Why Boats Sink at the Dock

[Interloper]

The Boat US magazine this month has an interesting article on why boats sink at the dock. The article states that for every boat that sinks "at sea", four boats sink at the dock. For the article, 100 insurance claims were examined. The reasons for sinking were found to be as follows:

Underwater Fittings: 50
Rain and Snow: 32
Fittings Above the Waterline: 9
Poor Docking Arrangements: 8
Other: 1 (Lightning)

Among the 50 sinkings due to Underwater Fittings, the breakdown was as follows:

Stuffing Boxes: 12
Outdrive or Shift Bellows: 11
Hoses or Hose Clamps: 8
Sea Strainers: 4
Drain Plugs: 4
Air Conditioning Fittings: 2
Gate Valves: 2
Transducers: 2
Mounting Bolts: 2
Mufflers: 2
Speedometer Impeller: 1

 

[Megabyte]

I have witnessed 2 "sinkings at the dock" in my marina so far.

One was a powerboat - livewell line broke, seacock was left open.
The other was a sailboat - through-hull cooling line broke, seacock was left open.

 

[Scott-MD]

A boat near mine sank a few years ago from a break in the onboard fresh water system that was attached to a spigot on the dock. Nothing wrong with the boat at all; it just filled up with fresh water from the city pipes! I guess that falls in the "fittings above the waterline" category. Doh.