I hate being angry with myself - goodbye anchor

[davidwigler]

Yesterday I took my Fortress anchor apart to try to straighten the stock that was bent from striking a dock support while docking in powerful current. I carefully put the parts on my dock steps out of the way. Then I got distracted and decided to wash the boat. While pulling on the hose, you guessed it, I heard a splash....

Oh well, back to the Bruce.

[MikeP]

Sorry you lost the Fortress. But any boater who says they haven't done something like that (probably more than once) is lying or has memory issues that need to be addressed!

[MarioG]

I feel your pain. A couple of years ago, I removed a main engine sea strainer to repair a leak. the Big strainer has a bronze cap which is held in place with a long bolt going down the middle of the cap. I took the strainer to the dock to take apart the strainer. in doing so I drop the bronze cap in between the dock planks and into the dark muddy abyss. after a few colorfull words, I set out to find a replacement. Of course, nobody carries that replacement part. Finally after two days of looking, i resort to having one machined. I pick it up, looks nice, and head back to the boat. since the other parts were still on the dock I figured I'd just rebuild the strainer right there. What happend next cannot be made up, I was back at the machine shop the next day for another one...

[roundIII]

Installing Marquipt davit on bow. Had stand pipe in hand and was fitting pipe to hole in deck. As I got off the bow I said to the person assisting that I hope I do not drop it. Laid it down on the dock, safely. Walking away and I heard it start to roll. Tried to reach it before it went in, no luck. Called the diver to recover that afternoon.

RR

[Pascal]

Last month I replaced the 250 of 3/8 chain on the boat I run. So after loading the new chain in the locker I removed the end shackle from the old one, get distracted by a phone call, and attach the new chain to the 6' line tied to the bottoms of the locker.

Then I decide to run the chain thru to make sure there are no kinks.

Yes you guessed it... End of the chain runs out of the hawsepipe thru the windlass and in the drink! I had reattached the line to the old chain! Glad i did a test in the slip!

It was only 12' deep but I saw a diver across the fairway so I asked him if I could just swim across and pick the end for me. He said "no problem that will be $150". When I asked if he was joking he brings it down to $100. I thanked him, got my snorkeling gear and fetched my own chain... $100 for 2 minutes? I don't think so!

[krush]

Usually right when I hear the "plunk" of the splash and look over my shoulder to see what it is, my mind is going "sunuva....you dumbass". On the old Potomac we can't see through the water and the mud swallows everything!

I was spoiled on the tropical island where the water is clear and I could see where whatever I dropped went.

[magnawake]

Last month I replaced the 250 of 3/8 chain on the boat I run. So after loading the new chain in the locker I removed the end shackle from the old one, get distracted by a phone call, and attach the new chain to the 6' line tied to the bottoms of the locker.

Then I decide to run the chain thru to make sure there are no kinks.

Yes you guessed it... End of the chain runs out of the hawsepipe thru the windlass and in the drink! I had reattached the line to the old chain! Glad i did a test in the slip!

It was only 12' deep but I saw a diver across the fairway so I asked him if I could just swim across and pick the end for me. He said "no problem that will be $150". When I asked if he was joking he brings it down to $100. I thanked him, got my snorkeling gear and fetched my own chain... $100 for 2 minutes? I don't think so!

Dang Pascal !! Guess I should feel gratefull. We have a diver that cleans most of the hulls here in Southport (Deep Point). Heck if he's already here, he will gladly swim over and recover something easy for free. If he has to spend a great deal of time looking and looking, he'll charge a small fee, but usually he'll check your prop or running gear at no charge. Thats the difference between someone out to make a buck and someone who just likes his job. I should say he stays booked up too. I guess we are lucky to have him.