Disaster on the Sasafrass
- Thread starter Witzend
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3-4 feet of snow and 30-50 MPH winds. Just think how much fuel has leaked into the river.
It depends, if the boat sank cause the roof gave way and the weight of the roof and snow was the cause, yes, the marina's insurance is probably going to be responsible.
However, some of the boats look like they were not under the collapsed roof, and those will not be covered by the marina's insurance AFAICT. In fact, some of them, if the owners did not come down to inspect and clean off their boats after the storm, might be considered not covered by insurance, since the owners could be considered negligent for not doing so. If you know your boat is in the water, and has been subject to heavy snowfall, I think it is reasonable to expect you to either come see what has happened to your boat and clean it off, or to send someone to do so on your behalf.
However, some of the boats look like they were not under the collapsed roof, and those will not be covered by the marina's insurance AFAICT. In fact, some of them, if the owners did not come down to inspect and clean off their boats after the storm, might be considered not covered by insurance, since the owners could be considered negligent for not doing so. If you know your boat is in the water, and has been subject to heavy snowfall, I think it is reasonable to expect you to either come see what has happened to your boat and clean it off, or to send someone to do so on your behalf.
I saw pictures years ago of boats that sank at the dock from being overwhelmed by ice from wind driven spray. When you live a hundred miles from your boat and the region has been covered with snow about all that can be done is to wait for it to melt and then pick up the pieces. I rather expect Maryland judges to find in favor of the owners. By the time the snow stopped falling and we were allowed out on the roads this damage had been done..
WOW ....
Looks like a snoacaine ! !
I doubt that even bubblers would have helped...
Perhaps Al Gore could come help shovel some of the snow, or at least help some of the boat owners with funds from his foundation.
It's been one of the harshest winters in the East in ?? generations !
Even in the Keys, water temps have gotten so cold (low 60's) that there have been significant fish kills... people have actually had to wear sweatshirts down there for days on end ...
What's next ??
Looks like a snoacaine ! !
I doubt that even bubblers would have helped...
Perhaps Al Gore could come help shovel some of the snow, or at least help some of the boat owners with funds from his foundation.
It's been one of the harshest winters in the East in ?? generations !
Even in the Keys, water temps have gotten so cold (low 60's) that there have been significant fish kills... people have actually had to wear sweatshirts down there for days on end ...
What's next ??
Very sad. So those boats were sunk because the roof fell on them? And this is in Maryland? Well at least we sailors don't have to worry about being under roof. . . usually.
The satellite pictures of the storm showed a well defined "Eye" in the low and the pressure was the same as a cat. 1 hurricane.
A few observations: some boat insurance policies require a specific ice/snow rider or you may not be covered. I think Boat/US policies provide automatic coverage for Maryland, but not further north.
This winter offers a pretty good example of why it's a good idea to get hauled out over the winter. Although our recent snow storms/blizzards are rare, they do happen. The one time I left my boat in the water over winter we, of course, had a monster snow storm. It was really difficult to just get to my marina. Once there, I had to trudge through snow above my knees. Getting down the pier was pretty risky. Once at the boat, the lines were frozen and the boat could not be pulled close enough to board safely. Finally, the snow/ice on the boat was frozen solid by that time and there would not have been a way to remove it anyway.
I just can't see how it can be worth it to anyone in a state that gets significant snow or ice to stay in the water over the winter if haul-out is available.
This winter offers a pretty good example of why it's a good idea to get hauled out over the winter. Although our recent snow storms/blizzards are rare, they do happen. The one time I left my boat in the water over winter we, of course, had a monster snow storm. It was really difficult to just get to my marina. Once there, I had to trudge through snow above my knees. Getting down the pier was pretty risky. Once at the boat, the lines were frozen and the boat could not be pulled close enough to board safely. Finally, the snow/ice on the boat was frozen solid by that time and there would not have been a way to remove it anyway.
I just can't see how it can be worth it to anyone in a state that gets significant snow or ice to stay in the water over the winter if haul-out is available.
I think the issue is not so black and white, speaking from 25 years in Deale.
The only season I had damage I was on the hard at Herrington Harbor. The snow load you saw can push props up through the hull if the blocking is not perfect, and that year many boats came off their stands. I think a boat in the water was far safer. The roof falling was certainly devastating, but I see nothing the picture to suggest a well-founded sailboat would have been harmed.
Note that all of the boats were power boats. My neighbor sunk this winter - powerboat. They have large cockpits that often drain to the bilge, rather than scuppers. Bilge pumps fail. Also, some have poorly designed exaust systems with inadequate protection if the pipes are pushed under.
I got a good load on my boat too, over 3' at the peak. All it did was settle in the water about 2 inches. Nice even support, no pressure from the stands. I cranked up the heaters an spent the night (I did have to dig the smoke stack out a bit). The docks were deep, but ice climbing is my other hobby! Very quiet.
Freeze damage is general non-existent for a boat in the water, because the cabin temperature is moderated by the water. I have never had a bottle of water freeze solid while in the water, though on very cold nights I have seen some minor ice. I do winterize, to some extent. I run a bubbler when there is thick ice.
The Sassafras is freshwater. The ice formation is MUCH worse than the salty parts of the Bay. I would have to think hard about that myself. Certainly, I would have a bubbler in.
A post on the subject. http://sail-delmarva.blogspot.com/search?q=winter+sailing+ice
What is required is forethought as to what can happen in the worst conditions.
I was sailing in January. I will go out again next weekend, I think. I like winter cruising.
The only season I had damage I was on the hard at Herrington Harbor. The snow load you saw can push props up through the hull if the blocking is not perfect, and that year many boats came off their stands. I think a boat in the water was far safer. The roof falling was certainly devastating, but I see nothing the picture to suggest a well-founded sailboat would have been harmed.
Note that all of the boats were power boats. My neighbor sunk this winter - powerboat. They have large cockpits that often drain to the bilge, rather than scuppers. Bilge pumps fail. Also, some have poorly designed exaust systems with inadequate protection if the pipes are pushed under.
I got a good load on my boat too, over 3' at the peak. All it did was settle in the water about 2 inches. Nice even support, no pressure from the stands. I cranked up the heaters an spent the night (I did have to dig the smoke stack out a bit). The docks were deep, but ice climbing is my other hobby! Very quiet.
Freeze damage is general non-existent for a boat in the water, because the cabin temperature is moderated by the water. I have never had a bottle of water freeze solid while in the water, though on very cold nights I have seen some minor ice. I do winterize, to some extent. I run a bubbler when there is thick ice.
The Sassafras is freshwater. The ice formation is MUCH worse than the salty parts of the Bay. I would have to think hard about that myself. Certainly, I would have a bubbler in.
A post on the subject. http://sail-delmarva.blogspot.com/search?q=winter+sailing+ice
What is required is forethought as to what can happen in the worst conditions.
I was sailing in January. I will go out again next weekend, I think. I like winter cruising.
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yes
Ross...yes the similarities are remarkable, however the system was definitely extra-tropical but well on its way to being vertically stacked like a hurricane.
Ross...yes the similarities are remarkable, however the system was definitely extra-tropical but well on its way to being vertically stacked like a hurricane.
Another shed full of big cabin cruisers went down just a few miles north on the Bohemia River. Saturday I went to the yard at Two Rivers to shovel out the cockpit and was amazed to see boats being hauled out at the marina next door at Bo' Vista. I guess now they were scrambling to get them out from under the remaining sheds at Bo' Bay.
What a mess!
big photo here...
http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/content.php/632-Marina-Roof-Collapses-on-Bohemia-River
What a mess!
big photo here...
http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/content.php/632-Marina-Roof-Collapses-on-Bohemia-River
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