Wassereinbruch: Was tun, wenn dein Boot leckt oder sinkt

Zuletzt geprüft: 14. Oktober 2026

Schritt für Schritt

1. Rettungswesten an, Alarm schlagen

   Sorg dafür, dass alle eine Rettungsweste tragen, und schlag Alarm.[1][2]

2. Früh Hilfe rufen

   Wenn du sinkst, sende ein MAYDAY. Wenn das Leck unter Kontrolle ist, aber schlimmer werden könnte, sende ein PAN-PAN, damit die Retter früh Bescheid wissen.[3][4][5][6]

3. Das Leck finden

   Wenn es gefahrlos geht, finde heraus, wo das Wasser hereinkommt. Prüf die Lenzstopfen und die Borddurchlässe unterhalb der Wasserlinie.[7][8][9]

4. Abdichten oder schließen

   Versuch, das Loch mit dem Material abzudichten, das du für Lecks im Rumpf dabeihast. Ist das Leck an einem Borddurchlass mit Seeventil, schließ das Ventil.[7][10][9]

5. Pumpen und schöpfen

   Schalte die Bilgepumpe ein und schöpfe mit einer Schöpfkelle oder einem Eimer. Mach weiter.[11][12][13][14]

6. Wenn möglich, in Sicherheit fahren

   Wenn das Boot noch sicher fahren kann, steuere den nächsten Hafen oder ein Ufer an, das sich gefahrlos anlaufen lässt.[15]

7. Das Verlassen des Boots vorbereiten

   Bevor du das Boot verlässt, sende einen Notruf, lass die Rettungsweste an und zieh keine Kleidung aus: Zieh mehr an, wenn du Zeit hast. Halte deinen Notsender bereit.[16][17]

8. Wenn du ins Wasser musst

   Aktiviere deine EPIRB oder PLB. Bleib beim Boot, solange es schwimmt, und bring so viel von deinem Körper wie möglich darauf. Rückt eng zusammen, um warm und sichtbar zu bleiben.[18][19][20][21]

Was du nicht tun solltest

• Zieh keine Kleidung aus. Zieh mehr an, wenn du Zeit hast.[16]
• Verlass das Boot nicht, solange es noch schwimmt. Neben dem Boot wirst du viel leichter gefunden.[18][19]
• Warte mit dem Notruf nicht, bis das Boot kurz vor dem Sinken ist. Eine frühe Meldung kann entscheidend sein.[6]

Vor dem Ablegen

• Vor dem Slippen: Prüf, dass die Lenzstopfen drin sind.[8]
• Kontrolliere die Bilge vor jeder Fahrt.[22]
• Hab Werkzeug und Material dabei, um Lecks im Rumpf abzudichten.[10]
• Wisse, durch welche Öffnungen an deinem Boot Wasser eindringen kann und wie du sie schließt.[23]
• Halte Rettungswesten und Sicherheitsausrüstung griffbereit und denk über eine EPIRB nach.[24][17]

Häufige Fragen

Quellen

Die Quellen werden in ihrer Originalsprache zitiert.

1. Coastguard New Zealand (2026-10-14): “If you're sinking, make sure everyone is wearing lifejackets and you've raised the alarm (MAYDAY), then:”
2. Transport Canada – Safe Boating Guide (TP 511E, 03/2026) (2026-10-14): “have everyone onboard put on their lifejacket”
3. Coastguard New Zealand (2026-10-14): “A distress/Mayday call is used to indicate that a boat or person is threatened by grave and imminent danger and requires immediate assistance - for example, a boat taking on water, a vessel on fire, a person overboard or a serious medical emergency such as a heart attack.”
4. Maritime and Coastguard Agency (HM Coastguard) (2026-10-14): “Only to be used in the event of grave and imminent danger and assistance is required. Send a distress alert using digital selective calling (DSC), (press and hold the button until the alert is sent).”
5. Transport Canada – Small Commercial Vessel Safety Guide (TP 14070) (2026-10-14): “MAYDAY indicates a person or vessel is threatened by grave and imminent danger and requests immediate help. PAN PAN indicates a safety problem that does not require immediate assistance.”
6. Transport Canada – Small Commercial Vessel Safety Guide (TP 14070) (2026-10-14): “It is strongly recommended you report any situation that may present a danger to life, without delay. Early notification can be crucial to a positive outcome. You can use the PAN PAN radio signal for this purpose.”
7. Coastguard New Zealand (2026-10-14): “Locate the source of the leak if it’s safe to do so, try to plug it”
8. U.S. Coast Guard Boating Safety – A Boater’s Guide to the Federal Requirements for Recreational Boats (2026-10-14): “Avoid inconvenience and potential danger by taking a few minutes every time to verify you haven’t forgotten something critical, like putting in the drain plugs.”
9. Transport Canada – Small Commercial Vessel Safety Guide (TP 14070) (2026-10-14): “Holes that go through the hull below the waterline must not decrease the structural strength of the hull and must have a valve or some other way of keeping water out”
10. Transport Canada – Safe Boating Guide (TP 511E, 03/2026) (2026-10-14): “Make sure you have tools and materials to fix hull leaks.”
11. Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) (2026-10-14): “Start bilge pumps”
12. Transport Canada – Safe Boating Guide (TP 511E, 03/2026) (2026-10-14): “if the boat is flooding, remove water by bailing or using the bilge pump”
13. Coastguard New Zealand (2026-10-14): “Bail the water as best as you can with a bailer”
14. U.S. Coast Guard Boating Safety – A Boater’s Guide to the Federal Requirements for Recreational Boats (2026-10-14): “Keep the bilges free of water.”
15. Transport Canada – Small Commercial Vessel Safety Guide (TP 14070) (2026-10-14): “Stay out of conditions where water could come on board and accumulate. Head for the nearest port of refuge or shore that is safe to approach, if possible.”
16. Department of Transport, Western Australia (2026-10-14): “Before abandoning the boat: use your marine radio to send a distress call put on your lifejacket do not remove any clothing - put on more if you have time.”
17. Transport Canada – Safe Boating Guide (TP 511E, 03/2026) (2026-10-14): “These floating radio distress beacons can transmit a distress signal for hours. They can be manually activated or can float from a sinking or overturned vessel.”
18. Department of Transport, Western Australia (2026-10-14): “Once in the water: activate your EPIRB or PLB adopt the huddle position to keep everybody together and to conserve body heat stay with the boat for as long as possible if it is still afloat.”
19. Coastguard New Zealand (2026-10-14): “If the boat submerges and you have to go in the water, stay with the vessel – your chances of being found are much higher this way.”
20. U.S. Coast Guard Boating Safety – A Boater’s Guide to the Federal Requirements for Recreational Boats (2026-10-14): “To reduce the effects of hypothermia, get in or on the boat. Try to get as much of your body out of the water as possible.”
21. Transport Canada – Safe Boating Guide (TP 511E, 03/2026) (2026-10-14): “Huddle with others with your chests close together, arms around your mid to lower backs, and legs woven together. This also helps keep your group together until help arrives.”
22. RNLI (2026-10-14): “Check your engine, fluid levels and bilge.”
23. Transport Canada – Small Commercial Vessel Safety Guide (TP 14070) (2026-10-14): “Know which openings on your vessel – such as engine room vents – could let water in and take steps to prevent this from happening by being able to close them or by avoiding situations where this could occur.”
24. Department of Transport, Western Australia (2026-10-14): “having lifejackets and other safety equipment easily accessible storing emergency provisions in a watertight drum storing extra water in a floating container.”
25. Department of Transport, Western Australia (2026-10-14): “Most trailer boats have flotation to cope with flooding, and rarely sink. Larger boats without flotation usually take some time to sink.”

Weitere Notfall-Ratgeber

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