We spend so much time making sure our boats are decked out with the latest gadgets and accessories that we often neglect some of the—let’s face it—more important stuff.
Sure, your boat is your pride and joy, and you want it to look the part, but what if you get into trouble out on the water and need to act quickly? Knowing what to do if your boat is sinking could quite literally be the difference between life and death.
When your boat is sinking, time is of the essence, so you need to think fast and smart. Above all, the most important thing is to stay calm and try not to panic. Keep that in mind while carrying out the following steps to give yourself the best chance possible if your boat is sinking.
What to do if your boat is sinking
1. Safety first
Whether you’ve got lots of people onboard or you’re boating alone, safety is paramount.
You should never go out on the water without life jackets, and it’s important to make sure everyone onboard knows where they are and how to use them in an emergency. As soon as you sense trouble, insist everyone puts them on.
2. Make the call
You may well have to make a ‘mayday call’ if your boat is sinking. ‘Mayday’ is a globally-recognised emergency procedure word used as a distress signal in radio communications.
Get hold of the coast guard on your VHF radio and let them know your exact location and that the boat is sinking. It’s also vital you tell them how many people are on board, so no one gets left behind. Wait about 10 seconds for a reply. If you don’t get one by then, repeat your message.
Related: How to broadcast a MAYDAY emergency call
3. Damage control
Now you need to find whatever is directly causing your boat to sink—usually a leak or a hole.
There are several things you might be able to do to stop it or at least slow things down to buy you more time. If you can, try and wedge any holes with towels, cushions, clothing or even spare sails. Use whatever you have on board that can help slow the sinking down.
4. Pump
If you have an inboard or sterndrive, you could try disconnecting the water intake hose and using it as a pump. Place it in the bilge and then monitor the water level carefully.
5. Trim the boat
If your boat has been in a collision with another object in the water, the damage is likely to be on the forward part of the boat, near the waterline.
If this is the case, trim the boat up to keep the hole out of the sea as much as possible. At the very least, you’ll buy yourself more time—but make sure all the crew move too.
Related: How to use your boat’s trim to your advantage
6. Aim for land
It might not have been your planned destination, but right now, the important thing is that you make it to land before sinking completely.
Intentionally grounding your vessel is far better than losing it, even if you do incur a little damage in the process. Try and find a safe spot without sharp rocks or fierce waves.
7. Don't abandon ship
Obviously, you’ll need to abandon ship in the very worst-case scenario, but you should stay with your boat as long as it’s safe to do so. Abandoning should be a last resort.
You’ll have a much higher chance of drawing attention to the situation and attracting help.
Related: When is the right time to ‘abandon ship’?
8. Always be prepared
That old chestnut! Keep an emergency bag somewhere safe that you’ll be able to grab if your boat is sinking. In here, you’ll want to keep:
- a mobile phone
- handheld radio
- first aid kit
- fresh water
- food rations
- warm clothes
- a knife
- a torch
- a couple of emergency flares
Related: 10 essential items to have on a boat
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Please note the information provided on this page should not be taken as advice and has been written as a matter of opinion. For more on insurance cover and policy wording, see our homepage.
