Been thinking about the guy on the reef and what I would do or could now plan to do if I were in his shoes. I know some will run an anchor attached to a halyard and try to heel the boat when run aground, but not sure that would work when on a reef...maybe though. An idea I was thinking of was to run an anchor using the dinghy and then using a couple of blocks to increase the pulling power of the windless...say 8x should be enough pulling power. Think that would get a boat off the reef?
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Not a bad idea, but proper implementation tricky
IF (and that's a VERY BIG IF) the boat has not yet already become holed far enough to be unable to float on her own keel anymore, one could indeed try to set up some type of anchored block-and-tackle. Even better than to use an anchor might be to try and wrap the anchor chain around a solitary coral head. However, with an 8:1 purchase, one has to pull in 8X more rope and chain than the distance one wants to move the shipboard attachment point by. This would require a very long rope, chain or wire unless one is willing and able to re-rig the whole system numerous times. Also, there is the problem of finding strong enough attachment points aboard. Finally, from reports of cruisers helping other grounded cuisers, e.g. in the Sea of Cortez after a particularly destructive chubasco, the tidal time windows are so short and moving yourself and your gear around on the rocks, let alone on the razorsharp coral, so difficult and exhausting that even half a dozen or so would-be salvagers quickly find themselves out of time and energy. Unless is lucky enough to have some type of springtide coming to the rescue very soon, nearly all successful reef salvage attempts appear to have involved the help of power vessels with strong engines plus a team of deicated workers. Even then, however, the vessel may only be pulled off the reef to sink in deeper water... Like they say about MOB rescue tactics: tactic # 1 is not to fall off the boat! Have fun, Flying Dutchman
IF (and that's a VERY BIG IF) the boat has not yet already become holed far enough to be unable to float on her own keel anymore, one could indeed try to set up some type of anchored block-and-tackle. Even better than to use an anchor might be to try and wrap the anchor chain around a solitary coral head. However, with an 8:1 purchase, one has to pull in 8X more rope and chain than the distance one wants to move the shipboard attachment point by. This would require a very long rope, chain or wire unless one is willing and able to re-rig the whole system numerous times. Also, there is the problem of finding strong enough attachment points aboard. Finally, from reports of cruisers helping other grounded cuisers, e.g. in the Sea of Cortez after a particularly destructive chubasco, the tidal time windows are so short and moving yourself and your gear around on the rocks, let alone on the razorsharp coral, so difficult and exhausting that even half a dozen or so would-be salvagers quickly find themselves out of time and energy. Unless is lucky enough to have some type of springtide coming to the rescue very soon, nearly all successful reef salvage attempts appear to have involved the help of power vessels with strong engines plus a team of deicated workers. Even then, however, the vessel may only be pulled off the reef to sink in deeper water... Like they say about MOB rescue tactics: tactic # 1 is not to fall off the boat! Have fun, Flying Dutchman
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According to today's news the boat owner was a "dotcom millionaire" so anxious to make his company's board meeting that he entered a treacerous bay in foul weather. He missed his meeting!
According to today's news the boat owner was a "dotcom millionaire" so anxious to make his company's board meeting that he entered a treacerous bay in foul weather. He missed his meeting!
answers...maybe?
I was thinking that the block and tackle would use a 3/8" or 7/16" line (doesn't need to be too big because stress is relieved at the many points) so there could easily be 200' of that stored someplace. I was also thinking that usually when running aground, the boat doesn't need move very far to get free, so 20' x 8 could easily be handled by the 200' of line. And if it needed to be moved more, then there must be a fairly easy way to let the block back out without letting the rode back out and have it re-clamp on the rode again. As far as something strong enough to attach to the boat...the bow or stern cleats should do the trick. That's what the tow guy used on my boat when I got it stuck a while ago. Hopefully if one has all this equipment (block and tackle and 200' of small line) and knows how to use it, then maybe the skipper could get the boat off before any serious damage has been done and also ready to make repairs quickly. Hull repairs is something else I've been thinking about but can't seem to come up with a generic plan to repair hull damage when single handling. All my ideas need two people.
I was thinking that the block and tackle would use a 3/8" or 7/16" line (doesn't need to be too big because stress is relieved at the many points) so there could easily be 200' of that stored someplace. I was also thinking that usually when running aground, the boat doesn't need move very far to get free, so 20' x 8 could easily be handled by the 200' of line. And if it needed to be moved more, then there must be a fairly easy way to let the block back out without letting the rode back out and have it re-clamp on the rode again. As far as something strong enough to attach to the boat...the bow or stern cleats should do the trick. That's what the tow guy used on my boat when I got it stuck a while ago. Hopefully if one has all this equipment (block and tackle and 200' of small line) and knows how to use it, then maybe the skipper could get the boat off before any serious damage has been done and also ready to make repairs quickly. Hull repairs is something else I've been thinking about but can't seem to come up with a generic plan to repair hull damage when single handling. All my ideas need two people.
I'm afraid it is a bit more complicated than that
Just check the most recent reef slavge attempt story on the "Changes in Latitude" website (see link; look for the report by S/V Delphinus). This was a relatively small vessel, a sizeable group of helpers showed up and they got there pretty fast. Then, see what happens..... Every year one can read four or five of these stories (just check the SSCA, Latitude 38 and Cruising World archives). Happy outcomes, although not impossible, are hard to come by in this business. The chance of an hour of armchair quarterbacking producing a valuable new approach would appear to be pretty darn small. Coral reefs are like killer sharks; a single bite can cost an arm, a leg and part of your gut! Have fun Flying Dutchman
Just check the most recent reef slavge attempt story on the "Changes in Latitude" website (see link; look for the report by S/V Delphinus). This was a relatively small vessel, a sizeable group of helpers showed up and they got there pretty fast. Then, see what happens..... Every year one can read four or five of these stories (just check the SSCA, Latitude 38 and Cruising World archives). Happy outcomes, although not impossible, are hard to come by in this business. The chance of an hour of armchair quarterbacking producing a valuable new approach would appear to be pretty darn small. Coral reefs are like killer sharks; a single bite can cost an arm, a leg and part of your gut! Have fun Flying Dutchman
Franklin, the technique you speak of is called
kedging. I did it once in the Bahamas in Great Harbor. It was the middle of the night and I had help. (one crew) We were stuck in sand and didn't know if the tide was going up or down. Who needs tide books in the Caribbean? We also had my engine driven hydraulic primary winch to do the work. IT TOOK THREE TRY'S for the danforth to set. What a bitch. It all happened because the wind reversed in the anchorage at 4am and we were trying to find a spot on the new windward side of the harbor. If you're on a reef, YOU blew it. Just figure that the boats a write-off.
kedging. I did it once in the Bahamas in Great Harbor. It was the middle of the night and I had help. (one crew) We were stuck in sand and didn't know if the tide was going up or down. Who needs tide books in the Caribbean? We also had my engine driven hydraulic primary winch to do the work. IT TOOK THREE TRY'S for the danforth to set. What a bitch. It all happened because the wind reversed in the anchorage at 4am and we were trying to find a spot on the new windward side of the harbor. If you're on a reef, YOU blew it. Just figure that the boats a write-off.
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