Cats & Dogs
Years ago, when it rained really hard, people would say,” It’s raining cats and dogs”. It was a somewhat comical image to ponder, but, as with most time-proven expressions, it also carried an important message relating to the volume of the rainfall.
A couple days ago, a passing thunderstorm dumped some heavy rain, probably 2-3”, within a few hours. The effect on the dinghies at the dock was immediately noticeable as many of them filled with water to the seats. The effect on the larger boats was more important, but less immediately recognizable. You see, many boats are designed to drain into the bilge, or directly overboard, both methods which typically work effectively. However, if the scuppers into the bilge are clogged, or the overboard drains are comprised, water can build up within the boat, pushing it down to the point where critical thru-hulls are underwater allowing sea water to flow back into the hull, unrestricted. The incoming flow rate can be impressive once this tipping point is reached, and a sinking could happen quickly.
This is a simple situation which can be easily overlooked, but result in a negative boating outlook, if not acknowledged. The next time you hear people mix household pet images with rain reports, take heed, and monitor your boat’s status during and shortly after the weather event to ensure nothing has gone awry. It’s a short boating season and you’ll need to have your boat available every day to make the most out of it.
