Worst Boating Day EVER!

A

Aarrhh & Aarrhh

New Member
Nov 1, 2006
426
Panama City FL
Boat Info
1998 370 Sundancer,
2004 110 Whaler
Engines
Cat 3116 300hp
So it started off very well! I was able to get the boat all ready and loaded for the long weekend on Wednesday so we would be able to go out to Shell Island first thing Thursday morning. We managed to get out by 0900! Anchored in a great spot as there was only 1 ’79 bert 46’ convertible hardtop and some rental can boats. My friend John posted about our experience last Sunday morning here.

http://clubsearay.com/forum/showthread.php?t=20334

So I’m thinking that it can only get better from here!!!! Was I ever wrong!!!!

About 1600 a storm blew up with some of the worst winds that I’ve ever seen. I’m busy getting everything secured on my boat, when I look up and see the bert getting closer! Some of my friends are trying to hold him back but the winds are way to strong. So we put out every fender that I have. We are all telling the capt. of the bert to pull in on the front anchor so he doesn’t hit me but guess what!? He doesn’t and the starboard transom corner rips the front of my boat to shreds! There is at least 4 holes in the side of my boat all around the aft port light in the fwd stateroom. Plus the aft port light is smashed out! So we finally get him off me and he anchors out in front of us until the storm passes. At this point I’m in shock, last weekend I had to spend $800.00 to replace my anchor and rode and now this!

So you might be thinking that this is all that can possibly happen to me, but you would be wrong!

My buddy and I get in my dingy and go up to the bow to cover the holes with some heavy duty duct tape to keep any more water from splashing into the holes (they are all 3’ above the water line.) We get this done and I drop him off on his boat and come back around to mine. My wife takes the bow line and I go to get off the dingy and onto my 370 when I slip and fall. As I’m falling I manage to break my right wrist! So now I’m in the water (4’ so I can stand) with a broken wrist and a damaged boat!
Luckily one of our friends is a nurse, she got me wrapped up and another buddy picked me up at the boat dock and took me to the emergency room. Needless to say I was not a happy person at this point!

Now I’m typing with one hand, my non-dominate, and enjoying some nice pain meds! Sorry but I had to vent a little!
 
So sorry to hear about that.....Hope you're doing better
 
Man, that sucks. Just when you think it can't get any worse, it always does...
At least no one was hurt, but it sounds like your boat's gonna be laid up for a while.

Your post wasn't clear- you say the Bert was "getting closer"- did his anchor drag, or did the wind shift causing him to swing into your boat... were stern anchors used or were you both swinging on the hook?
 
tobnpr said:
Your post wasn't clear- you say the Bert was "getting closer"- did his anchor drag, or did the wind shift causing him to swing into your boat... were stern anchors used or were you both swinging on the hook?
Click to expand...

His sterns drug, to much sail area!
 
Jason

Real sorry to hear about all your problems and I hope your wrist heals quickly. Will the other guy's insurance cover the damage to your boat?

One more thing..........there has been a rumor that the "Gary Curse" get's worse the larger your boat is so maybe you ought to stick with the 370DA for now since you see what happens to Gary with his 480DB. :grin:

Dave
 
Dave S said:
Jason

Real sorry to hear about all your problems and I hope your wrist heals quickly. Will the other guy's insurance cover the damage to your boat?

One more thing..........there has been a rumor that the "Gary Curse" get's worse the larger your boat is so maybe you ought to stick with the 370DA for now since you see what happens to Gary with his 480DB. :grin:

Dave
Click to expand...

His insurance will cover it. He has been great through this. Very nice guy, unfortunate that we had to meet this way!

I'll definitely stay with the 370 my body can't take much more! :)
 
Jason,

Sorry to hear your holliday was spoiled by this mess. Makes us realize that despite your best efforts something can always sneak up and bite us. There was nothing you could have done. It's good to know that the Bertram owner was a decent guy and didn't bolt on you like with that anchor fiasco.

You will recover soon enough and I'm sure your boat will be good as new. You might even take advantage of the "free" lay-up to make some other changes or improvements while this repair is being done.

You have to look on the bright side...it could be a lot worse....what if you weren't married.:thumbsup:
 
How long will it take to make the fiberglass repair? The wrist shouldn't slow you down. I've been in a fiberglass cast on my non-dominant wrist for 10 weeks now with 2 more to go. Put 30 hours on the engines so far this season, even with 24/30 days of rain in June. Throttles are on the right. Sorry to hear about that. Oh, what was the third problem? How did your boat get back to the slip?
 
Jason,

Shelli and I are very sorry to read about this. Tommy told us part of the story yesterday, but he didn't have many details. That was one hell of a gust front. I was at the dock, all loaded up and ready to go. Shelli couldn't get out of work as early as she wanted, so we were still there. I had most of the canvas down, and some of the dock lines released. As the winds picked up and it began to rain, I put the canvas back up and re-tied the lines. I guessed the winds were 40 knots. The marine weather reported 30 gust to 43 mph. Get well soon and let me know how I can help.

PS: As we cruised by, we could tell that there were 2 boats in your area, and one larger boat closer to the dock (looked that way to us). I don't remember noticing your boat being out (sorry). Did you at least get to stay out?
 
JuliaValentine said:
How long will it take to make the fiberglass repair? The wrist shouldn't slow you down. I've been in a fiberglass cast on my non-dominant wrist for 10 weeks now with 2 more to go. Put 30 hours on the engines so far this season, even with 24/30 days of rain in June. Throttles are on the right. Sorry to hear about that. Oh, what was the third problem? How did your boat get back to the slip?
Click to expand...

Not sure about how long it will take to get repaired.

As for the wrist. It still needs to be set. I will be seeing Dr tomorrow and then I'll know how long I'll be out for.

Several close friends took care of the boat for us. It's tied up in it's slip right now.
 
Hampton said:
Did you at least get to stay out?
Click to expand...

Nope! Ty and Kim stayed for 2 nights but I stayed at home. I still need to get to a Dr to get my wrist set and put in a cast. So I didn't think it would be a good idea to go out untill that happens.
 
Bad things happen in 3s. Then you'll be okay. What did they give you for the pain?
 
You're covered. It is what it is. Been there, done that. You are also going to be drowsy throughout the day because your sleep will be disrupted from the pain. I took the hydrocodone after surgery and it did practically nothing. I almost poisoned my liver with it. Don't take more than what is prescribed.
 
Well, finally made it to th Dr today. I need surgery on my wrist! He said that I'll end up with a couple of screws and a plate to hold it all together. I can't catch a break!!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
113,263
Messages
1,429,613
Members
61,140
Latest member
Terminator04
Back
Top