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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Ivan-induced Boat Chaos

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eric.werkowitz
Captain

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USA
283 Posts

Initially Posted - 09/20/2004 : 16:19:35

I took some pictures of the Ivan aftermath on Boggy Bayou in Niceville FL. Niceville is about 50 miles east of Pensacola where the storm's impact was much more severe. Still, boaters had a tough go of it. My boat, C25 #4969, took some damage at the dock after several of the spring lines came off the pilings and one piling broke. The boat rode up over the dock, but was restrained from further misadventure by the remaing port lines. Not sure if the damage is cosmetic or whether there may be some hidden hull delamination. Need to do some tapping to try to determine. She is due for a bottom job anyway, so I guess I'll have her pulled when ever I can get a boat yard to do it. They are going to be pretty busy for some time.

http://home.earthlink.net/~bushedo/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/

A few lessons learned:

1. Several boats that ended up on shore appeared to have been well anchored, but had their rope rodes severed by other boats or their dislodged anchors. No matter how well you anchor your boat someone else can ruin your day.

2. I don't think I ever realized that the cleats on my boat had no backing plates, just nuts. Not even sure there were washers, at least I couldn feel them in the anchor locker. Despite this, they held during some very heavy wind an waves that at their worst came abeam.

3. Unless you want the insurance company to buy you a new one, don't leave your head sail on your roller furler. I saw numerous shredded sails on boats that survived the storm.

4. Leaving your boat in a marina amidst a lot of other boats whose owners are gone or just don't care, is a recipe for disaster. Again, it doesn't matter how well you prepare your boat if other around you don't. Take a look at the two marina pictures for proof.

Eric Werkowitz
C25 #4969

Edited by - on

Tony Dillon
Navigator

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USA
168 Posts

Response Posted - 09/20/2004 : 16:30:03

Thank you Eric for the photos and words of wisdom. It has amazed me in the photos of boats damaged by the last three hurricanes how few of the sailboats look as though they were prepared. Most still had mainsails still on with sail covers and headsails still on the roller furlers. It is suprising how much damage can be caused by just a couple of unprepared boats getting loose.

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Oscar
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2030 Posts

Response Posted - 09/20/2004 : 19:02:11

Many boats are owned by people that are, shal we say, less enthusiastic now than the day they bought it. They don't worry about their boats as much as we do, and many of them are financially under water (Equivalent of upside down in a car....)

I suspect that some people even secretly hope their boat ends up on the rocks......

Oscar
C42 # 76 "Lady Kay"
C250 # 618 Sold and settled, awaiting transfer of command.
http://www.woodenshoemusic.com/C250WB

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Ben - FL
Admiral

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880 Posts

Response Posted - 09/20/2004 : 19:59:20

Thanks for the pictures and sorry to hear about your boat getting damaged. When Frances was on her way here I took my sails off the poles. Then decided to go ahead and drop the mast. She is still sitting that way until I am convinced that all the storms have past. Now we are looking at Lisa. But worse than the toll on boats is how many are now living in their cars. I am donating anything I can like clothes I don't wear to send over.
I think I just got lucky this time because my marina was on the weather shore. Next time a hurricane heads this way I will take Chick-a-pea out to the middle of the St. Johns and moore her to a very large piece of concrete.

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At Ease
Admiral

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672 Posts

Response Posted - 09/20/2004 : 20:18:25

Some times my fellow sailors and I complain about our small inland lake and all its disadvantages...at least on hurricanes!

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OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 09/20/2004 : 23:46:36

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Oscar
 
I suspect that some people even secretly hope their boat ends up on the rocks......

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

We had several docks break loose (with boats still attached) on the three rivers in the Pittsburgh area. One of them belonged to my neighbor. When he said his dock had broken away, I said I was sorry and asked if he knew where his boat ended up to which he only replied "nope."
One of the barge towing companies recovered several run away boats and only charged $500 (by law he could charge 10% of the FMV) only to receive complaints that he was gouging people and that items were missing from their boats.
Rocks you say? . . . rocks in their heads.

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Captain B
1st Mate

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USA
88 Posts

Response Posted - 10/02/2004 : 17:57:52

Eric, Hope your damage wasn't too bad. My new Catalina 32 has $10K of cosmetic damage. All, as luck would have it, from a Catalina 25 that broke loose and tried to mate with mine. I left my Catalina 25 "Pearl at the dock in the Cat 32's slip. Not a scratch on her! The Boat marina in Fort Walton is open for business. Not sure about others. Best of luck. Bryan

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jhugener
Deckhand

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USA
13 Posts

Response Posted - 10/02/2004 : 22:09:53

I am going to Pensacola on sunday and see how my boat is. I know that it is in the middle of a pile of boats. I was there the day after and the mast is gone and so is the motor. They would not let anyone to go to their boat last week. I hope to be able to check it out.

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eric.werkowitz
Captain

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USA
283 Posts

Response Posted - 10/02/2004 : 22:59:04

Cap'n B,

I just called the insurance company today. Not sure how long it will take for an adjuster to come out. I don't think they can really make an assessment unles the boat is out of the water. Haven't called "The Boat" yet to see when they might be able to do it. I imagine they are booked for a long time.

Sorry to hear about your 32. John Sullivan does really good work. He can match gelcoat color without a flaw, but he's expensive.

jhugener,

Hope the insurance company treats you well.

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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.