Today 0600 early morning of 11 March together with yachties here in SALVADOR on the pontoon and 4 big pumps we saved the yacht Swan Lake from Delaware, to go down, the water just reached the top of the benches.

While pumping the caretaker called the owner to ask where the valves were, but I didn't wait for it as boats in general have same systems, so started feeling underwater where valves were and closed them, also a diver went down with plugs to plug any hole he found as an extra precaution, in case we didn't find one.

Soon the water went down and we found the problem, which was a filter cover in the forward compartment, which due to  grevich corrosion a bolt came off and the lid flipped open with a 1 ½ inch gush of water flowing in.

Although both big bilge pumps where running, they could not cope with the inrush of water, and when the batteries flooded and shorted all out, it went fast.

Skippers should not leave there boats behind with all valves open as a little 8mm bold might sink it, also it can be wise to leave a note where to find all sea inlet and outlet valves for others in his absence to close them, in this kind of emergencies.

My advises where followed at once and saving items and equipment, started while still pumping. The caretaker mobilized extra people, so immediately after we started flushing the interior with fresh water and disassembling alternators and motors to flush them with fresh water, the engine although completely under, appeared not to have flodded, advice was given how to deal with it.

Click on the pictures for enlargement and then right-side picture for more........

More pictures here.

Salvador   Brazil   salvage