winter project

[F.stop]

A Damage Control Kit, or DC kit is an essential piece of survival equipment that every boat should have regardless of its size. Often overlooked a DC kit can fix a crack in the hull, a broken though hull, a leaking rudderpost and an exhaust leak. A DC kit is simple to make and should be custom made to meet the needs of your boat. DC kits are also inexpensive to make and most of the supplies in the kit you can find at your local hard wear store and marine stores. Most importantly DC kits can save both you and your boat when in peril.

DC kit essentials:

1. Cedar plugs (to plug though hulls & holes)

2. Cedar shingles & shims (to fix leaks in strut mounts, rudder post mounts and cracks in hull)

3. Carpet padding (to pack under and around leaks)

4. Duct tape (to wrap up and make quick fixes also great for holes leaks)

6. Box twine (for quick fixes on a variety of things till a more permanent item such as
A hose clamp can be put in place)

7. Rubber mallet (to drive in plugs and shims)

8. Hose clamps (have a variety of sizes to fix your boats needs)

9. Gasket material (to fix a variety of leaks)

10. Exhaust hose sleeve (cut a 8” to 14” piece of exhaust hose and cut it down the
middle to make a quick fix on a leak in your exhaust)

11. Nurf foot ball (a quick fix for the biggest hole on your boat the exhaust plug it up
with a football or large fender)

12. 5 Gallon bucket (to store all your DC kit needs as well as a way to bail out water)

[Wound Up James]

That is some great, life saving advice there .




Not to get too far off track, but would you take your riggers off in a hurricane or winter storm ?

[wahoojack]

Thanks for the very useful information. It is exactly the type of suggestions that is needed on this site.

I broke a thru hull on a 32' Albemarle while moving my boat from Hatteras to Oregon Inlet 3-4 years ago, and we nearly sunk before we could get the Coast Guard there, and they finally found where the water was coming from. It can be difficult to find with a foot of water in the bilge. I was preparing to run the boat aground (it was Dec 15th, NE winds 15-20, and 40 degrees).

I would also add oakum (sp?) to the list. It is a material that is helpful to stuff in holes, and swells when wet.

[F.stop]

wound up james,

glad you guys enjoyed dc post....hopeful never have to use it but it's there if you need it it can save you & your crew & vessel too.

as for storm prevention/bent out riggers.the last few years we have had some extreme weather. years ago some marinas in our area (cape may county) would have the out riggers taken off all boats in dry dock. i think if your away from your boat weather it's in wet storage or dry and you live more than 30 mins away you should prob remove the riggers on most boats you can store them inside the cabin or along the gunnels. another great idea is to have a friend/local person keep an eye on your boat every few days.

as for storms and high winds. i always check my boat when it's blowing to see how she sits in the slip...which lines get the most strain etc. it's always a great idea to double up on lines during a storm. also check the other boats around you...if a dock line is fryed or boat is swinging alot in slip tell the marina.

hope this helps

steve spagnuola
amsea drill instructor
sea tow cape may/northstar marine

[Wound Up James]

wound up james,

glad you guys enjoyed dc post....hopeful never have to use it but it's there if you need it it can save you & your crew & vessel too.

as for storm prevention/bent out riggers.the last few years we have had some extreme weather. years ago some marinas in our area (cape may county) would have the out riggers taken off all boats in dry dock. i think if your away from your boat weather it's in wet storage or dry and you live more than 30 mins away you should prob remove the riggers on most boats you can store them inside the cabin or along the gunnels. another great idea is to have a friend/local person keep an eye on your boat every few days.

as for storms and high winds. i always check my boat when it's blowing to see how she sits in the slip...which lines get the most strain etc. it's always a great idea to double up on lines during a storm. also check the other boats around you...if a dock line is fryed or boat is swinging alot in slip tell the marina.

hope this helps

steve spagnuola
amsea drill instructor
sea tow cape may/northstar marine

it takes half an hour and an extra pair of hands to take my riggers off. if the storm has a name they are coming off ! every storm( without fail) fellow fishermen/ friends rough me up for 'over reacting'. i see it as not only playin' it safe w/ the wind, but also a great time for maintenance. check and/or replace any worn rigger lines, pully's or bushin's and clean, oil and wax both riggers...they'll work and look a lot better and last you a lot longer...


the last captain i worked for said something along the lines of ... ' there's a warning sign to just about everything that goes wrong' ..... be it an oil leak or chafe on a tiagra 130, when your 80 miles offshore or when you have 80 lbs of drag on the reel is not the time to be wishing you should've checked or changed something out ......

[Lured Away]

Where's that snow pic from?

[Hempstead]

Canyon Club- Cape May NJ

[FASTWATER]

That was well put Wound Up !!!PEACE