Second disaster avoided in two weeks - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

Van · 05-25-2005, 07:47 AM

A week or two ago, I nearly pulled the boat with a rotted trailer hitch but luckily we found it just before leaving the driveway, I could have lost the boat. (Disaster avoided)

SO....last night I have gaurd duty at my marina. (Its about twice a year). So I'm thinking...great night to have to be there with this f'in weather... So I get there around 10 (10-1) shift. The second guy is already htere having a cold one. We sart to shoot the S and he asks me what boat I have and where, so I point out to the slip at her and he says, ""we just tied that boat down, it was hitting the dock at the bow"", but no damage....

Hmmmm thats strange, I just pulled up on the spring line Monday when I got back in and tied her up. So curious I took a dangerous walk out to the slip. Boat is sitting crooked, WTF?? I look around and see that the finger has ripped off the main dock and is hanging on by one small bracket. Another few minutes and it would have separated from the main dock and although I had bow lines, the boat would have gone sidways and smashed into the main dock, with the finger smashing her on the other side.

I lashed it in place as well as possible, go get the other guy with a flashlight, so in pitch dark docks swaying all over the place raining and 40+ mph wind, I'm crawling around trying to reattached the finger. WIth both of us we could still not reattach it. We untied her and put it in the next slip over. Then put 4 lines on my boat and 4 more on the broken finger to keep it from smacking into my boat, and now the bumpers are on the other side. Disaster avoided, again what where the chances that it was my night for duty and it was my finger that broke. When will this streak end???

So to top off the night, its now about 1130, I'm soaked to the skin, dont have dry clothes, so I have to hang around cold and wet. My watch finally ends at 1am, and I find I can't get to my truck cause with the storm surge and high tide the ocean is now in the parking lot, the water is 1/2 way to the axle of my truck. I had to wait another hour and a half to get to my truck.

Other than that it was a freaking blast !!!!! But at least its another disaster avoided,..

reelecstasy · 05-25-2005, 08:05 AM

Van, luckily you were there

likwid · 05-25-2005, 08:26 AM

wood docks with chain around the piling?

Van · 05-25-2005, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by likwid

wood docks with chain around the piling?

Rollers and Brackets, not chains. They just changed them 2 years ago, so there was another 4' to the top of the pilings. But the other docks where the IBs are where still the old pilings and they were 1' from the bracket going over the top. Would have been major prob for the big guys there.

likwid · 05-25-2005, 09:16 AM

Eh, not sure how much I like the rollers/brackets, they seem like a good idea on concrete docks, but with wood you need some give.

Amazing how many people will just leave their boats to the will of the dockmaster/yard in crap like this.

Van · 05-25-2005, 09:31 AM

I think the reason is because they leave all the docks in over the winter and its a small enclosed bay which freezes easily. I think the chains where breaking from the force of the ice flows. We have lots of dock issues in the winter, running bubblers all over the place helps a bit. These docks are all old and rickety too. I'll be installing heavy duty brackets on my finger.

Slipknot · 05-25-2005, 08:03 PM

Glad your boat is ok now. Go buy a lottery ticket, then upgrade to a newer boat with the winnings.

Raven · 05-26-2005, 06:36 AM

a vision ..... lol

see attached image

Van · 05-26-2005, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raven

a vision ..... lol

see attached image

NOW THAT IS FUNNY..,.,.THANKS,,,,,,

AND >>>>> guess what,, after the MSBA meeting last night I get home and see truck with flashing yellow lights near my house OH OH !!!! Then I find the wind uprooted a tree in front of my house. But luckily it was at the sidewalk and missed my house. I think its the city's problem not mine even though it landed on my property...

Hey I've got an idea,,,,
MAYBE I'LL HOP ON AN AIRPLANE JUST TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS !!!!!!!

You guys wanna come along ??????????

BigFish · 05-26-2005, 08:34 AM

No thanks Van....and can you stay away from Abington for the time being? Thanks much!

BigBo · 05-26-2005, 09:06 AM

Van, someone put a curse on you. Who the hell did you piss off?
Just kidding. Glad the boats okay. Similar thing happened to me several years ago. Had my boat on a mooring in the North River in Scituate. Right in the middle of a big storm, my buddy is driving over the route 3A bridge, looks down and see's the boat off the mooring and headed for land. They were able to save it before any damage occured luckily and put it back on the mooring with a better chafe guard.

Iwannakeeper · 05-26-2005, 09:10 AM

I can see it now.

Van gets skunk the whole season - then December rolls around and he lands the next world record.

Go buy some lottery tickets or head to foxwoods.

-IWK