harness and taking that forward in case I have to get off the point end at some point.

Cheers,

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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