Boat damaged by IAN

[dave_and_dd]

Well, in spite of damage, we were VERY lucky in IAN. I'm in Port Charlotte and were pretty much hit by the eye. We got high winds, but we didn't get much surge (which would have wiped us out.) Seeing all the boats trashed further to our south makes me sad for those folks.

Before the eye, the wind was pretty much dead on the bow (at dock). The boat backed into a piling (when the 3 bow lines snapped) bending the stern seat forward. Then it turned 90 degrees to the right against the piling (as there were still 3 spring lines holding it on the port side) and heeled over wrecking the starboard stanchions, lifelines and gouging the toe-rail (all above the rubrail since it was heeling so much now that the wind was coming 90 degrees from the port side).

Any best tips in replacing the stanchions and stern rail/seats? looks like I can get to most of the bolts from below without too much hassle. may have to cut some of the inner liner to get best access though. Need to find replacements. Pretty unsure of getting exact replacement for the perch seat. Pics to follow. video in the next post.

Thanks for any insight
Dave in Port charlotte.

 

[dave_and_dd]

In case anyone was wondering, we evacuated long gone before the storm. The boat is at our dock in the back yard. The following link is the last video we got from our back yard ring camera. This is at 2:21pm. right after that the power went out and we don't have any more video. At the point of this video, the boat is doing ok. Probably not long after this the bow lines snapped. They were the shortest of all the lines I had and knew they were the most vulnerable. With only the port side springs still holding, the boat did back up just enough to hit the rear starboard piling, damaging the stern seat and then turn 90 degrees to the right and the piling took out the starboard life-lines and railings.

Dave

 

[kappykaplan]

Glad to hear you faired reasonably well! Sorry I can't help with your questions.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

Sorry to hear. Out of curiosity, what size were the dock lines? Might be a lesson there for everyone.

 

[dave_and_dd]

The bow lines which snapped were: a 1/2 inch braided (brand new), a 5/8 inch braided (pretty new) and a 1/2 inch twisted a bit older. The problem is they were too short. pic below shows the snapped ends of the braided ones...

 

[SFS]

Sending you a Private Message.

 

[LakeOntario270]

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[Don S/V ILLusion]

The bow lines which snapped were: a 1/2 inch braided (brand new), a 5/8 inch braided (pretty new) and a 1/2 inch twisted a bit older. The problem is they were too short. pic below shows the snapped ends of the braided ones...

Thanks for the info. A dock neighbor had a dock line part but had them tripled up so only the shortest snapped. Interestingly, it was the largest line.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Which manufacturer and size boat?

 

[jssailem]

There is a Railmakers shop in Everett WA. They fashioned new bow and stern pulpits on my boat. Even added seats. Came to boat. Measured. Came back with pulpits and checked on install. Had to make minor adjustment to one side of bow pulpit.

Very pleased with results.

 

[Sailm8]

Well Geico totalled out my boat, a Hunter 29.5. There is no hull damage just loss of the mast and rig as well as the bimini. The boat would have survived except for my dock neighbors lift. The rocking in the slip allowed the mast to strike his lift breaking the mast. Going to miss that boat.

 

[capta]

I would highly recommend that boat owners pick up some used fire hose from your local fire department. It is the best chafe gear I know of and it should be quite inexpensive.
When I am dealing with tropical storms of any kind, I pick up some carpet remnants to add to the fire hose. I can't ever remember having a dock line or snub line part when double wrapped like that.

 

[dave_and_dd]

Which manufacturer and size boat?

Dave - mine is a Catalina 309 (31 feet).

Sailm8 - so sorry to see that damage. Good luck on finding a replacement boat....

Dave

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

@dave_and_dd

Catalina plant is located in the Tampa area which was spared. They extruded their own masts. Contact info:
7200 Brian Dairy Road
Largo Florida (near Tampa)
727-544-6681 contact: Skip

Older Catalina parts sold to Sailboat Owners store now located in Gainesville, FL whose phone number is 877-932-7245 from the Catalina plant. You may want to check there too. I use to sell the 309 as a dealer.

@Sailm8

You advised boat totaled out but damage regulated to mast, rigging and Bimini. What was offered for boat totaled out, can you replace the damaged equipment and make money as well from the boat being totaled?

Contact Sailboat Owners whose store is in Gainesville, Florida 877-932- 7245. The owner and key people were former Hunter employees and know your boat.

Other companies in the Tampa area:

Seco South 727-536-1924
Rigging for oolder hunters, pulpit mfg

Ameriseam 813-854-1128
Email only sales@ameriseam.com
Canvas

Others:

Sparcraft 704-597-1502 mast mfg
Formerly Kenyon Isomat/Charleston Spar
Dealer: Rig Rite

Selden mast mfg 843-760-6278

 

[Sailm8]

Dave thank you for taking the time to help me out. This is the second boat I have lost to hurricanes. The first one took over a year to repair after Charley. I don't know if I want to put a year or two into repairing the boat. BoatUS has made a very fair offer that would allow us to move to another boat quicker. This is a tough decision. Thanks again.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

@Sailm8

Thank you for advising and I do understand sailing quickly again. Did not know you had been thru this before

 

[CarlN]

Good insight about the "too short" dock lines. Dock lines should be at least 8ft long so they can stretch enough. Nylon lines will stretch 20%-25% before breaking. So an 8ft line will stretch at least 2ft. That stretching decelerates the boat's movement slowly instead of with a jerk - reducing the force on both boat and cleat.

 

[RTsailsJ29]

Sorry about your damage! My Hunter 18.5 Yikes! was blown off the trailer and broke its mast about 4 ft above the deck, I'm looking for a 5 ft section of Z-Spar Z145 in order to sleeve the mast. Good Luck with your repairs!
Rob
Punta Gorda, FL