Student
Wilfred Darr
Calgary, Canada
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Skipper Level II
Status: Sailor
Qualified days: 30
I wouldn't stop the engine
Posted 2018, Jan 05 06:05
After a collision, I wouldn't stop the engine. After determining what you ran into you may still need to maneuver to get clear of the object you ran into.
Further, if you are holed, water may come up very quickly and take out your electrics: most diesels will continue to run even without electricity, and the cooling pump can be used as an auxiliary bilge pump, even if your electric bilge pumps have failed. If however the engine is stopped and power is then lost, there is very little chance of restarting it, (barring pull or crank start, the reliability of which, in my experience, is inversely related to the urgency of the situation). Much better to leave it in neutral until the situation is assessed, in my opinion.