Hitting A Log, Rock, Or Debris - Symbol REDTAIL Operation Manual

If you think it may not be an emergency:
If you have any concern about your long-term safety, contact the Coast Guard, either normally or using an
urgent "PAN PAN" call. Tell them that you are calling to advise them about your situation, so they can keep
in touch.
Be sure that the status and safety of the boat and crew is someone's responsibility while you sort out the
boat's problem. For example, delegate your mate to keep a watch for hazards, or to operate the boat on
course slowly while you deal with the difficulty.
Here is a checklist for solving the problem:
1. Isolate it;
2. Get the manuals;
3. Get parts;
4. If necessary, call AYC for help.
Over the years, most problems with charter boats are caused by misuse! Holding tanks overflow because
they aren't checked; heads clog because foreign matter (especially facial tissues and tampons) are put in
them; engines fail because they run out of fuel, then must be "purged" to re-start. Use the boat carefully,
and you'll avoid these problems.
Almost all problems that are not operator-caused, i.e., that are boat deficiencies, are caused by pumps that
fail, hoses and belts that break, and seawater strainers that get clogged. Generally, these problems are
annoyances, and usually they are inconvenient, but they still can happen. Try to stay calm, collected, and
be a professional by dealing with the problem in a businesslike, calm way. It will make everyone's day a
better one!
Hitting a Log, Rock, or Debris ----- Please Don't!
Hitting a log is a real risk in our Northern waters because logging, and "log rafts," are such a big part of our
commerce.
If you hit a log did you put a hole in the boat? Idle the engines then think. Usually, you can tell just by
where the noise of the hit came from. Check the bilges (don't forget the lazarette area, where the rudder
posts are) after putting the engines into idle and/or neutral, if necessary. If you did "hole" the boat, go
immediately to the "If an Emergency" on the preceding pages.
If no hole, and still idling, is the boat vibrating? If "yes," put each engine into neutral in turn, identify and
shut down the offender. Then continue on one engine. Call AYC after you reach the closest safe harbor. If
no vibration at idle, slowly accelerate one engine at a time. Is there vibration on either? If "yes," run at idle
or on only the good engine, to reach a close, safe harbor. Then contact AYC.
NOTE: With a twin-screw boat, the damaged running gear can't be used after hitting an object.
However, if while under way on one engine the other engine's propeller shaft rotates by itself
because of water passing over its propeller, then you must let the unused engine idle in neutral so
that its transmission has lubrication, and the cutlass bearings on the damaged shaft are lubricated.
This is still true whether the boat has dripless shaft seals or a standard shaft "log". When running
on one engine with the other idling as required, be sure that the idling engine is pumping water
through its exhaust pipe.
REDTAIL - Version 2015 - May
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