Boat Sink Veterans

[racclarkson@gmail.com]

My last divorce was made final in late July of ‘15. It was very amicable throughout. A few hours after the hearing, my new ex texted me. She said it was great seeing me and that it was a tough day, and that she hoped I was getting through it ok. I texted her back with the pic and that I was headed to FL to bring my new boat back (first she’d heard of it). I was kind. What I didn’t mention was all during the brief hearing my girlfriend was circling the block waiting to drive us to Ft. Myers (parking is such a hassle in Charleston). I think I was getting over her a bit sooner than she liked.

 

[Briankinley2004]

I joined as an ex officio member tonight

https://www.samsmarine.com/forums/showthread.php?33104-Missed-my-supper-tonight

 

[Freeebird]

I joined as an ex officio member tonight

https://www.samsmarine.com/forums/showthread.php?33104-Missed-my-supper-tonight

You sunk a boat to fit in, but we’ve moved on to divorce now. Wait a minute, did SHE cause that boat to sink?

 

[whoover]

I tell everyone that the worst thing my ex wife ever did to me was leaving ME the boat!

Walt Hoover

 

[rsmith]

I’ve seen several of center console boats with the outboard brackets take a wave over the transom and roll over quicker than quick. I have to wonder if that’s not what happened to those 2 kids that disappeared last year and the firefighters recently. We saw a 31 contender go down off Elbow Cay a few years back. It wasn’t a real bad day we were in a fleet fishing an offshore structure known as “the bridge” this contender passed us close and saw we were hooked up he turned down sea and was overtaken by a decent sized wave probably 6-8’ I was watching him because he looked like he was going to turn into our baits. As he slid off the back of the wave I thought he’s going to be lucky if the motors don’t drowned out. After the motors disappeared the bow kept coming up until there was just a few feet above the water. I couldn’t get turned around quick enough and a friend of mine in a big Paul Mann was able to snag them up in less than a few minutes. None of them had time to get life jackets epirb raft none of it. If those guys were off on their own could have been a very sad story.

 

[drburke]

Bruce,

Not too sure what you want to hear.

I sank my 34' Hatt in the slip during a storm in 2012 because I left the exhaust ports uncovered when working on engine rebuilds.

BoatUS insurance paid full agreed value without question. I bought a 52'. Everything inside was ruined (I live aboard).

Few lessons learned for others:

-I had a good crash pump onboard and it was not able to save the boat, and wet carpet gave me good warning.
-During the event, you will *not* find the leak most likely. It was dark, and diving face first into murky water during a fast sinking it impractical because there is little evidence of swirls to show entry.
-As it fills, walking around in waist deep water hurts: all of the hatches float and you fall in those holes a lot, banging your elbows and knees. I was pretty bruised for weeks.
-My pump was 120V AC so had to leave the power on to slow the sinking (which took 45 minutes) and to have lights so in salt water you are are constantly being shocked.
-I only managed to save a few armloads of paperwork, some shoes, work computer, random books.
-Authorities *only* care about environmentals.
-Nothing is salvageable. Nothing. Second picture is in galley looking forward to V-berth. Blue bin floated on top of stove, drawer floated on top of sink, everything else is wet mess waist high.

Can elaborate on any of the above, but I know many here will say "but you should have done...blah, blah" or "I would have done this or that..." I call B.S.

DAN

 

[jim rosenthal]

That's a damn shame, a sukne Hatteras.

Armchair advice is easy, and worth slightly less than what you pay for it. Help, in the moment, if someone happens to be there, would be more valuable, I would think.

 

[jim rosenthal]

I tell everyone that the worst thing my ex wife ever did to me was leaving ME the boat!

Walt Hoover

That IS funny.

When I was getting med school applications ready, many years ago, I asked a friend to write me a recommendation letter He said, "sure I'll do it, but when you become a doctor, think about all the people who wrote you rec letters and DON'T BLAME THEM"

LOL

 

[drburke]

BTW, to answer the question "what happens to a sunken Hatteras?", the answer is someone will show up who knows and values the brand, and *really, really* wants it.

They will go through it completely and replace electrical, sole, bulkheads, everything. And paint it blue.

Picture is two years later at a nearby marina. So a decent outcome!

 

[Jammin']

BTW, to answer the question "what happens to a sunken Hatteras?", the answer is someone will show up who knows and values the brand, and *really, really* wants it.They will go through it completely and replace electrical, sole, bulkheads, everything. And paint it blue.Picture is two years later at a nearby marina. So a decent outcome!

That is a happy ending.

 

[Sharon Jean]

While I didn't sink this boat myself, I purchased it from the previous owner after he sunk it.
Boat was a 20' Shamrock from the mid 80's, and was kept on rack storage when not in use.
Previous owner called marina to have it launched for him to use that day.
Boat was launched and tied up on an outer dock, parallel with the river. (Connecticut River)
The owner was delayed, and during that time the tide changed.
The outgoing tide was now bumping up against the stern of the boat.
Shamrocks of that vintage had very low deck drains.
Water came in through the drains, and seeped through all the deck hatches into the bilge.
After a while, pumps couldn't keep up and down she went.

I never painted a name on the transom, but I always referred to her as "Bottom Dweller"

First moral of the story: If you can't have high deck drains, at a bare minimum have flaps on the outside to prevent backflow.
Second moral of the story: Don't discount the benefit of watertight deck hatches.

Third moral of the story: Never buy a boat named "Bottom Dweller" ;-)

 

[Freeebird]

"Bottom Dweller"?

PO was a proctologist?

 

[jim rosenthal]

Reminds me of that Seinfeld episode.... about the license plate, I think.

 

[Freeebird]

You're not sure if it reminds you of a Seinfeld episode?

 

[Sharon Jean]

Well, I named my old Shamrock "Bottom Dweller" because it had resided on the bottom of the Connecticut River for a short while.

As to Seinfeld, license plates, and proctologists ...