Hooligan V - Keel fell off and she capsized in seconds: Hooligan V
Ten miles off Prawle Point on a winter night, the Max Fun 35 Hooligan V's fabricated steel keel failed at a fatigued weld and the yacht inverted without warning, killing one of her five crew.
What happened.
Late on 2 February 2007 the owner and four crew sailed the Max Fun 35 yacht Hooligan V from Plymouth toward Southampton after out-of-season repairs. At about 0320 the next morning, 10 miles south of Prawle Point, her fabricated steel keel detached and the yacht capsized without warning, killing one crew member. The MAIB traced the failure to fatigue cracking at a keel weld, worsened by design flaws and 160 kg of ballast added in 2005 without re-engineering.
During the late evening of 2 February 2007, the owner and four crew of the Max Fun 35 yacht Hooligan V set out from Plymouth toward Southampton, following out-of-season repairs and maintenance. At about 0320 UTC on 3 February, around 10 miles south of Prawle Point in the English Channel, the boat's fabricated steel keel became detached and she suddenly capsized, causing the loss of one crew member. Metallurgical analysis confirmed that the keel had failed by fatigue just below the fillet weld connecting the fin to the taper box, in an area subjected to high bending stresses. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch found shortcomings in the keel's design, that its production had incorporated changes which further weakened the steel structure, and that an extra 160 kg of ballast had been added to the keel in 2005 without any change to its construction. The report (19/2007) was published on 14 August 2007.
What it teaches.
- 1A keel failure gives no warning, and the boat inverts in seconds. Hooligan V's keel detached at about 0320 and she capsized instantly, killing a crew member. There is no drill that recovers an inversion; the only defence is keeping the keel attached, through sound structure and inspection.
- 2Never add ballast without re-engineering the structure. Hooligan V had 160 kg added to her keel in 2005 with no change to its construction, raising the stresses on a weld that later failed by fatigue. Any change to keel weight or shape needs a proper structural assessment, not just more lead.
- 3Have keel joints, bolts and welds inspected — fatigue is invisible until it fails. The steel keel cracked from fatigue just below a fillet weld under high bending stress. Get the keel structure professionally examined on a schedule, and especially after any grounding, modification or major repair.
- 4Know your boat's modification and repair history before you trust it offshore. Hooligan V had had recent out-of-season work and an earlier ballast change. Understand what has been altered and whether it was engineered and signed off — an undocumented change can be the hidden flaw waiting to let go.
Where this comes from.
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