• If you log in, the ads disappear in the forum and gallery. If you need help logging in or getting registered, send request to: webmaster@southernairboat.com

Blub, blub, blub - ooops

Daddy Dave

Well-known member
Several FAA members with their personal airboats participated in last Friday's derelict crab trap removal at the Alafia River in Tampa. I was one of those.

After the event terminated at noon, we decided to go for a "quick ride." Out the Alafia and north along Tampa Bay's beautiful eastern edge. A mature American Bald Eagle led our way from his perch at the river mouth. Absolutely spectacular weather.

I was in the lead and headed up a beautiful mangrove creek in search of - something. Suddenly, around a curve the creek ended in a wall of high mangroves. I started to powerspin the boat to stop it - and all I saw was three airboats coming my way. I let off the gas and my starboard corner dipped.......blub, blub, blub. Down she went in about eight inches more water than my gunwale height.

We quickly attached an long length of nylon rope to Capt. Swampjet's bow and to the bow eye of my swamped boat and he started back out the creek towards a sandbar a few hundred yards away. The bow to bow pull went pretty well until a turn had to be manipulated - then, it was straiten the tow boat up and start over. We quickly got my boat to the shallower water and the 1,500 gph bilge pump dried her out in a few minutes.

Water had never reached the engine, so we pumped the fuel tank a bit to remove some water and hit the mag switch - lit off like a champ. Three water removal stops later and she was on the trailer. No damage & no injuries - except to my pride.

Lessons learned:

1) I was real glad my passenger and I were wearing PFDs.
2) Creeks sometimes end without warning.
3) Powering out of a dipped stern corner is not always possible.
4) Bilge pumps move a lot more water with premium smooth bore hose than with the cheaper corrugated version.
5) The lead boat gets to the poop pile first.
6) Just about the time you think you know how to react to the unexpected, the unexpected plays a dirty trick.
7) Cell phones do not swim, nor are they "water resistant".
 
Big D - An oversized bilge pump saved our butts last weekend too. Similar situation. Probably the same wind over there in Tampa as we had out in Cocoa. The wind this weekend was brutal! But otherwise, perfect temperature and wonderful skies.

Right on about the smooth bore hose. Be sure not to restrict the flow anywhere. Use oversize bulkfitting if necessary and as few as possible elbow fittings. Sweeping elbow fittings reduce head pressure much better than standard pvc 90 deg elbows.

At 1500 gph, reaching over and flipping the pump on when you see it coming may (just may) pump out an extra few gallons as the water is rushing in - could be enough to save the day or at least give you more reaction time. It don't hurt a pump to run dry (within reason) and I often will flip the switch on when I see a difficult situation approaching.

Dave, I know something that needs to be in your Christmas or birthday list!
http://www.swps.com/pelmiccas102.html
And at less than $18 it could just about be considered a stocking stuffer. I don't go on the boat without mine.

Glad you made it out of there fine. I was gonna say that any wreck you walk away from is alright.... but if you were by yourself, you could be finding yourself walking away, and that would be bad! :lol:

matt.
 
BigDaddy,
I am glad to be of asistance. I really don't like it when BAD things happen to my wingman but no blood was spilled and lessons were learned so it must be for a reason. Just another example that we don't have problems, we have opportunities to excell (and spare parts, rope, tools etc.).

Capt. Bob/Swampjet
 
Hey BigD, glad you got away with what little you did. It coulda been a whole lot worse. Glad ya'll are alright. Later
 
Yep, very happy here too that all is well with folks and equipment. It was great to have competent assistance as in Capt. Swampjet, Capt. Gatorstick and Cadillac Alan. Actually, it was a very simple deal to get the boat up - gunwales above the waterline - then, we simply let the bilge pump do its job. Was very lucky about the water depth = no engine involvement. Hope someone in SA land learns from my mishap. That's why I shared it with my SA family.
 
BigDaddy,
I don't know if you heard, but Gatorstick had starter trouble and I had to tow him in. Glad you made it in ok. We didn't get back until 5:00.
 
GLAD THING ARE ALRITE BD YOU KNOW BETTER , BUT, YOUR A SMART MAN ! MOST POEPLE WOULD HAVE MADE THE CREEK LONGER ! :D SWAMP JET DID YOU GET HIS SS NUMBER BEFORE HOOKED UP TO HIM ! :shock:
 
Kind of reminds me of a mishap in the huntin woods once with my truck. The county had dug a huge trench to install a culvert in the road and there was no signage to warn you. It was dark and I came on it rather fast (we were out foolin around after dark).

The results were very similar to what you see in my avatar. Lesson: don't go too fast in low visibility situation even if you have been there before!

Glad you fared well, and you're very right about the smooth hose vs the corrugated.
 
Hey Red Dwarf, I did almost the same thing in a Toyota 4 X 4 , I was trying to cut some dogs off during hunting season and took a short cut thru some woods, it was going fine till I hit a fire lane ( ditch ) , I hit so hard I bent my steering wheel, tie rod ends and put a downward wrinkle in my truck bed over the axle. Talk about a headache and a light feeling in the wallet afterwards. But I did learn a lesson. Later
 
Big Daddy,

Glad to hear you're ok and the engine too! Mood's got me talked into one of those boxes for the phone.

I remember all the tales told here and around our SA camp fires of mishap and mayhem :cry: But if I have to slow down any more than I already go I'll be idleing around all day!

Basketcase
 
Big Daddy - Glad it only cost some embarassment and you had the needed help.

I know it is a bad feeling seeing that water coming over the side.
:shock: :x :oops:

Has happened to the best and will probably happen to the rest. :wink:

Basket - Just keep it slow and easy, but remember to bring the spare parts and tow rope. You probably will be the one staying afloat the longest. :lol:

Big Daddy - Thanks for sharing the story. Continual reminders of issues may help someone, especially when they come from people with more experience.
 
Back
Top