Oil in the Gulf

[Donald Dryer]

Does anybody know that dangers the oil in the Gulf of Mexico presents to sailing?

1. Will it damage my hull, or paint?

2. Will it clog my engine cooling water intake?

3. Will it burn out my AC?

4. what is the best defense? Should I take the boat out of the water for the rest of the year? Or maybe take it up a river and moor it in the river?

What says you?

DJ

[Phil Prater]

I got into some oil while coming back from Fl. The bottom paint is ruined. I had used Trinidad, less than two years ago. Usually get a little over three years from Trinidad. I talked to Petit, and they informed me that the oil will destroy the effectivness of their paint, and make it soft. Exactly what I had. Checked a couple other mfgs. and heard the same thing. If it is heavy it will foul your cooling system. Whether you pull it or not depends on where your located, but if you are somewhere oil is likely to get, might not be a bad idea.

[___/)ances With Sails]

thoughts crossin my mind are to drag this thing across th dirt to th east coast, or sell, and buy another when i get there, or swoop way down to get around to over yonder,,,either way, my birthplace port is screwed and nothin left worth seein,,,would be like to goin to a wake to view a body -not gonna happen, would rather remember it th way it was. so, agin i back up to punt.
___/)

[Larry Wilson]

Most likely YES to all of the above. It will absolutely soften your antifouling paint, and will probably foul your cooling water intake and your AC intake. I agree with Suky. If you can get it hauled, do so, and file a claim with BP for the expense, and loss of use for as long as it takes them to clean up the spill, assuming your specific mooring is affected.

[Suky Cannon]

If it was me, I'd take it out.

[Franc]

Here's what BoatUS recommends:

What can I do to protect my boat?

Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) recommends the following tips for recreational boaters:

- If your marina or boat club puts oil containment booms in place, do not attempt to cross the booms with your boat. This will only spread the oil and damage the booms or possibly your vessel's running gear.

- If there is oil in your marina, refrain from running engines or other devices that have seawater intakes such as air conditioners or refrigerators.

- Hauling out your boat will prevent damage, but as of press time it was not clear if these costs will be reimbursed by British Petroleum (BP).

- If the spill is sighted coming toward your marina or already there, call the BP Community Information Hotline at 866-448-5816 to make a report.

- If your boat comes in contact with the oil, call your insurance company to file a claim. Uninsured boaters can call the BP Hotline at 800-440-0858 to file a claim.

- Damage to a BoatUS insured's vessel that is caused by the oil spill is covered. BoatUS members are directed to call 800-937-1937 to file a claim.