Bertram31.com General Bulletin Board

Failure of dripless shaft seal *LINK*

Posted By: Sean Burlingham
Date: Sunday, 26 February 2006, at 4:32 p.m.

We are talking all about this story on the bertram33.com site. I don't know if you guys have seen this one yet, but here is a story about two guys that got killed on a boat that sunk due to a failed dripless shaft seal.

Most certainly these guys made other mistakes that contributed to their deaths, but I bet a failed dripless shaft seal could sink a boat under the right conditions, despite the efforts of a knowledgable crew. Those dripless seals have always scared me- are great when working right but way too much potential for a BIG problem.

I can imagine that, if the bilges were compartmented like the Bertram 33 is, and the boat had no high water alarms, the leak could have gone unnoticed until the engine area filled up and finally stalled the engines. If it happened like that and they were maybe 1/3 filled with water and the engines suddenly stalled, one wave over the transom would probably send the boat down really quick. The story said it was rough weather too. These poor guys might not have had much of a chance to do anything.

Boat Delivery Death

Messages In This Thread

Failure of dripless shaft seal *LINK*
Sean Burlingham -- Sunday, 26 February 2006, at 4:32 p.m.

Re: Failure of dripless shaft seal
bruce -- Sunday, 26 February 2006, at 7:05 p.m.

Re: Failure of dripless shaft seal
Rocket -- Sunday, 26 February 2006, at 10:48 p.m.

Re: Failure of dripless shaft seal
Rawleigh -- Sunday, 26 February 2006, at 11:04 p.m.

Re: Failure of dripless shaft seal
Harv -- Monday, 27 February 2006, at 12:35 a.m.

Re: Failure of dripless shaft seal
Capt. Dave Kosh -- Monday, 27 February 2006, at 10:47 a.m.

Re: Failure of dripless shaft seal
Bill -- Tuesday, 28 February 2006, at 1:56 p.m.

Re: Failure of dripless shaft seal
Chiles -- Tuesday, 28 February 2006, at 5:32 p.m.

Re: Failure of dripless shaft seal
Carl -- Tuesday, 28 February 2006, at 6:34 p.m.