Here is a project the Calumet Boat Patrol is working on.
In the spring of 2003 with the help of Charlie Braeger, the Calumet Boat Patrol built a "sinking boat" to be used in the boating safety courses. The boat is a 12' aluminum boat that Deputy Rick Riemer used for duck hunting. The boat, as you will see in the following images, is designed to sink within 10-15 seconds with students on board. When the boat sinks, students are required to put on a personal flotation device (PFD). It teaches the student just how difficult it is to put on a PFD in an emergency and that wearing a PFD at all times is the best thing to do. This boat will be availible for any boating safety instructor to use in their classes free of charge.
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The Sinking Boat
Here is the boat as it sat atop Deputy Riemer's dog kennel. It had been idle for approximately 10 years. |
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Step 1. Inspection
Since the boat had been sitting idle for quite some time, various little critters had used it for a home. The boat had to be partially disassembled to get rid of the nests and other things. The seats were taken off and the flotation was disposed of in anticipation of updating the flotation. |
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The Secret to Sinking
In order to get the boat to sink, water would have to be introduced through some sort of means. I chose to use three 4" PVC pipes with caps. This would equate to a 12" hole and would allow water to rapidly flood the boat. The caps will be removed in the water when students are in the boat. |
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Drilling Holes in the Boat
To get the PVC pipes to fit, I had to cut three holes in the transom of the boat. I used the PVC pipe as a template to trace the holes. After that, I used a sawzall to cut the holes. |
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New Drain Plugs
The PVC pipes were installed with silicone chaulk.
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A Good Washing
Prior to putting the boat into a pool, it was thouroughly washed and ridded of any dirt. |
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The Boat Is Made "Safe" Again
New inherent flotation is installed in the bench seats. While the boat will flood out, the flotation foam allows the boat to remain afloat, teaching the students to stay with the boat. I used strips of 2" styofoam insulation cut to length. |
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