Boat sank on our dock

douglee25

Well-Known Member
Jan 13, 2008
4,744
Dallas, TX
Boat Info
Cruisers 3575
Engines
Twin 7.4l
I feel super bad about this incident.

My slip neighbor behind me was just down to the dock for the first time this season just two weeks ago with his entire family/extended family. He owned a late 80s Baja or formula cigarette style boat. Twin engine about 26-28'. Long story short he was down for a late nite cruise, I helped him tie up at the dock, and then they all left. The boat was there for a week without issue. This week my other neighbor came down on Wednesday night and only the bow was visible from the surface. They are unsure yet what caused it to sink, but my suspicion is on cracked bellows. The boat was in good shape, but it wasn't maintained or used regularly. I saw him today as he was cleaning out his slip. He said he's been on the lake for over 30 years and definitely didn't think this was how he'd go out. Tom really enjoyed the fall on the water after the heat dropped off in Texas. I think he has Parkinson's and his health has deteriorated somewhat over the years. He's pretty young too... Maybe late 50s or early 60s? What a shame.
 
Most boat sinkings occur at the dock, and usually it's due to a failure of some part (bellows, thru hull, etc.) Always sad to see.

A few years ago we had a sinking on our dock. A ~45' trawler that the owner had spent a lot of time refurbishing and getting it ready to sell. A thru hull gave out and down she went. Sad.
 
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This is also fire and sinking season for boats that did not sell over the summer? (;-)
 
Almost lost my 400DA a few years back. Out put seals failed. Came down to secure the boat before departing on an overseas deployment and she was riding way low; had 4 inches of water in aft cabin. I got her square away but what a harsh learning experience.
 
We had a boat sink at the dock as a result of the fresh water hose rupturing and filling the cabin with water. The owner hadn't turned off the water at the pedestal. I now always unscrew the hose from the hose bib - that way I don't worry if I turned off the water.
 
We had a boat sink at the dock as a result of the fresh water hose rupturing and filling the cabin with water. The owner hadn't turned off the water at the pedestal. I now always unscrew the hose from the hose bib - that way I don't worry if I turned off the water.

Heard that sad story several times over the years. Yet another reason why I avoid using the dockside water hook up if at all possible.
 
We had a boat sink at the dock as a result of the fresh water hose rupturing and filling the cabin with water. The owner hadn't turned off the water at the pedestal. I now always unscrew the hose from the hose bib - that way I don't worry if I turned off the water.

I turn off the spigot and have a shut off valve both at the spigot end and the boat end - not a bad idea to just unscrew the hose though!
 
I turn off the spigot and have a shut off valve both at the spigot end and the boat end - not a bad idea to just unscrew the hose though!
Use one of those quick connect fittings to avoid wearing out the threads on the boat side connection.
 
I have a dock side ball valve and a ball valve fitting at the back of the boat. I shut the boat side off every time I leave it. Like licking the car.
The neighbors had their Carver sink last year. They have only been down here twice all summer. Their hose broke at the dock side this time.
 
  • I have a haunted slip behind me. Last year while hanging on the boat i watched a guy crash into 3 boats across from him. Shift cable came loose and thought he was in reverse and thrust forward. Early this year new guy. First week in boat sank and nobody can fugure out why. Next guy in the spot 2 nd week blew motor. Installed new motor and 1st day blows dive. Season over. So sad but thank the boat gods they did not pick on me
 
This is also fire and sinking season for boats that did not sell over the summer? (;-)
Back in the late 70's when I was doing boating accident investigations for the Coast Guard we referred to October as Burn Your Boat month.
 
I never connect my dockside water to my boat. I fill the tank as needed and use water from there
 
We don't use the dockside water inlet either. Prefer to use the water in the fresh water tank and turn it over frequently .. keeps it fresh!
 

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