When it rains it pours.... lol

[rustybucket]

Just sitting here thinking about the last 10 days or so and WOW. I'm not one to brag but it's been a doozie! I don't normally talk about personal stuff online but I gotta share this string of bad luck with everybody, it's almost mind boggling. Before anybody asks, I'm ok, family is ok, everybody is good. Taking everything in stride, I mean really all you can do at this point is laugh at it...

1. My trucks transmission goes out, new transmission is going to take 30 days to arrive and cost $5k. We decide to buy a used prius to cover the gap (been needing a car anyways)

2. Hurricane Sally predicted to hit LA, instead turns and hits our boat in Pensacola direct, I get to ride out a cat 2 on the boat when I was only expecting tropical storm winds.

3. Stepson wrecks his truck (he is ok, no injuries, just shook up), ran into a tree in South GA that hurricane sally knocked over. Truck will be in the shop for 10ish days, $6k worth of damage

4. My father passes after a long battle with cancer and liver issues. Can't have funeral b/c of corona.

5. I've been driving the prius, but since stepson needs a vehicle he takes the prius. So now i'm driving a friggin rental car that smells funny. I own 4 vehicles and am driving a rental car smh... lol.

6. Walk out into the garage yesterday and there is a puddle of bloody water under our upright freezer (which has half a cow in it, plus fish and deer meat). Everything inside still partially frozen. Go buy a freezer from home depot to save everything.

7. Wife sprays some wasp nests along the back of our house. Spray appears to have killed the rosemary hedgerow that was growing along the house.

8. What next????

Whichever voo-doo lady put a hex on me she can take it off now, I'm good, got the point!

I know, I know, it could be worse, it always can be!

Sorry, just had to vent, thanks for listening!

 

[racclarkson@gmail.com]

Well I think you've passed the mental health assessment. You seem to be taking everything in stride. Lots aren't. We're all luckier then maybe we deserve. Take care, my friend!

 

[SKYCHENEY]

But you still have the boat. And all of your hard work upgrading her is still intact. Sounds like a great story if told like that.

Just hold on. Things will get better.

 

[johnjen50]

Are you kidding me? I would have thought that AMAZING COCKPIT UPGRADE you accomplished would have taken more out of you! Hopefully you are done for a while, and will only enjoy calm seas and fair winds for a while. Take care.

 

[jim rosenthal]

Sorry about your loss. Glad your boat is okay, considering how much work you have put into her....

 

[racclarkson@gmail.com]

Rusty, I know you know how lucky you were. I thought you, and everyone, would like to hear about another Hatteras within spit'n distance from you during the storm. You may have even seen him.

In another thread, I posted about my friend, AB (made up), who rode out Sally and lost his 43C. I spoke with him in more detail today. Like everyone else, his plan relied on the forecast. His boat had been docked at or near Barbers (which we know was obliterated). AB decided to run east to Perdido Bay and up to the narrows where he set two "big anchors." Once he learned the storm had picked up speed and tracking east, it was too late for him to run and no way to get off. He said it went from sugar to S#&@ PDQ.

AB said the ride was wild, but holding, when he was hit with either a microburst or a waterspout. Braced on the salon floor on a futon, he was flung hard against the opposite side with the futon and other items on top of him. The hit dazed and disoriented him, and for some time. AB stayed dry, but the side windows began cracking. He said waves were breaking well over the foredeck onto the base of the flybridge. AB said the the ride was getting much worse, and he was being tossed like a rag doll for an indeterminate period of time. At some point, he heard what he thought sounded like loud gun shots--easily heard over the howling wind. Those shots were his two anchor lines parting. I don't how much chain and line he had out, but he was on the nylon.

He couldn't exactly recall how long he was adrift, hours he thinks. AB said the constant, confused rolling and pitching were terribly disorienting. He said you never realize how much stuff you have on a boat until it's all airborne around you; some of it was hard. Mercifully, the cell towers stayed up the whole time enabling AB to update his son, ergo the Coast Guard (AB's son retired from USCG this year as a Commander stationed at Mobile.). AB estimates he was driven about 10 miles down into Perdido Bay proper headed for open water. Suddenly, he began repeatedly slamming up against something solid. He reckons the waves were then breaking over his flybridge. At that point he figured the boat would breakup and he was headed for the water. Knowing he wouldn't likely make it, he composed a goodbye text to his family. Old School held together even as it was repeatedly slammed about.

The next morning, his son was able to get to him by small boat and swimming (if I recall correctly) a quarter mile. Old School had gone aground on someone's unfinished dock. The boat had impaled itself on one of the pilings. AB termed it "a column" sticking up almost to the overhead between the engines. The ER had flooded above the overhead, and water was in the engines when they pulled the dipsticks. AB donned a life jacket and was helped back to the small boat.

AB and his son returned to the boat the next day to salvage their "considerable" rods, reels and whatever they could. Approaching the boat, his son used his .40 Cal. as encouragement for "the Mexicans" looting Old School to vamoose. That's make my blood boil!

AB says he's lucky to be alive. He's still processing the experience. He described Old School now as something someone who had a yard could bring back on their own time, but not worth it if paying a yard rate. He was insured. AB's about my age, and doubts he'll get another big boat. He feels that he just doesn't have the energy to put into another boat. I hope he gets past that.

Old School with me when we ran from Irma in '17.

 

[oscarvan]

Whoa......

 

[rustybucket]

Robert, sorry to hear about AB, sounds like a scary ride. Glad to hear he is safe and sound. Nobody should be ashamed of sustaining damage or loss in this storm, EVERYBODY called it wrong. There is no shame in this only a new found respect for the forecast cone lol.

We were very fortunate to only sustain the minor damage we did. I know of several boats that either broke free or saw their marina was going to shit and they cut the dock lines and just jogged during the storm or made a move during the storm to another area.

I probably saw 10-20 small water spouts/tornados come through. They were everywhere in this storm, just lucky a larger one didn't find me.

I would not have wanted to have been on nylon anchor line. I could have tight rope walked down my 3/8" anchor chain. The chain really helped soften the jerk between gusts by pulling the boat forward in the slip during the calms.

If I had broke free and was adrift I would have fired up the mains and just jogged the rest of the night. Trust me there were a few times during the night and pre-dawn when I really wished I was off the dock and driving. Could have just pointed into the wind/waves and adjusted the throttles to keep you stationary. Would not have been fun, but doable.

We are a little different than most. We see some pretty severe weather offshore on our multi-day trips sometimes. So I have everything I need to 'drive blind'. I've ridden out some crazy thunderstorms offshore in the gulf over the years. This storm was basically just hours of that. I have full rain/storm gear onboard, lots of clear safety glasses as well as clear full face shields. They REALLY save your ass when having to drive through sideways rain. When it's painful to look forward you don't do it. With the shield on you can look forward at all times.

I spent the majority of the night up on the bridge getting pounded or sitting on my new mezzanine couch which was VERY protected from the weather. So I'd go up on the bridge until I couldn't take it anymore then go sit on the mezz, drink a water, eat a snack, recharge...etc.

Between those two were regular trips up to the bow to check lines and anchor and adjust as necessary. I had knee pads on all night b/c I couldn't walk out to the bow without being blown into the water, so I had to knee crawl out there and back. The knee pads really were a life saver.

 

[racclarkson@gmail.com]

Rusty, that’s pretty sound advice. I’ve always got the motors warmed and ready to go jogging; crank them every 3-4 hours. The goggles are a must. I’ve cinched mine up so tight it cuts off the blood to my brain-so far I haven’t noticed any diminished cognitive phunkshun. I hadn’t thought about the knee pads. Moored to fixed docks and pilings, line adjustment is an absolute must. When I moored for Irma, I boarded halfway to the bow to step over level with dock. During the storm, I could only board at the cockpit with a knotted life line to climb up an on. Boats that didn’t adjust tore deck cleats and lifted the concrete dock walkways up and often off. You’re right on target re chain. I’ve seen too many lines part in a lot less than you guys encountered. My hatts off (sorry) to you for being prepared and making it pay.

 

[Bob Bradley]

Holy Chit. That's some tale. OK, I don't want to hear any ball busting this December about me having to winterize my boat. At least we don't have to deal with that crapola as often as you guys do down south.

Oh, and Rusty, this is 2020. Please don't ask: "8. What next????"

 

[oscarvan]

OK, I don't want to hear any ball busting this December about me having to winterize my boat.

Funny, I had the exact same thought.

 

[jmooney]

Here in Miami , we have twice run to our hurricane storage up the Miami river , we didn’t need to go as it turned out and our friends needled us about wasting our time and energy. After reading these accounts, I am glad we did.

 

[rustybucket]

Here in Miami , we have twice run to our hurricane storage up the Miami river , we didn’t need to go as it turned out and our friends needled us about wasting our time and energy. After reading these accounts, I am glad we did.

I've ran from several over the years, some necessary, some not. My brother always ribbed me about running when not necessary. Everybody can kiss my ass now, gonna be a lot more running/moving in my future. I'm also no longer gun shy about making a last minute move. Moving in 50mph is way better than riding out 100mph.

 

[racclarkson@gmail.com]

I've ran from several over the years, some necessary, some not. My brother always ribbed me about running when not necessary. Everybody can kiss my ass now, gonna be a lot more running/moving in my future. I'm also no longer gun shy about making a last minute move. Moving in 50mph is way better than riding out 100mph.

It can be beneficial to run to maintain those relationships at locations you depend upon when the chips are down.

 

[Bob Quinn]

Yikes, and I was worried about winterizing before a frost!
My favorite saying "Still looking at the green side of the grass!"
Hope things turn around for you. I think they have to!

 

[rsmith]

I've ran from several over the years, some necessary, some not. My brother always ribbed me about running when not necessary. Everybody can kiss my ass now, gonna be a lot more running/moving in my future. I'm also no longer gun shy about making a last minute move. Moving in 50mph is way better than riding out 100mph.

Here in So Florida they’re locking bridges down early typicaly when you decide to move it’s too late

 

[oscarvan]

My favorite saying "Still looking at the green side of the grass!"

"And I'm not wearing orange....."