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PostPosted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 3:48 pm 
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wkearney99

Joined: Fri May 19, 2006 3:50 pm
Posts: 2444
Location: Boat in Annapolis, live in Bethesda, MD
On Tuesday (the 4th) we ran into a hellaciously bad summer thunderstorm. The classic squall line rolling up as it hits the western shore of the Chesapeake. Our 348 handled it really well, but let me tell you, I have NO desire to see 7' seas, torrential rain and 56 knot gusts EVER AGAIN. Not to mention that really cool looking water spout and lightning hitting the water so close I could feel the hairs on neck tingle.

I had friends aboard, a family of four, along with my wife. The husband and my wife were abovedecks with me as we attempted to make some semblance of headway. But belowdecks were his wife and two small children. The storm lasted all of about 20 minutes (but seemed MUCH longer) and about halfway into it the mid-cabin CO alarm went off. Which, of course, we could not hear abovedecks in the howling storm. Fortunately the storm ended, I heard the alarm and we got everyone up on deck into the fresh air.

It's not like I had the option of opening any portlights or hatches, the conditions were such that we'd have taken on gobs of water had anything been open. And bringing everyone above deck would've be a disaster, both from not having enough room to get everyone seated *securely* and likely severly traumatizing the children. It was bad enough being tossed like acrobats down in the cabin; seeing THAT much rain, BIG waves and lightning would've left them utterly terrified. As it stands all they did was hurl lunch on the carpet, which of course dried and I just can't get the stain out now...

As it stood, the rear bimini canvas held up for mere minutes until pulling loose from the back of the arch. Fortunately I managed to wrestle it down off the poles before it got lost to the wind but, yeesh, is my back SORE from the strain. If we'd had the full canvas up I'm sure it'd have gotten utterly destroyed. And there's huge bruise on my side from the damned cockpit table that CAN'T BE STOWED ANYWHERE. But all in all, the boat handled itself remarkably well, save for the CO.

In the meantime I'd really lke to find a way to add a secondary alarm of some kind to the CO sensor. This is the second time it's gone off and I've not been able to hear it abovedecks. The first time it was the 'station wagon' effect from full canvas being up underway. Regardless of why it goes off I'd still like something visible and audible from up on the helm.

My question is what measures can I take next time to avoid the CO build up? Should I turn on the blowers and the exhaust fan in the head? And what sort of oxygen bottles or something could I keep onboard in the even things got worse?

And next time if we see clouds on the horizon will already at anchor in a known hurricane hole (Harness Creek) we'll damn well just STAY PUT.


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PostPosted: Sun Jul 16, 2006 9:43 pm 
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Starfish

Joined: Fri May 26, 2006 3:54 pm
Posts: 51
Location: Huntsville, Alabama
I have to wonder about the CO alarm... could it perhaps have been due to the electrical disturbances going on? My CO alarms tend to go off if my port battery gets too low from using the windlass. Of course the extreme winds could also have played havoc with your normal ventilation and driven fumes into the cabin. Did anyone below smell anything like engine exhaust?

Still I do agree you don't want to take chances with CO. In a storm like that everyone who can be below should be, but if CO builds up rapidly, you are in a catch 22.

Storms like that are why I'm careful here in Alabama. With our mountains you can't see a storm coming until its here. When in doubt I don't even think of spending the night on the hook. One experience like you and I fear my boating days would be solo from then on.

_________________
1999 Four Winns Vista 298, 5.0 VP DP
Goosepond Marina
Lake Guntersville
Scottsboro, Alabama


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PostPosted: Mon Jul 17, 2006 6:55 am 
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wkearney99

Joined: Fri May 19, 2006 3:50 pm
Posts: 2444
Location: Boat in Annapolis, live in Bethesda, MD
If you read the manual that came with your CO alarm you'll probably find it sets off an alarm when there's not enough power. This being a good feature. Your windlass is cranking out more current than the battery has available and the voltage drops, tripping the alarm. That's exactly how it's supposed to function.


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PostPosted: Mon Jul 17, 2006 10:53 am 
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Starfish

Joined: Fri May 26, 2006 3:54 pm
Posts: 51
Location: Huntsville, Alabama
Right, I'm aware of that, but I wondered if the near misses of the lightening could have played havoc with those same sensors??

Probably not, but that was certainly an unusual environment to be in.

_________________
1999 Four Winns Vista 298, 5.0 VP DP
Goosepond Marina
Lake Guntersville
Scottsboro, Alabama


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