What happens if the connecting rods on a watertight door are not functioning?

In a watertight door system, the connecting rods play a crucial role in ensuring that the door can be securely closed and sealed to prevent the passage of water. If the connecting rods are not functioning properly, the proper mechanism of the door is compromised.

When the connecting rods are malfunctioning, it may lead to scenarios where the door cannot be fully engaged or sealed. In this case, having only one dog, which is a fitting or bolt used to pull the door tight against its frame, can still allow for some level of operation. However, it would not be secure or effective in ensuring a watertight seal. This compromises the door's overall functionality, as proper sealing requires multiple points of contact that the connecting rods facilitate.

The other options describe issues that could arise under different circumstances, such as failure of the door to close completely or potential leakage due to inadequate sealing. However, the primary problem with non-functional connecting rods directly ties back to the operation of the dogs and how many can effectively engage to secure the door, making the option regarding the operation of only one dog the most accurate reflection of the situation.