We were on hour 2 of a 3 hour trip home from the marina when my phone rang. It was the marina manager...said our boat was sinking. I said, "Are you sure it's our boat? Slip 69? I just closed all the through hulls before we left." "Yes, definitely your boat. The water's in the cabin."
Recommendation was to call a local tow company there for help. I did, as we turned around and headed back. "What kind of boat?" the tow company asked. "Catalina 350". "Sailboat?", he said. "They don't usually sink. It's usually a powerboat." "Yea, I agree, and I closed all the through hulls, but they say MINE is sinking." "Is it locked?" "Yep. Yes, and you have my permission to do whatever you need to do to get in it."
As we drove back in shock and silence, my wife is thinking "I left my sewing machine in the boat. Now it's ruined. Shoulda brought it home." In the meantime, I'm doing some math...8-9' of water...4 1/2' draft. The top of the cabin should be just under the water. I wonder if the new solar panels that I just installed on the bimini will be above water line."
My wife broke the silence..."Call them back and make SURE it's OUR boat. I just can't believe it is."
I called them back..."Not your boat. We made a mistake. We have to call the owner of the boat that is actually sinking." Good for me, sad for the other guy, I thought.
Take home message? Maybe leave the boat unlocked so someone can get into it if an emergency actually happened? and 2...doesn't matter that it didn't happen, the actual call was real, and it really sucked.
Recommendation was to call a local tow company there for help. I did, as we turned around and headed back. "What kind of boat?" the tow company asked. "Catalina 350". "Sailboat?", he said. "They don't usually sink. It's usually a powerboat." "Yea, I agree, and I closed all the through hulls, but they say MINE is sinking." "Is it locked?" "Yep. Yes, and you have my permission to do whatever you need to do to get in it."
As we drove back in shock and silence, my wife is thinking "I left my sewing machine in the boat. Now it's ruined. Shoulda brought it home." In the meantime, I'm doing some math...8-9' of water...4 1/2' draft. The top of the cabin should be just under the water. I wonder if the new solar panels that I just installed on the bimini will be above water line."
My wife broke the silence..."Call them back and make SURE it's OUR boat. I just can't believe it is."
I called them back..."Not your boat. We made a mistake. We have to call the owner of the boat that is actually sinking." Good for me, sad for the other guy, I thought.
Take home message? Maybe leave the boat unlocked so someone can get into it if an emergency actually happened? and 2...doesn't matter that it didn't happen, the actual call was real, and it really sucked.