Getting stuck during maintenance...

[MikeP]

Heard a good story this morning over coffee on a friend's boat. He does a lot of work on other boats here and a few months back he was working in an engine room. He had to crawl over the engine to get to the outboard side and then "drop" into a space to do the work. He had put his tool bag on top the engine, then crawled over and got into position. He did the work and realized he couldn't get back out. It was very early in the season during the week so there weren't many people around. As he lay there he started wondering how many days it would be till somebody missed him.

In looking around trying to figure how to get out on his own, he realized that if the engine's turbocharger was out of the way, he could move forward and out through that gap. Luckily he still had the toolbag within reach so he was able to unbolt/remove the turbo and squeeze through the opening. Needless to say, by the time he reinstalled the turbo, he lost money on that particular job!

So far I haven't actually gotten stuck but I've been in the "Uh oh, this could be a problem" mode several times.

 

[eze2bme]

This is exactly why I ALWAYS carry my cellphone into tight compartments!

 

[Angela]

That scenario crosses my mind all the time. I once had to crawl through a cabinet door and then through an access panel in the cabinet to hang upside down while I changed some hose clamps on the genny exhaust. When I go into spots like that, I always take a cell phone and a saw.

And I once had to pull Ed out of a hole by his ankles in my previous boat when we were running new AC ducting.

 

[spcoolin]

Believe me !!!...In my 30 or so years of working on boats...I've come close to being stuck Many Times....And yes most times when alone...

More so now that I'm older, fatter & less flexible...But I also don't try to get into the places I used to...I'll call the younger skinner guy for that....

I've given up on working on Sea Rays myself...

Steve~

 

[Jaxfishgyd]

I posted my "oops" some years ago about me getting stuck.... I managed to get behind my starboard motor to replace the macerator... Then I realized I couldn't get out......
And the admiral would not be home for hours......
But the thought of being stuck all that time...And beer in the refrig convinced me to force myself out......
Oh, when that pump went out... I haven't thought about replacing it.....

 

[SeaEric]

Many years ago I resigned myself to the fact that God invented skinny boat mechanics for a reason. He also provided me with the skills to earn the revenue required to pay said skinny mechanics. It's a good system from which I do not deviate.

 

[jim rosenthal]

I carry my phone into there. I also try to make sure someone knows what I am doing so I can reach them. I don't fancy having to call 911 to get someone to pull me out. If I am going to make a fool of myself, I'd rather do it in front of a friend instead of a stranger.

 

[Genesis]

I got stuck pretty good outboard forward of the starboard engine on my 45C. It wasn't that I couldn't fit through the hole, it was the contortion I had managed to get into doing what I was working on (the AC boxes)

It took me a while to figure out how to get out; oh yeah, my cellphone was sitting up on the counter.... about 15' away, but of course arms aren't that long....

That was not fun.

 

[Passages]

Been there.

Boat was on the hard getting ready from spring launch. Was working on the outboard side of the ER in an attempt to inspect fittings along the pressure fresh water system. Armed with a small flashlite and a wrench, I followed the line deep into the bowels of the bilge. Not thinking of an escape strategy, I found myself twisted into a corner of no return.

Did I mention that I am slightly clostrophobic? Looking through the tiny openings to freedom, BP, breathing and perspiration began to notch up. Much as I tried, I could not get my legs to twist around the corner back from whence I came. Cell phone, keys and wallet are 15' away and I'm alone in the shed - my options were limited.

Looking around, I noticed a 10" gap between the shaft flang and the riser followed by a 8" gap between the Air Sep and a big ole D8 battery. No way, I'd never fit through that, besides = look at all those protuding bolts, plugs and hose clamps.

5 minutes later, after another failed attempt to back out, the idea of snaking my way around the risers and air seps began to look promising.

What the heck - in I go. Take a deep breath and force my way. Shirt rips on something but I don't care, I got to get out of here. Suck in my belly and push some more. Now come the scary part. My chest is compressed to the point I can't take a full breath. Pause, calm down, breath easy short breaths and push some more. My pants get caught on a bolt but my hands are reaching forward and can't go back. Pants pull right off - belt, shoes and all - but I'm getting closer. Now I have to navigate the airsep. (I hate airseps) I start to push between the Airsep and the D8. I'm now naked, sweaty, bleeding as I begin to slither over the D8. At this point the airsep which is held on to the intake pipe by a rubber slip & a hose clamp, pops off. I can breath now but I'm still dragging my man parts over an uncovered lead acid battery. (Use your imagination here)

I make it through. First priority - get acid off my stuff. Second priority, inventory where I'm bleeding. My pants are still way back in the bilge but I ain't going back after them, besides at this point I just want to get home and into a shower. Now remember its April so all the towels, bedding and spare clothes are home. Forget that its 35 degrees outside, I just can't see myself running to the car like a college streaker. Looking around the boat, I find some oil sorb blankets and duct tape. Yep, that'll do.

So there I am, dressed in bilge diapers and a ripped sweatshirt, peaking over the gunnel to make sure the coast is clear. Clutching my keys, phone & wallet, I slink down the ladder. Scamper to the shed door the check if the coast is clear. It is and there's my car parked 75' away.

I make a run for it barefoot, wearing only a torn, bloody shirt and duct taped boat diapers. I learned 2 things in that 75'. First, you can't run fast barefoot across a gravel parking lot and second, duct tape doesn't hold for crap to oil sorb pads in cold weather. I leave my makeshift pants in the driveway where they fell.

I make it to the car, start it up and notice the gas tank was on fumes...

 

[GJH]

One of the main reasons I bought this boat was that there is really only one important place I can (kinda) get stuck, which is the outboard and aft side of the starboard engine, where I only have to go on any regular basis is to work the seacock . I never do that without someone on board, but have always managed to get unstuck with the odd torn teeshirt and scrape. I eventually found a section of old vacuum cleaner pipe that fits nicely over the sea cock handle...

These kind of ergonomic issue were at the very top of the list when we were shopping. I am a somewhat big, clumsy and not particularly adept guy.

I did find an excellent Guatemalan marine plumber down in Ft. Lauderdale who fits easily into spaces like those under the head sinks, or the crawlway in back of the washer dryer that starts underneath the dinette. I'm with Eric's philosophy.

 

[Boatsb]

I was cleaning the intakes on a go fast and to get to the transom I was under the center engine jackshaft between the 2 other engines. I handed out the crap from the strainer and then found I could not move backwards anymore. I was stuck. Luckily or purposely I had a helper handing things and grabbing them for me because I was not alone. After trying to pull me by the legs and realizing I was not going to move he went to get help (I think he was laughing the whole way to the shop).

The crew came back and after a few more unkind words about my situation they drolled the outdrives and passed in tools for me to unbolt the engines so they could lift them enough to get me out.


My boss being the less than fair and honest person he was charged the customer a couple of thousand dollars for this after all was said and done. By the way he was the one that encouraged me to squeeze back there in the first place to save time instead of popping the jackshaft to get to the strainer.

 

[Trojan]

I mentioned this in a previous thread where I got stuck outboard the port engine and had to lay down on the batteries until my legs would work again. Then again I got stuck head first waist deep in the fly bridge. Very embarrassing moments. I could not imagine calling 911. The yacht club gang would never let me forget it. It happens.

BILL