Leaks in the on-board water system are annoying, as is a leaky stuffing box that draws water from time to time. However, none of this is a cause for concern; With a few strokes of the hand bilge pump, the water is usually outboard again in no time. An automatic electric pump removes the moisture even more conveniently. But what if there is a real leak, the pumping power is no longer sufficient and water suddenly sloshes over the floor boards while sailing?
This is how much water will enter depending on the size of the leak and its depth. On-board pumps cannot cope with large holes that are deeply seated
A serious water ingress endangers the buoyancy of the ship and, as the regular reports of sunken yachts make clear, is rightly one of the most feared problems at sea. In order to avert a catastrophe, the crew not only has to act quickly, but above all, act carefully. The first reflex applies to the bilge pump - at least if it is electric or motor-driven. One shouldn't hope too much from her, however. If the yacht is equipped according to the CE regulations, a delivery rate of 15 liters per minute is sufficient; this does not even correspond to the amount of water that would flow in through a torn off 3/4-inch thru-hull fitting. Nevertheless, the pumps should be activated immediately. The sooner water ingress is tackled, the more time there is to find and fight the leak.