Avoiding the “Up Periscope” Command
It’s early in the season, and while many boats have been launched, a large number of them are not being used much due to chilly breezes and cold water temperatures. While most people would not consider this to be a dangerous situation, it really is, particularly to the welfare of the boats. Industry statistics indicate that four times as many boats sink at the dock than underway. There are a variety of reasons for this, but the primary ones are underwater fitting failures and rain/snow. Fitting failures are relatively clear; a fitting designed to keep water out fails, and provides the opposite action. Rain issues typically boil down to clogged scuppers that don’t allow the water to drain overboard. Both situations can take a boat down during a period when the skipper believes everything is shipshape. So, don’t let your boat descend to periscope depth, check your fittings, scuppers, and overall boat on a regular basis, regardless of whether or not you plan to go out. You’ll be glad you did.
