Popular Post Proper Job Posted November 20, 2012 Popular Post Report Share Posted November 20, 2012 You may remember me posting a couple of weeks back about a local boat catching fire and sinking on the Southern Oxford at Enslow. The boat owner lost everything in the fire and the local boaters have been great in helping out. For my part, a mate and I raised the boat at the weekend. Two days hard graft, but it was refloated and has subsequently been taken out of the water pending a decision on its future If you’re interested, this is how it went. The basic plan of attack was to board up the windows and doors with ply, pump like mad from the cabin void and up she should come. Simple. So we set to in cutting the ply boards to the appropriate size and screwing them over the door and window apertures. An obvious issue became immediately apparent. The fire had badly distorted the superstructure and the cabin sides (especially around the windows) where no longer flat. Not a problem, stuff the gaps with rags. Eventually, we sealed the cabin (or so we thought), fired up the pumps (1 x 3” and 2 x 2”) and stood back waiting for her to bob up. After 20 minutes or so, we were making no discernable headway with regard to the level of water in the boat. We could see any flow in around the windows and stopped them up. I had been in the canal (dry suit with one leaky leg) and had sealed the sink wastes and a couple of other outlets, so where was all of the water coming from? I true British fashion, we shut the pumps down, made a brew and had a think. The water had to be getting in at low level from the front cockpit and/or the rear engine bay. Time to don the wet dry suit and get back into the water for further investigation. Due to the estimated age of the boat, our money was on that the boat had a wet bilge. This meant that water from the front cockpit would drain in to the bottom of the boat, run down the cabin bilge to the rear engine bay and get pumped out via a bilge pump. This would mean that we had some biggish holes right at the bottom of the front and rear steel bulkheads. Once in the water, I confirmed that, what I thought was the cockpit deck was actually the top of the water tank and that the wooden cockpit floor had burnt out in the fire. The rear cockpit floor wasn’t much better. Plan B was devised and, in fading light, we retired ready for the next days onslaught. Day two saw plan B mobilised in to action. It started by getting another 2” pump to increase the pumping power. The first point of attack was the bow. We reconstructed (as best we could) a new cockpit floor out of ply. This would then be covered with a large tarp’ so that as the pumps started to draw water in, the floor would sink down (with a bit of help) and the tarp’ would seal around any missing bits to stem the water flow. At the stern we boarded all around the hand rails to make a coffer dam. We then cut some tarp’s in to 4’ high strips and skirted around the stern and the sides of the boat. The boat was now pretty well wrapped up in ply and sheeting. It had to come up! We fired up the pumps again. This time, we could almost see the water level in the cabin space dropping. We’d cracked it. Every thing was going well. We knew that we had a few unaccounted for holes in the hull (exhaust, bilge pump, gas lockers) but the net effect was that the pumps were getting the water out faster than it was getting back in. The mud held on to her as long as it could but then it released its grip and the boat bobbed up in the water by about a foot. Result. We got her up to the gunnels. Success was in our grasp. It was then that the pumps started to block! There was the charred detritus of someone’s life still floating around in the cabin and it was now being drawn in to the pumps. We started to loose the in/out battle and the cabin started to fill! Prompt clearance of the suction hoses and then keeping a watchful eye on them regained our ground and eventually she was fully afloat. It was only when we stripped all of the tarps off the stern and sides of the boat that we discovered our main unknown adversary. The engine bay had two 10” x 6” ventilation holes cut in to the side of the hull. Luckily, our sheeting of the hull sides had managed to cover these holes and stemmed the inflow of water. It was only once we had got it afloat and tied up to the bank that we took a look at our achievement. There was the elation of success of a job done, but this was marred by the vision of the burnt out hull and the thought that this was once someone’s home. This was doubly so when, as we were packing everything up, the owner arrived. He was overjoyed that we’d managed to float it, but you could also sense the sadness of seeing what was his home in such a mess. I wish him well in the future and was glad to be able to do my bit to help him out. Photo's to follow in a bit 24 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nev Posted November 20, 2012 Report Share Posted November 20, 2012 Top bloke for doing so much, this is how we should all work.....pay it forward. Interesting description of how you achieved the recovery. Nev NB Waterlily Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlt Posted November 20, 2012 Report Share Posted November 20, 2012 Well done! But, for future reference, builders plastic wrapped around the hull would have done the job of the ply much quicker and for less money. The pumps suck the plastic into any distortions and underwater holes too, sealing any leaks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Proper Job Posted November 20, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 20, 2012 Well done! But, for future reference, builders plastic wrapped around the hull would have done the job of the ply much quicker and for less money. The pumps suck the plastic into any distortions and underwater holes too, sealing any leaks. Point taken The hull had sunk about a foot in to the mud on the bottom and we were concerned about sheeting not holding with the size of the window/door holes hence the pre boarding. As it was, there was probably about 2 feet of water differential before she popped up out of the mud. I think any unsupported sheeting would have collapsed/split across the larger holes. We had a problem with the sheeting on the bow and our jury rigged cockpit floor. The differential pressure was dragging the sheeting through the gaps and was tearing it from the fixing points. It held for just long enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leni Posted November 20, 2012 Report Share Posted November 20, 2012 It is absolutely right that your name is 'Proper Job'! You have my deepest admiration Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
churchward Posted November 20, 2012 Report Share Posted November 20, 2012 Thanks for posting "Proper job" and indeed it was one! A fascinating account of how you achieved refloating the boat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stagedamager Posted November 20, 2012 Report Share Posted November 20, 2012 Greenie! job well done, you have certainly done your good deed for the day year!! :cheers: Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlt Posted November 20, 2012 Report Share Posted November 20, 2012 (edited) I think any unsupported sheeting would have collapsed/split across the larger holes. You'd be surprised how well it holds up, wrapped all the way round the boat two or three times. I once refloated a wooden motor in nearly 8' of water with an open hold and just the top plank A-frames supporting the builders plastic. Edited November 20, 2012 by carlt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Proper Job Posted November 20, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 20, 2012 A few photographs of the deed - supplied by various people - Bones, Adam etc. I was a tad to busy to take many The first is one of the boat not long after it went down. It gives a starting point of the task ahead.... Returning at the start of day two. You can see the windows/doors boarded, but now we were about to instigate plan B This one is fitting the 'new' deck board. You can see the side sheeting in place The stern boarded and skirted ready for the off The pumps are on and she's just started to float A view of our dammed off stern and the rear pumps running Nearly up - desperately clearing pump suctions Floated and tied up alongside the bank Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaddingtonBear Posted November 20, 2012 Report Share Posted November 20, 2012 Absolutely top blokes, spectacularly well done PJ. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidc Posted November 20, 2012 Report Share Posted November 20, 2012 Well done PJ Have a geenie for being a Good Samaritan and setting a good example Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bargemast Posted November 20, 2012 Report Share Posted November 20, 2012 Hi P.J. Nice to read that there are still some people that do care about their neighbours, and the help of you and your mate to the very poor soul that has lost his floating home that didn't float anymore after the fire, is truly a great prove of support for the owner. Cheers, Peter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Proper Job Posted November 20, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 20, 2012 Incase you haven't already guessed. My partner in crime was Mark Paris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bargemast Posted November 20, 2012 Report Share Posted November 20, 2012 Incase you haven't already guessed. My partner in crime was Mark Paris If you name this action a crime, then I really like criminals ! Peter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 20, 2012 Report Share Posted November 20, 2012 Nice one - 'orrible to see the boat in that state but interesting to see the pics. none the less...... Well done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canals are us? Posted November 20, 2012 Report Share Posted November 20, 2012 Great work, superb effort It is very sad to see the state of the boat, but at least it is floating now! James Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tesla Posted November 20, 2012 Report Share Posted November 20, 2012 PJ, heard about the raising from Flick, sounds like it was touch and go for a while. Great job from you and Mark. Bernie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John V Posted November 20, 2012 Report Share Posted November 20, 2012 Very well done Proper Job in deed. definitely a greeny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wanted Posted November 20, 2012 Report Share Posted November 20, 2012 Top work gents! May you be rewarded in ale! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boathunter Posted November 20, 2012 Report Share Posted November 20, 2012 Top chaps. Well done! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeanS Posted November 20, 2012 Report Share Posted November 20, 2012 Congrats Proper Job Does anyone know why it seems to have burnt out in the middle of the canal...I haven't read the entire story...was it in motion at the time? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starcoaster Posted November 20, 2012 Report Share Posted November 20, 2012 Well done guys, so nice to see people pulling together to try and help another person out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wanted Posted November 20, 2012 Report Share Posted November 20, 2012 Congrats Proper Job Does anyone know why it seems to have burnt out in the middle of the canal...I haven't read the entire story...was it in motion at the time? Burnt ropes or moved away from other Moored boats I suspect Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plhoug Posted November 20, 2012 Report Share Posted November 20, 2012 It looks like the has decided to sell it. It appeared on eBay today, at least it looks like the same boat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teadaemon Posted November 20, 2012 Report Share Posted November 20, 2012 Good job, my congratulations to everyone involved. Having said that, I notice from the pictures that people were standing on top of the boat whilst it was being floated. For future reference for yourselves or anyone else who attempts something like this, I would strongly recommend that this is not a good idea. When a boat is in the process of being raised, particularly if it is stuck in mud like this one was, at the point where it comes off the bottom (and until it's more or less fully dewatered) it's exceptionally unstable (mainly due to the free surface effect, the reason the Herald of Free Enterprise capsized so quickly). If it were to roll over it could do so very quickly and with little or no warning, and anyone on the boat could find themselves in danger (a worst case scenario would be trapped in or under the boat, under water). I'm really glad it didn't in this case and everything went ok, but thought it should be mentioned just in case. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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