G23 Sunk Yesterday on a Texas Lake

[RDT-G23]

Lotta celebrating the problem here... we get it, weight-laden boats have varying amounts of risk. Moving on, what's the takeaway here? Should we all go out and double check clamps on exhaust hoses? Should this be a check before getting underway just like checking the drain plug? Or is that something that inherently shouldn't come off? I've been boating for a long time and I'll admit it was never anything remotely in my scan.

It literally split in two. It didn’t fall off…. No clamps involved. It split at what looks like a molded seam.

[SilentSeven]

Lotta celebrating the problem here... we get it, weight-laden boats have varying amounts of risk. Moving on, what's the takeaway here? Should we all go out and double check clamps on exhaust hoses? Should this be a check before getting underway just like checking the drain plug? Or is that something that inherently shouldn't come off? I've been boating for a long time and I'll admit it was never anything remotely in my scan.

I don't see anyone celebrating. There are some people - including me - mocking white-claw girl's bone headed tiktoc post as that's just cringe worthy.

What I do see is a lot of people trying to piece together an explanation for an event that is difficult to understand. And learn from it. As you said...a catastrophic exhaust hose failure is way off everyone's event radar.

Right now...my takeaways are this. Check your exhaust clamps. Consider replacing worm gear clamps with T-clamps. For surf rigs in particular. In a water intrusion emergency, add failed exhaust port to the rapid triage list. Recognize that non-water ballast can pose a significant buoyancy risk. Have a mental plan ready on how you would deal with this type of failure. My plan - for my direct drive - is this. If the engine can run, power up the boat, get on a plane and run for shore. If the engine can't run, block the port from the outside using a life jacket,towel or similar and cross your fingers.

[scottb7]

Lotta celebrating the problem here... we get it, weight-laden boats have varying amounts of risk. Moving on, what's the takeaway here? Should we all go out and double check clamps on exhaust hoses? Should this be a check before getting underway just like checking the drain plug? Or is that something that inherently shouldn't come off? I've been boating for a long time and I'll admit it was never anything remotely in my scan.

In my opinion. Yes, you should. As I said. Mine popped off, it did not split. The learning is that the exhaust is creating a lot more pressure then one would think. We were fully ballasted one rider had taken a set, I was about to jump in when it popped off.

Sounds like the one we talking about was a part failure. On mine there is no way to know if it was an installation failure or not. When I repaired I added a 2nd clamp, and made sure all were tight.

[wakefan]

The take away for me is that there is a problem I had never considered, which could potentially be catastrophic, for which there might be a few possible solutions, if acted on quickly. Also, as I do have a couple hundred lbs of lead weight opposite the driver, if I start uncontrollably taking on water, I'm pitching that overboard asap. Plus, I also have a large Sumo Max Flow pump, which basically just stays on board as a back up bilge pump in case of emergency(assuming I still have electric).

Not celebrating a problem, but rather learning about one, how to mitigate it's risk, and what to do if it happens to me. (As most things seem to eventually...)

Thanks for the discussion guys!

[mooneywa]

Admiring the problem is probably the better phrase, but in our business we use celebrate and admire interchangeably where there's lots of discussion about it, little helpful, with few if any solutions going forward.

The material failure and not just a failed connection is of especial note. But let's say it was the connection. Obviously there's a lot of exhaust pressure to get the connection back on. Are we better off killing the motor, relieving the pressure and trying to reconnect, or trying to run the motor to get the boat on plane and then fight the pressure?

And good point on the lead bags. That would get hucked over immediately and is another good consideration.

On my old 210, I had a couple lead bags in the front that I forgot about when I loaded up a bunch of folks for a cruise and float. As we're entering the cove a combination of a big wave and ill-timed throttle reduction put at least one wave over the bow, if not two. I had to use my Captain's voice to get the folks in front to the back as fast as humanly possible and I was about to start pulling bags and perhaps sending people overboard. But as much water as it was that came over the bow with 10 people onboard, the boat didn't even seem to notice, but man did I learn a few big points not the least of which was immediate weight shift.

In my industry we have what are called "immediate action/memory items" - always good to have an idea what you have to handle pronto and what can take a few minutes to analyze the situation and take the proper action - ha.

[RDT-G23]

Given that I have seen the part failure on video, I'm still not sure the calculus has changed for being a good boat captain. This part hasn't failed much, lest we'd have seen it on this forum. (Witness the prop-shaft failures on the last generation G's that had me sure I'd be stranded somewhere on my 2017 G23.) The owner heard that pop. I don't know yet the time between when he heard it, and when he checked to see what it was. I will find out. We should always be checking under the engine cover, if not every trip, every weekend we use our boats-along with requisite fluid checks. I just don't know what could be done differently to prevent this catastophic part failure, given what I've seen.

[wakefan]

In my industry we have what are called "immediate action/memory items" - always good to have an idea what you have to handle pronto and what can take a few minutes to analyze the situation and take the proper action - ha.

Yes, I think we are in the same industry.

[RDT-G23]

[Waterskinut]

An engine backfire can cause an exhaust hose to fail. I have seen it happen fortunately we still had the boat on the trailer so we just pulled it out but water was starting to come in fast. May not have been the cause in this situation but something to be aware of if you are having engine issues and the motor backfires.

[GMLIII]

Given that I have seen the part failure on video, I'm still not sure the calculus has changed for being a good boat captain. This part hasn't failed much, lest we'd have seen it on this forum. (Witness the prop-shaft failures on the last generation G's that had me sure I'd be stranded somewhere on my 2017 G23.) The owner heard that pop. I don't know yet the time between when he heard it, and when he checked to see what it was. I will find out. We should always be checking under the engine cover, if not every trip, every weekend we use our boats-along with requisite fluid checks. I just don't know what could be done differently to prevent this catastophic part failure, given what I've seen.

Would not have helped in this situation, but having a Seatow membership is the best boating investment I have every made in my 50 years of boating. As we all know, the G series of boats are very complicated pieces of machinery in which many parts can fail while you are out on the water. Seatow pulled me out of a pinch on my prop shaft failure with a 3 hour tow back to the dealer and an additional tow 1 year later due to a faulty battery shut off switch near the helm. If any forum members don't have a Seatow membership, they should consider joining. Only pennies on the $$$'s for some "piece of mind".

Boat Towing Services & On-Water Assistance | Sea Tow

[bturner]

BoatUS includes a base membership that can be upgraded. I think this year they upped the coverage to $500 which isn't much when it comes to having someone come and get you they tow you back. As GML states it's cheap in comparison to what you G boys are spending on the boats, probably less than a single bar tab at the country club......

I'm on a small inland 95% of the time so the base coverage is good for me. If I need a tow because the boat sank I've got bigger problem than the recovery which will be paid by the insurance company when they total the boat.

[simplysanj]

Sorry I'm late to this thread but I once had a rudder drop out of the boat while towing, I'm guessing the safety wire and nut somehow came off or the safety wasn't installed went the rudder had been changed the summer before. The boat (SAN210) started sinking but luckily was towed quickly to shallow water. In retrospect, the rudder hole was visible and easy to plug with a towel or t-shirt so it didn't need to be such a big drama had we not panicked. This was also evident as the steering control was lost and the boat drove only in circles.

Even though this isn't likely what happened, in case a big leak happens and you can see it, you might be able to plug it before it turns into a salvage.

[FOB1SAN]

I would punch the **** out of my kid if she did that. Ungrateful ***.