The water seems to be coming in steadily. What should the crew check first to find where it is coming from?

A. Assume it is rainwater and ignore it — no need to look for a source

B. Check the seacocks (the valves where pipes pass through the hull, e.g. for the toilet or engine cooling) — these are the most common source. Also check the stern gland (where the propeller shaft passes through), hose clips, and the bilge pump itself

C. Radio for help immediately before checking anything on the boat

D. Check only the deck hatches — water always comes from above, never below the waterline

A. Tell the skipper immediately and check how fast the water level is rising — is it a trickle or rising quickly? This tells you how serious it is

B. Check the engine first — water is always caused by engine problems

C. Start bailing immediately without telling anyone else

D. Put the floorboard back and carry on — a little water is always normal on a boat

A. Try to tape over the spraying hose with ordinary sticky tape

B. Open more seacocks to balance the pressure and slow the leak

C. Close the seacock (the valve) straight away if it can be reached — this stops the water at the source. If the seacock cannot be closed or reached, push a wooden bung (a tapered wooden plug, kept in the boat's tool kit) into the open pipe or seacock to block it

D. Leave it and start the engine to run the bilge pumps harder instead