"I was still about 4 miles from the nearest ramp."
No I hear you. But you hit hard and ended up 6 miles from the nearest ramp. This is a touchy subject for me. I had a thru hull valve for a wash down pump start to leak slowly(Bilge pump would come on every 20 minutes or so. We were in some chop and I had to spin open a 12" access hatch to get to the shut off valve. I decided since it was a slight leak(really just a heavy drip) and the pump was handling it fine in 20 minute or so intervals, we (my young son and I) would head out to out fishing grounds, at which time I would anchor and close the valve.
We did just that. I went to close the valve and it was very tight. I forced it and the valve itself fractured. Now water was pouring in with no way to shut it off. This is only a 22' CC mind you so it isn't going to take long to submerge. I grabbed my wooden plug, rubber malet, mask and tide a rope around my waist. In the drink and pounded it in from the outside. That's all I could think of doing that quickly as the thru hull converts to bronze pipe wich converts to the fractured ball valve. Cutting the hose after the valve would have done zero and I don't carry a 3' monkey wrench to spin off a valve.
I should have returned the second I realized there was water intrusion of ANY kind. I realize you noticed nothing but from the sounds of it you hit pretty damn hard.
I know... Arm chair QB'ing... Glad you are all safe which is the bottom line!
