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Originally Posted by Finfeatherfur
Speaking of that!
Some of you guys may remember when I was rigging my new boat, that I removed a stock "T" from the bilge. This "T" was made of plastic and was used to connect 1.5" tubing for the livewells. Looks like one of these broke under the floor of the Mako when it hit the Gulf, causing the subfloor to fill w/ water. They think the water caused one of the batteries to short, shutting down one engine. As soon as the boat stopped, it rolled due to the choppy conditions and the weight of the water in the hull. With the sea water temps in the low 50's - upper 40's, these people had little chance of surviving w/o survival suits on. The 4 fatalities all had time to put life jackets on, but the only one that survived did not have one on and scurried out of the water and onto the overturned boat.
Guys - Check those hoses ( reach in there and grab them - tug & pull!) If any signs of cracks or worn areas, replace them! Look for those plastic "T" connections which should be outlawed for boat use!
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Another good item to have on your boat is the bag of wooden plugs they sell at West Marine. They come in various sizes and are made to simply 'drive' into the hole in your transom should you start taking on water. They used to be about $5 bucks. Very cheap for a safety item that could save your life...