Avería de motor: qué hacer cuando te quedas sin propulsión

Última verificación: 14 de octubre de 2026

Paso a paso

1. Chalecos puestos y evalúa

   Haz que todos se pongan el chaleco salvavidas. Después mira hacia dónde te llevan el viento y la corriente, y a qué distancia están la costa, las rocas o el tráfico marítimo.[1][2][3]

2. Fondea

   Si no puedes volver a arrancar el motor y hay poca profundidad, fondea por la proa para mantener la posición. Como regla, larga entre cinco y siete veces la profundidad en cabo.[4][5][6]

3. Comprueba que el ancla agarra

   Vigila puntos fijos en tierra o tu posición GPS. Con viento o corriente fuertes el ancla puede garrear y dejar que el barco derive o encalle.[7][8]

4. ¿Demasiado profundo o mucha mar? Usa un ancla de capa

   Si no puedes fondear, larga un ancla de capa por la proa para mantener el barco aproado a las olas. En una emergencia puede servir un cubo.[9]

5. Llama pronto con un PAN-PAN

   Si de momento estás a salvo, lanza un PAN-PAN por el canal 16 de VHF. Avisar pronto da tiempo a los rescatadores y puede ser decisivo para que todo acabe bien.[4][10][11][12]

6. Pasa a MAYDAY si el peligro se vuelve grave

   Si el barco está a punto de ser arrastrado contra las rocas o de inundarse, o hay una vida en peligro, pulsa el botón de socorro DSC y haz una llamada MAYDAY por el canal 16.[13][14][15][16]

7. Revisa las causas sencillas

   Si es seguro, revisa lo básico, como el combustible. Quedarse sin combustible es uno de los motivos más habituales por los que los navegantes piden ayuda.[17][18]

8. Hazte ver

   Si necesitas ayuda y no tienes radio, usa señales de socorro: sube y baja los brazos extendidos repetidamente, emite una señal acústica continua o lanza bengalas cuando alguien pueda verlas.[19][20][21]

9. Sigue a la escucha

   Mantén la radio en el canal 16, espera respuesta y sigue las instrucciones de los rescatadores.[22][23]

Qué no hacer

• No fondees por la popa. El barco puede inundarse.[24]
• No esperes a estar en la rompiente para llamar. Avisa pronto de un problema que va a más con un PAN-PAN.[11]
• No lances bengalas cuando nadie pueda verlas. Guárdalas para cuando haya posibilidad de que se vean.[21]
• No uses el canal 16 para charlar ni para pruebas de radio. Es para socorro, urgencia y llamada.[25][26]

Antes de zarpar

• Antes de zarpar: revisa el motor, los niveles, el combustible y la sentina, y aplica la regla del tercio para el combustible (ida, vuelta, reserva).[27][28]
• Lleva un ancla con cabo suficiente para las profundidades en las que navegas. En un barco pequeño, las palas o los remos son otra forma de moverte.[5][29]
• Di a alguien en tierra adónde vas y cuándo volverás.[30]
• Lleva una radio VHF, a ser posible con DSC, y aprende a hacer llamadas PAN-PAN y MAYDAY.[31][32]

Preguntas frecuentes

Fuentes

Las fuentes se citan en su idioma original.

1. Transport Canada – Safe Boating Guide (TP 511E, 03/2026) (2026-10-14): “have everyone onboard put on their lifejacket”
2. U.S. Coast Guard Boating Safety – A Boater’s Guide to the Federal Requirements for Recreational Boats (2026-10-14): “Make sure everyone on board is wearing their life jacket.”
3. Transport Canada – Safe Boating Guide (TP 511E, 03/2026) (2026-10-14): “assess the situation”
4. Department of Transport, Western Australia (2026-10-14): “If you are unable to restart your vessel’s motor: Drop anchor to hold your position. Use your marine radio to make a Pan Pan call.”
5. Transport Canada – Small Commercial Vessel Safety Guide (TP 14070) (2026-10-14): “Your vessel must have a way to control drifting in case you lose your engine. This can be an anchor with a length of rope, chain or cable, or any combination of these, that suits the size of the vessel.”
6. U.S. Coast Guard Boating Safety – A Boater’s Guide to the Federal Requirements for Recreational Boats (2026-10-14): “The general rule is five to seven times as much line as the depth of water plus the distance from the surface of the water to where the anchor will attach to the bow.”
7. Transport Canada – Safe Boating Guide (TP 511E, 03/2026) (2026-10-14): “It’s important to have the right anchor and cable for your boat. If you don’t, strong winds and water can cause the anchor to drag and let your boat drift or run aground.”
8. Transport Canada – Safe Boating Guide (TP 511E, 03/2026) (2026-10-14): “Make sure your boat is well anchored and watch for signs of anchor dragging.”
9. U.S. Coast Guard Boating Safety – A Boater’s Guide to the Federal Requirements for Recreational Boats (2026-10-14): “If the engine fails, trail a sea anchor from the bow of the boat to keep it headed into the waves (a bucket can work as a sea anchor in an emergency).”
10. Transport Canada – Safe Boating Guide (TP 511E, 03/2026) (2026-10-14): “Lost power, are safe but drifting towards an active shipping lane”
11. 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.”
12. Maritime and Coastguard Agency (HM Coastguard) (2026-10-14): “If you are concerned about the safety of a person or vessel, you can send an urgency announcement using a DSC All Ships Urgency Call, nominating a working channel. Tune to Channel 16 to make the urgency call:”
13. 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).”
14. Maritime and Coastguard Agency (HM Coastguard) (2026-10-14): “On receipt of a DSC acknowledgement or after about 15 seconds, transmit the distress call and message on Channel 16:”
15. 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.”
16. Coastguard New Zealand (2026-10-14): “If your boat is sinking, someone is injured or life is in danger, immediately call VHF Channel 16 (the international maritime distress channel)”
17. Transport Canada – Safe Boating Guide (TP 511E, 03/2026) (2026-10-14): “Motor problems, like running out of fuel, often lead to distress calls from boaters.”
18. RNLI (2026-10-14): “Check the gauges and fuel levels regularly.”
19. Transport Canada – Safe Boating Guide (TP 511E, 03/2026) (2026-10-14): “Keep raising and lowering outstretched arms.”
20. Transport Canada – Safe Boating Guide (TP 511E, 03/2026) (2026-10-14): “Make continuous sound with any fog-signalling device.”
21. Transport Canada – Safe Boating Guide (TP 511E, 03/2026) (2026-10-14): “Only use flares in an emergency when you believe there’s a chance it will be seen.”
22. RNLI (2026-10-14): “Monitor VHF channel 16 and local channels/the harbour master channel.”
23. RNLI (2026-10-14): “Release the PTT button and await a response.”
24. U.S. Coast Guard Boating Safety – A Boater’s Guide to the Federal Requirements for Recreational Boats (2026-10-14): “Warning: Do not anchor from the stern as this could swamp the boat.”
25. U.S. Coast Guard Boating Safety – A Boater’s Guide to the Federal Requirements for Recreational Boats (2026-10-14): “Channel 16 is the primary VHF-FM marine radio calling and distress channel. It should not be used for general conversation or radio checks.”
26. Transport Canada – Safe Boating Guide (TP 511E, 03/2026) (2026-10-14): “VHF radio channel 16 is only used for emergency and calling purposes.”
27. RNLI (2026-10-14): “Check your engine, fluid levels and bilge.”
28. U.S. Coast Guard Boating Safety – A Boater’s Guide to the Federal Requirements for Recreational Boats (2026-10-14): “Practice the “One-Third Rule” by using: One-third of the fuel to go out. One-third to get back. One-third held in reserve.”
29. Transport Canada – Small Commercial Vessel Safety Guide (TP 14070) (2026-10-14): “If your vessel is not more than 9 metres long, you may carry a paddle or two oars and rowlocks or any other device that can be used to propel the vessel manually instead of the anchor.”
30. RNLI (2026-10-14): “Plan your passage, and tell someone ashore where you're going and how long you'll be gone.”
31. RNLI (2026-10-14): “Have a means of calling for help, like a handheld VHF or mobile phone in a waterproof pouch.”
32. Transport Canada – Safe Boating Guide (TP 511E, 03/2026) (2026-10-14): “If your VHF radio has Digital Selective Calling (DSC) on channel 70, press the button to send a digital distress call.”
33. U.S. Coast Guard Boating Safety – A Boater’s Guide to the Federal Requirements for Recreational Boats (2026-10-14): “If a boater contacts the U.S. Coast Guard on Channel 16 VHF-FM or Digital Select Calling Channel 70 and the situation is determined to be non-distress, the Coast Guard will offer to contact any assistance provider (commercial or friend) the boater requests.”
34. Coastguard New Zealand (2026-10-14): “For non-urgent assistance such as an electrical problem or mechanical issue, call our Operations Centre”

Más guías de emergencia

Números de salvamento por país → Cómo hacer una llamada MAYDAY → Tarjeta de emergencia para imprimir →