Disaster Averted (Almost)

[racclarkson@gmail.com]

July 3rd wasn't a good day for Aslan. While below in the morning, I heard engines close aboard where they should not be heard. I ran to the guest cabin to see only hull through the port light. As I grabbed hold--crunch! A newbie on a trawler got sideways in the famous St. Johns current. Naturally, he goosed it. And, he almost pulled it off.

Thinking no one was aboard, he attempted his getaway. I say attempted, after all it was a trawler. So after being identified as a marina tenant, he admitted the contact and said the had tried to contact me before moving off. Trouble was multiple witnesses saw the contact and saw him scoot. Maybe he was just maintaining radio silence. Fortunately for everyone, it was only a foot long gouge just above the rub rail--easily fixable. The marina management let him know it was make good or get the boot. So, he came over and agreed to my extremely generous cash figure but tried to stick to his no hit-and-run story. So I called BS and said I'd just file a claim with his insurance. The meek shall inherit the earth--all of a sudden sometimes.

Later that same day...

The junker 25' sailboat next to me just sold to a young man who's never sailed and never owned a boat. The motor was hydro locked, and he, along with his dad and nephew, decided to pull it.

A few hours later, I looked out the window and saw this.
Unknown-1.jpg
He had a chain hoist on the boom and planned to haul the motor up and swing it out onto the dock! I mean this thing is old, and who knows the condition of that mast, boom or stays?

Whoa there! You know once that iron starts swinging and the boat starts a tilting.... Well, if that motor gets loose and bounces over in my cockpit... or if that mast breaks and cuts my boat in two, you know I'm gonna go absolutely ape s#@&!

Well, he says that's the only way he can get the motor off the boat. So? What's that got to do with me? I could just see it, rammed in the morning and impaled in the afternoon.

His dad, obviously a man of great wisdom and understanding, saw it from my point of view. As a result, I saw his point of view. Having a good supply of Tylenol and Advil onboard, I grabbed my portion of the motor (and gear) and we got it over the side and on the dock. An hour later, I was again able to stand erect without help.

Kinda makes you wonder what goes on here when you're not around.

[oscarvan]

Well, that'll keep you from sitting on Amazon spending money.

[Dan Mapes]

Larger boats make good fenders. I was changing the batteries one day when a nice looking Sea Ray express laid up against our bow pulpit when the tide got him. If you've ever been to Sunset Bay Marina in Stuart you know it hauls through the marina.
He wasn't getting anywhere fast because this was his first boat (at least it seemed that way). I had to instruct him how to work the levers to get off of us. We knew the man because he was the owner of the restaurant there. I guess I might have gotten a free meal if I hadn't f bombed him.
But he did make good on the repairs.

[krush]

Oh the first-world problems of marina life. You also have to talk to neighbors and listen to their BS....no desire for that.

[racclarkson@gmail.com]

Thanks for the heads up.

[Captain Ralph]

Oh the first-world problems of marina life. You also have to talk to neighbors and listen to their BS....no desire for that.

That is why we had to build our own dock in the swamp.

[racclarkson@gmail.com]

That is why we had to build our own dock in the swamp.

What's the record on thru-hulls anyway? I think you may have it.

[Captain Ralph]

What's the record on thru-hulls anyway? I think you may have it.

I see you know these builds.

Yes, I think I have the factory record boat with thru hulls. 4 state room and 4 head model originally. A thru-hull and sea cock for every option (if you had it or not) plus... 2 for every head.
Every devise has it's own thru hull(s). Two gen-sets and two water makers also.
10 years ago I replaced every dam, old, leaking, pos, sea cock & dam again thru-hull with new backing plates.
With all the A/Cs running, the boat wants to thrust sideways because of all the freaking A/C discharges on the port side. A lil twist motion when two more A/Cs dump on stb.

I think I just paid that credit card off a year or so ago.
I had a Go-Fund-me site made, but it was deleted for lack of viewers. FM...

LOL..

[Fish Tales]

I have kept my boat at the Ft Pierce city marina for the past year. The current there rips throug very fast. I have had 2 sail boats and one newer Viking try spinning to back into a slip to get sideways in the current and have my pulpit go through the salon windows. They have to sit like that until the tide changes. The sail boaters were really nice and paid for repairs. the Viking owner was driving, not his captain, and bailed. About 5 grand worth of gouges and haul out fees to fix the boat. He is a real prick, having a hard time with him. I do not want to call my insurance company, 7 grand deductible, and even if they make him pay, I still a claim here at hurricane season.

Bringing the boat back to Daytona in September. Ft. Pierce is a beautiful marina, but tired of getting hit. I have changed slips 3 times, but I guess I am a magnet.


Have a great week,
Tim
Fishtales 65c

[rsmith]

The way the insurance market is right now I would not submit a claim. You could go to small claims court is walking distance from the marina. I think it’s up to 12k