Sailing is an exercise in self-reliance. When you’re miles offshore, there’s no mechanic to call, no hardware store around the corner, and no marina within reach. Things will break—rigging will fray, engines will sputter, and through-hulls will leak. The difference between a minor inconvenience and a full-blown disaster often comes down to preparation and knowing how to handle emergency repairs.
Sydney and I have faced our fair share of onboard emergencies aboard EOTI, our Moody 46. Some were minor headaches, others were moments of sheer panic. But every issue, no matter how small, reinforced a crucial lesson: when you’re sailing, you must be your own first responder.
The Art of Damage Control: First Steps in an Emergency
When something goes wrong at sea, the first instinct is often to panic. Fight that urge. The best sailors I know approach problems with a level head and methodical thinking. The moment you notice a failure—whether it’s a leak, an engine issue, or a rigging failure—follow these three steps:
- Assess the Situation Quickly – Is this critical or manageable? Can it be patched until you reach safe harbor, or does it require immediate action?
- Contain the Problem – If water is coming in, slow the ingress. If rigging has snapped, secure what you can to prevent further damage.
- Implement a Temporary or Permanent Fix – Temporary repairs should be strong enough to get you to safety. Permanent fixes can wait until you’re in a controlled environment.
With those basics in mind, let’s dive into some common onboard emergencies and how to handle them.
1. Taking on Water: Finding and Fixing Leaks
There’s nothing quite as terrifying as discovering water where it shouldn’t be. Remember the golden rule of passage-making, “Keep people in the boat and water out of the boat.” Leaks demand immediate action, whether it’s a failed through-hull, a ruptured hose, or a cracked hull.
Quick Fixes:
- Through-Hull Failures: If a through-hull fails, stuffing a wooden plug into the hole is your best temporary fix. Every boat should have a set of tapered wooden plugs attached to each seacock.
- Burst Hoses: A leaking hose can dump an alarming amount of water into your bilge. Keep rescue tape and hose clamps on board for quick repairs.
- Hull Damage: If you strike something hard enough to hole your hull, use underwater epoxy or a collision mat (a sailcloth patch secured outside the hull) to slow the leak.
While sailing up the east coast of the USA, we had two waterline throughulls let go at the same time. They had eroded over time from the use of the wrong kind of epoxy. The result was that they just got overpowered as the boat submerged on a tack and started to flood the lazaretto in the stern where they were located. Scary? Yes. But we had the materials to repair them at sea.
2. Engine Failures: When the Iron Genny Won’t Start
Your engine is your safety net in tight spots, especially when navigating harbors, crossing bars, or dodging bad weather. When it fails, it’s usually for one of a few common reasons: fuel, air, or electrical problems.
Troubleshooting Steps:
- Fuel Issues: A clogged filter or air in the fuel line is a top culprit. Swap out a dirty filter and bleed the system to remove air.
- Electrical Failures: If the engine won’t turn over, check the battery voltage, cables, and connections. A loose ground wire once left us dead in the water until I found the culprit.
- Overheating: A blocked raw water intake, broken impeller, or low coolant can cause overheating. Check for obstructions and carry spare impellers and coolant.
Sydney and I had our engine cut out while motoring due to a diesel bug. I used a variety of methods to make the engine start again. One was blowing back through the line with compressed air. The other way was to install a new fuel polisher.
3. Rigging Failures: What to Do When the Mast or Sails Give Out
Standing and running rigging take constant strain, and failures can happen, especially under heavy loads. A parted shroud or snapped halyard can escalate into a dismasting if not handled quickly.
Emergency Fixes:
- Broken Shrouds/Stay Wires: Carry Dyneema line and lashing gear to rig a temporary stay.
- Snapped Halyard: A spare messenger line or topping lift can substitute until a proper repair is made.
- Torn Sails: Sail tape, a heavy-duty needle, and waxed thread can patch small tears at sea.
I’ll never forget the sound of a bang during a gusty passage. We have had jam cleats break, blocks break, and yes, lines break. We replaced all of the blocks on EOTI because we had not one but two of the blocks that came with the boat, which had exploded under load. When one of the lines handling items breaks at sea, you can rig all kinds of contraptions, from barber haulers to new blocks. Prevention is likely the best medicine here.
4. Steering Failures: What If You Lose Control?
Losing steering is an instant emergency. Whether from a broken cable, hydraulic failure, or rudder damage, you need a backup plan.
Workarounds:
- Cable Failures: Keep spare cables and a backup tiller (if your boat allows for it).
- Hydraulic Steering Loss: Hand-pump hydraulic oil back into the system or use emergency tiller steering.
- Jury-Rigged Rudders: If you lose the rudder entirely, warping a drogue or spare sail can help maintain directional control until assistance arrives.
We once had a steering issue on EOTI during a rough passage. The cable had frayed nearly through, something I hadn’t caught during routine checks. The frayed end was hanging up on a hose going past the quadrant and making the wheel stick. A few minutes with a wrench fixed it quickly but now we know to check that kind of interference more often.
5. Electrical Failures: When the Lights Go Out
A sudden electrical failure can affect navigation, communication, and essential systems like bilge pumps.
Quick Fixes:
- Blown Fuses: Always carry spares for critical circuits.
- Dead Batteries: A battery combiner or portable jump pack can get you running again.
- Short Circuits: If a system fails suddenly, trace wiring and check for corrosion or loose connections.
A strangely placed fuse unexpectedly killed the bow thruster while docking. This fuse was slightly less than the main fuse and was located in series with the main fuse. It was located under a locker in a hidden location, and I had to remove it to check it. A few days later, we rewired the entire thruster to make it much more elegant. Oh and replaced the thruster with a new unit. We are definitely belt and suspenders that way.
Final Thoughts: Be Prepared, Stay Calm, and Adapt
Sailing emergencies aren’t a matter of if but when. The best defense is preparation: know your boat, stock essential spares, and practice key repairs in calm conditions so you’re ready when chaos strikes. If you’re interested, here is a great book with 200 tips for off-shore passage making. I had a lot of fun playing a game as I read it, saying to myself, “I do that, I need to do that, I would never do that.”
Links to Amazon are likely affiliate links. It should cost you nothing.
