Into The Drink

What to do when your boat is sinking.

- Stuart Reichardt

 If you’re a boat owner, and you probably are if you’re reading South Africa’s most popular power boating magazine, then there is a very good chance that you, or someone you know has had to exit a boat at short notice. Regular boat maintenance and safe boat navigation are the key factors that will keep you aboard your boat, but when the uncommon situation arises that you need abandon ship due to it sinking, you need to be properly prepared. Regular maintenance, which includes through-hull fittings, stuffing boxes and outboard brackets, among other maintenance exercises can be done to prevent problems, but occurrences such as fires or the boat striking an object and taking on water are sometimes unavoidable. Abandoning ship is always the absolutely last resort.

PFDs