Full Steam Ahead

Properly handling losses involving pleasure craft is not only a big concern, it is big business. The Canadian pleasure craft industry is a significant part of our overall economy, with approximately 2.8 million pleasure craft across the country. The operation of these crafts tends to be concentrated — upwards of 40% of vessels reside in Ontario and more then 20% in British Columbia — which leads to high-density traffic and therefore higher potential for incidents.

According to Transport Canada’s Safe Boating Guide, a pleasure craft is “any boat that is used only for pleasure activities like fishing, water sports and entertaining friends. It also includes a boat used for subsistence hunting and fishing or for the necessities of daily life. It does not include a boat that is used for work or commercial activities.” ¹

A broad variety of pleasure craft are in operation including canoes, open boats, runabouts, fishing craft, cruisers, houseboats and a wide variety of sailboats ranging in size from a simple dinghy to the most elaborate of yachts.

Pleasure craft are made from a variety of construction materials including steel, aluminum, wood, cement, plastic and, most commonly, fibreglass.

COMMON LOSSES

Pleasure craft do not require the appointment of “competent crew” for lengths of less than 24 metres. However, all operators are required to hold a Pleasure Craft Operator’s Certificate (PCOC) by Sept. 15, 2009.The intent of the safe boating guide and examination process is to prevent common incidents that risk life and property.

There are several causes of losses involving pleasure craft. Many are the direct result of operator errors. Typical losses, causes and outcomes are as follows:

Pollution

Smaller vessels, such as skiffs and open boats, tend to have self-contained fuel supplies. However, larger sail and powerboats are fitted with permanent tankage that is capable of holding hundreds of litres of gasoline or diesel fuel. Common losses of these fuels occur during re-fuelling or normal operation and storage. For example, tanks might overflow or connections fail, allowing a release into the vessel’s bilge. Larger vessels are often fitted with automatic bilge pumps, which do not differentiate between oil and water. Recently a large power vessel was overflowed during fuelling and 800 litres of fuel entered the bilge. As a precaution, the owner of the vessel isolated the bilge pump to prevent a release. Several hours later, the high-level bilge alarm sounded; a member of the marina’s staff overrode the owner’s isolation efforts and mistakenly pumped several hundred litres of fuel overboard. Losses included damage to nearby boats, other structures and to the local wild life and fauna.

Vessel Collisions

Surprisingly, the number of collisions between sailing vessels is low. The majority of incidents occur between racing sailboats or by powerboats operated at excessive speed. Collisions that occur between docked vessels and other vessels maneuvering around them are more significant. All too often, vessels maneuvering between a string of docks are overly influenced by the wind, causing the vessel to drift down onto moored vessels. A diligent skipper would stop the boat, put out additional protective fenders and allow the vessel to safely “land” on the nearest vessel. Alas, this seldom happens; in most cases, the skipper alternatively runs the engine full ahead and full astern, with the helm being pointed in all kinds of different direction, with devastating damage to the surrounding vessels. Damage in these circumstances can include loss of upperworks such as safety lines and rails, severe gouging of the hull, damage to electronic equipment and, in some cases, sinkage of other vessels.

Strandings

An old salt knows that a boat with a draft of seven feet will not float in water depth of five feet. Strandings occur for a variety of reasons including poor navigation, improperly marked waterways, unexpected currents, heavy weather, shifting mud and sandbanks and very occasionally uncharted hazards. Typical damage sustained in strandings includes lost propellers, bent stern-drives, rudder and keel detachment, flying object damage and injuries to boat occupants.

Foundering

Foundering is the technical term for sinking. Foundering may be a consequence of stranding, but it might also be due to poorly maintained through hull devices, overflowing and burst liquid hoses on the vessel. Often when a vessel is affected by water in this way, the boat’s electrical system — a key component in the on-board bilge pumping system — is among the first casualties. In extreme conditions, foundering may cause a constructive total loss. It can certainly lead to many expensive damages such as wood swelling, electrical shorting, damage to motors and auxiliaries (such as refrigerators, air conditioners, heater and soft furnishings). If left untreated, damage due to foundering might result in the development of mould.

Fire

This is a common occurrence on pleasure craft and is probably one of the most costly losses affecting the industry. Typical causes of fires include cooking devices, fuel leaks and subsequent ignition, mistakes by service providers, welding, faulty wiring and poor ship/shore electrical connections. Unfortunately, as vessels are usually moored or stored in close proximity, heat and flames are transmitted from one hull to another, damaging several vessels as a result. In winter, the situation is much worse: boats are generally “hauled out” and stored in very close proximity. Fire often results in actual or constructive total losses; even when the structure is not significantly damaged, cleaning, rewiring, odour control and other potential consequences are challenging to overcome.

Theft and Vandalism

Theft of entire vessels is rare in Canadian waters; however, a significant number of small vessels have been stolen while on their trailer. Vessel break-ins are more problematic; typically they will result in the theft of portable items stored on board or semi-fixed equipment such as TVs, sound systems, computers and other electronics. Of more concern is deliberate vandalism, including ripped furnishings, damaged electronic equipment, stoved-in bulkheads, engine damage and in extreme circumstances, arson.

Extreme Weather

A review of statistics shows there are few significant losses incurred while vessels are actually underway during extreme weather. Most boaters exercise good diligence in checking the weather forecast before leaving and remaining alongside when extreme events such as consistent high winds or “pop-up” thunderstorms are anticipated. Of greater concern is the damage done to vessels alongside when they are hit by extreme weather. The most costly event is lightning strikes. When lightning is discharged in a marina area, several vessels may be affected. Significant electrical damage can be done to the complex and expensive electronic controls and navigation aids found aboard modern pleasure craft. A recent incident in Lake Ontario damaged seven vessels, not all moored adjacent to each other, causing about Cdn$300,000 damage in total.

There are several causes and numerous consequences of losses to pleasure craft. They emphasize the need to solicit the advise of a qualified marine surveyor, especially when the loss is significant. With the right experts on board, it’s clear sailing!

1 http://www.tc.gc.ca/publications/en/tp511/pdf/hr/tp511e.pdf)