Cockpit lockers/Don't get locked in!

[Gerry/BarracudaCD25]

Yesterday I put in a new Marelon 1" thru hull for my Whale Gusher 8 pump. This was a result of shearing the nylon thru hull from fender boards stowed previous to haul out as I noticed a hundred gallons or so of water in the bilge after I tied up for pull out. This must have happened motoring over as the thru hull is located on the boot stripe at the waterline.
Before I climbed into the locker to finish caulking and securing the nut, I thought maybe I ought to tie open the hatch as I do in the water so I don't get bopped on the head also thinking the hatch lock might inadvertantly lock at the same time. Being too quick to finish the job, I jumped in to tighten the nut. My arm bumped the hatch as I reached out for a roll of paper towels and the inevitable happened . The hatch slammed shut. I pushed up and it was locked. I thought death trap with no other people in the yard, cold. I saw I had air, settled down and had a think. I could wait for the yard owners wife to come by as she does everyday walking the dog with myself yelling out of the thru hull for her to release me or one of the liveaboards to come by who park near my boat. Then I thought I can kick out the plywood bulkhead and go into the cabin or try kicking the hatch up breaking the bolts on the hatch lock or fiber glass. I layed on my back and kicked up and pop went the hatch only to close again. When I pushed up again it opened without resistance. The chrome plated bronze hatch lock parted. Lessons learned tie open hatches even in the boat yard as well as in the water where wave action or wind will at a minimum ding a head,arms or fingers. Don't get trapped.

Gerry/BarracudaCD25
Upper Machodoc Creek, Potomac River
Dahlgren, VA

[John D]

Yesterday I put in a new Marelon 1" thru hull for my Whale Gusher 8 pump. This was a result of shearing the nylon thru hull from fender boards stowed previous to haul out as I noticed a hundred gallons or so of water in the bilge after I tied up for pull out. This must have happened motoring over as the thru hull is located on the boot stripe at the waterline.
Before I climbed into the locker to finish caulking and securing the nut, I thought maybe I ought to tie open the hatch as I do in the water so I don't get bopped on the head also thinking the hatch lock might inadvertantly lock at the same time. Being too quick to finish the job, I jumped in to tighten the nut. My arm bumped the hatch as I reached out for a roll of paper towels and the inevitable happened . The hatch slammed shut. I pushed up and it was locked. I thought death trap with no other people in the yard, cold. I saw I had air, settled down and had a think. I could wait for the yard owners wife to come by as she does everyday walking the dog with myself yelling out of the thru hull for her to release me or one of the liveaboards to come by who park near my boat. Then I thought I can kick out the plywood bulkhead and go into the cabin or try kicking the hatch up breaking the bolts on the hatch lock or fiber glass. I layed on my back and kicked up and pop went the hatch only to close again. When I pushed up again it opened without resistance. The chrome plated bronze hatch lock parted. Lessons learned tie open hatches even in the boat yard as well as in the water where wave action or wind will at a minimum ding a head,arms or fingers. Don't get trapped.

Gerry/BarracudaCD25
Upper Machodoc Creek, Potomac River
Dahlgren, VA

Gerry - I remember reading an article somewhere, (maybe eve on this board) wher it was suggested to install the latches on upside down, just to prevent this from happening. Wond help much on the dings on the head, but could keep you from being trapped inside. Since you will be replacing the latch anyway, might be worth a thought.

John
Currently Boatless
Tacoma WA



john_dupras@hotmail.com

[Bill Brockschmidt]

My neighbor, a former CD28 owner, told me that he locked himself in his cockpit locker on his CD28. He said he was fortunate because someone came by, heard him, and opened it the locker for him.

After that he said that he always tied the locker top open. A practice I think I will follow.

Bill Brockschmidt
DULCINEA
CD28 #234
Scotts Point Marina, Chestertown, MD



wbrocksc@friend.ly.net

[John R.]

Yep,...........I know the feeling, been there done that I hate to admit. However in my case it was well over 90 degrees here during a nice sunny Florida summer. I learned my lesson big time after frying in there for two hours.

Since that embarrasing and almost suicidal day I know have two short lengths of 3/16" shock cord tied to each lifeline on port and starboard, each line has a small nylon hook on the end which I hook around the spring loaded hasp and that hold s the locker lid in the up position. I have thought about switching to a small snap shackle rather then the nylon hook for added security.

Glad to know you made it out, welcome to the club!

Yesterday I put in a new Marelon 1" thru hull for my Whale Gusher 8 pump. This was a result of shearing the nylon thru hull from fender boards stowed previous to haul out as I noticed a hundred gallons or so of water in the bilge after I tied up for pull out. This must have happened motoring over as the thru hull is located on the boot stripe at the waterline.
Before I climbed into the locker to finish caulking and securing the nut, I thought maybe I ought to tie open the hatch as I do in the water so I don't get bopped on the head also thinking the hatch lock might inadvertantly lock at the same time. Being too quick to finish the job, I jumped in to tighten the nut. My arm bumped the hatch as I reached out for a roll of paper towels and the inevitable happened . The hatch slammed shut. I pushed up and it was locked. I thought death trap with no other people in the yard, cold. I saw I had air, settled down and had a think. I could wait for the yard owners wife to come by as she does everyday walking the dog with myself yelling out of the thru hull for her to release me or one of the liveaboards to come by who park near my boat. Then I thought I can kick out the plywood bulkhead and go into the cabin or try kicking the hatch up breaking the bolts on the hatch lock or fiber glass. I layed on my back and kicked up and pop went the hatch only to close again. When I pushed up again it opened without resistance. The chrome plated bronze hatch lock parted. Lessons learned tie open hatches even in the boat yard as well as in the water where wave action or wind will at a minimum ding a head,arms or fingers. Don't get trapped.

Gerry/BarracudaCD25
Upper Machodoc Creek, Potomac River
Dahlgren, VA

[Steve Alarcon]

I ALWAYS take my cell phone in with me. Twice as safe. Color me paranoid.

Steve Alarcon
CD36 Tenacity
Seattle



alarcon3@prodigy.net

[Joe Mac Phee]

Gerry,

All of the ideas described are good ones. For a belt and suspenders approach to the problem, consider the following.

On my 30, the lid is held closed by a padlock hasp. When working inside, store the padlock on the loop of the hasp so that if the lid ever did slam shut, the strap portion of the hasp cannot close over the loop.

Sitting here with paint brush in hand and staring at the thermometer,

Joe Mac Phee
S/V Iolanthe
CD-30/K:
Bristol RI



jvmacphee@aol.com

[Leo MacDonald CD33]

Yesterday I put in a new Marelon 1" thru hull for my Whale Gusher 8 pump. This was a result of shearing the nylon thru hull from fender boards stowed previous to haul out as I noticed a hundred gallons or so of water in the bilge after I tied up for pull out. This must have happened motoring over as the thru hull is located on the boot stripe at the waterline.

Gerry,

Re; Nylon thru-hulls.

On 'Heather Ann' I replaced all installed nylon thru-hulls with Bronze. With her on the hard while removing the second one, it fell to the blacktop and split in two!! Like your case, "what if", it happened as we moved the boat, brushed a piling/camel, etc. and we left for the day without noticing it;-((

So - The nylon stuff has got to go!!

Fair Winds,
Leo MacDonald
'Evening Light' CD33
(No slips avail. at the YC, so maybe) Groton, CT



macdoreNOSPAM@aol.com

[Don Carr]

Leo;
Come on over to Noank Shipyard may be some slips left or try Spicers.
More CD's on this side of the point.

Fair Winds
s/v Lolita
CD25 Noank, Ct



carrds@us.ibm.com

[D. Stump, Hanalei]

Captain MacDonald,
Evening Light' CD33

Just talked to Peggy @ Nonak Shipyard, they have NO slips left, well, one for a twenty footer. They have 4 moorings left, $40.00/ft for the season, works out to $1399.20 for the season. She said if you are interested, call soon, things are going fast..

Dave S.

[Leo MacDonald CD33]

Captain MacDonald,
Evening Light' CD33

Just talked to Peggy @ Nonak Shipyard, they have NO slips left, well, one for a twenty footer. They have 4 moorings left, $40.00/ft for the season, works out to $1399.20 for the season. She said if you are interested, call soon, things are going fast..

Dave S.

macdoreNOSPAM@aol.com

[Don Carr]

Leo; 860-536-9651. Also the web page is below



carrds@us.ibm.com

[Catherine Monaghan]

Leo,

If there's no room at Noank Ship Yard try Spicer's Marina (860)536-4978:
<a href="http://www.spicersmarina.com/">http://w ... na.com/</a>

Mystic Shipyard (860)536-6588:
<a href="http://www.mysticshipyard.com/">http:// ... rd.com/</a>

Mystic River Marina, Inc. (860)536-3123:
<a href="http://visitmystic.com/mysticrivermarin ... marina/</a>

Brewer Yacht Yard at Mystic (860)536-2293:
<a href="http://www.byy.com/Mystic/index.cfm">ht ... dex.cfm</a>


Cathy
CD32 Realization, #3
Rahway, NJ
Raritan Bay



catherine_monaghanNOSPAM@merck.com