Oops. After boating for over a decade in the typically rocky, Northwest, I finally hit one of the buggers. We were motoring aboard our Beneteau Oceanis 500 and hit the rock just as we realized we had mistaken a cove for a pass. We were confused and had consequently cut the throttle but did not reverse in time so we must have been still moving forward at over 6 knots. WHAM! Scared the %$^#&*@ out of us. It was a direct hit. We checked for damage right away and couldn't see any. What next? Do I leave her in the water and wait for spring haulout, or do I need to borrow a wetsuit and take a peek? If so what do I look for besides the obvious. She's a big, tough boat, but I am worried about her.
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Dive On It and Report it
Some insurance policies have a limitation on the time to file a claim following an incident like this. So, just to be safe, you should report it to your insurer to stop the clock. I have had friends do what you did and all had to haul ultimately. One had engine mounts broken and damage to the leading edge of the keel as did the other. The other had to have the refrigeration recharged and the lines tightened(!) plus re-tab a bulkhead. Needs a really thorough examination. If you're good, your inspection may be OK. Otherwise, a surveyor. Good luck, and, of course, just my opinion. Rick D.
Some insurance policies have a limitation on the time to file a claim following an incident like this. So, just to be safe, you should report it to your insurer to stop the clock. I have had friends do what you did and all had to haul ultimately. One had engine mounts broken and damage to the leading edge of the keel as did the other. The other had to have the refrigeration recharged and the lines tightened(!) plus re-tab a bulkhead. Needs a really thorough examination. If you're good, your inspection may be OK. Otherwise, a surveyor. Good luck, and, of course, just my opinion. Rick D.
Ouch
Insurance companies are profit driven entities (like most). Consequently they have all sorts of loops built into their policies to relieve their liability for an insurable event. I would call your insurance company immediately and do exactly what they tell you to do. I would also have the boat surveyed as soon as possible. From six knots to zero essentially instantly is a lot of force. You don't want to find out later something structural is broken. YMMV. Justin - O'day Owners' Web
Insurance companies are profit driven entities (like most). Consequently they have all sorts of loops built into their policies to relieve their liability for an insurable event. I would call your insurance company immediately and do exactly what they tell you to do. I would also have the boat surveyed as soon as possible. From six knots to zero essentially instantly is a lot of force. You don't want to find out later something structural is broken. YMMV. Justin - O'day Owners' Web
Mast?
I reccommend checking the mast and rigging for damage. We watched a Hunter do the same thing in Desolation Sound, besides taking a sustantial bite out of his keel one of the struts used to support the lower part of the mast (I forget what Hunter calls their new rigging system) was snapped off. The fitting that broke looked to be a very robust chunk of stainless, the force on it must have been tremendous.
I reccommend checking the mast and rigging for damage. We watched a Hunter do the same thing in Desolation Sound, besides taking a sustantial bite out of his keel one of the struts used to support the lower part of the mast (I forget what Hunter calls their new rigging system) was snapped off. The fitting that broke looked to be a very robust chunk of stainless, the force on it must have been tremendous.
may be OK
By all means report it to your insurance company, and watch carefully for any water in the bilge. A diver inspection may be OK for now, if you plan to haul sometime soon. Otherwise I'd have it hauled and inspected. If it makes you feel any better, I have a friend who hit a rock doing hull speed. 7 to 0 in 1/2 a second. It took a big chunk out of his lead keel. Besides the bruises he got from hitting the pedastal, and the chunk out of the keel (which he fixed several months later), the boat was fine. (Catalina).
By all means report it to your insurance company, and watch carefully for any water in the bilge. A diver inspection may be OK for now, if you plan to haul sometime soon. Otherwise I'd have it hauled and inspected. If it makes you feel any better, I have a friend who hit a rock doing hull speed. 7 to 0 in 1/2 a second. It took a big chunk out of his lead keel. Besides the bruises he got from hitting the pedastal, and the chunk out of the keel (which he fixed several months later), the boat was fine. (Catalina).
Have it checked
Same thing this summer to a friend of mine (Nonsuch 30). He had it hauled the same day and it's a good thing. He had unseen damage that only a trained eye could detect. There were also some rigging problems that were not clearly evident that could have been catastrophic for that design boat had he continued to sail it. At the speed you were going, and the size/weight of it, there could be an unseen crack (not visible by an underwater inspection) where the keel meets the hull. That could mean significant damage (bent keel bolts, separation, etc.) It sounds like you will have an insurance claim anyway that should cover the haul. So have it hauled & checked for your own ease of mine.
Same thing this summer to a friend of mine (Nonsuch 30). He had it hauled the same day and it's a good thing. He had unseen damage that only a trained eye could detect. There were also some rigging problems that were not clearly evident that could have been catastrophic for that design boat had he continued to sail it. At the speed you were going, and the size/weight of it, there could be an unseen crack (not visible by an underwater inspection) where the keel meets the hull. That could mean significant damage (bent keel bolts, separation, etc.) It sounds like you will have an insurance claim anyway that should cover the haul. So have it hauled & checked for your own ease of mine.
Plenty in the NE too.
I sail in Lake Winnapaski in NH (75K acres) and we have rocks in the middle of the lake and 200'of water 500' from shore. Rock hitting is an annual event. Take a good look. Even with out stucture damage, the surface damage will let water into the fiberglass and start the osmotic blister process. Ric "comes a time" Oday 25 Lake Winny, NH
I sail in Lake Winnapaski in NH (75K acres) and we have rocks in the middle of the lake and 200'of water 500' from shore. Rock hitting is an annual event. Take a good look. Even with out stucture damage, the surface damage will let water into the fiberglass and start the osmotic blister process. Ric "comes a time" Oday 25 Lake Winny, NH
I vote for the haul-out
It's your boat, peace of mind is important, as is safety. Get a good yard to look at it, especially check keel bolts and the hull/keel joint, as well as the stringers in the keel area. Get a repair estimate. Remeber that your insurance has a 1% deductible, so on your boat I'm guessing the first $2500 is out of your pocket. If you file a claim there is an issue with timing (why you should haul out) and your rates will go up next renewal.
It's your boat, peace of mind is important, as is safety. Get a good yard to look at it, especially check keel bolts and the hull/keel joint, as well as the stringers in the keel area. Get a repair estimate. Remeber that your insurance has a 1% deductible, so on your boat I'm guessing the first $2500 is out of your pocket. If you file a claim there is an issue with timing (why you should haul out) and your rates will go up next renewal.
Haul it out!
I'm sure y'all have "quick hauls" up there in the NW. A 6-knot hit on a rock sounds like a pretty good lick, so an out of the water inspection -- even a quickie -- can tell lots more than an underwater looksee. Don't know what it costs up y'all's way, but down there it's about $4/ft for a quick haul, so $200 might be a well-spent sum if you have any other problems. On the positive side, most builders realize that if their boats hit something, it's usually gonna be with the bow/keel so those are usually tougher than the rest of the boat, ergo, it's somewhat unlikely that you did any real damage. If you're not shipping water and if the boat is continuing to steer pretty straight, I'd say you're ok, but that quick haul would make sure.
I'm sure y'all have "quick hauls" up there in the NW. A 6-knot hit on a rock sounds like a pretty good lick, so an out of the water inspection -- even a quickie -- can tell lots more than an underwater looksee. Don't know what it costs up y'all's way, but down there it's about $4/ft for a quick haul, so $200 might be a well-spent sum if you have any other problems. On the positive side, most builders realize that if their boats hit something, it's usually gonna be with the bow/keel so those are usually tougher than the rest of the boat, ergo, it's somewhat unlikely that you did any real damage. If you're not shipping water and if the boat is continuing to steer pretty straight, I'd say you're ok, but that quick haul would make sure.
The depth meter said 13 feet
but nobody told that to the rock. We hit it at six knots near Greenwich, Connecticut. I guess it just barley nicked the forwardc end of the keel (encapsulated) and we were able to sluide off. I had her hauled as soon as we got back to port and found damage on the front and back of the keel. We put her back in the water and then had the repairs done after winter haulout. No other damage. Never did get the insurance company involved.
but nobody told that to the rock. We hit it at six knots near Greenwich, Connecticut. I guess it just barley nicked the forwardc end of the keel (encapsulated) and we were able to sluide off. I had her hauled as soon as we got back to port and found damage on the front and back of the keel. We put her back in the water and then had the repairs done after winter haulout. No other damage. Never did get the insurance company involved.
Serious Damage Almost Guaranteed
F=ma. Isaac Newton invented this famous equation which applies here. Going from six knots to zero in essentially no time means you went through a very large acceleration. Combine that with a very large mass (50 foot boat? say 30,000 pounds?) and the force you generated which was all transmitted into the keel is tremendous. If your keel is lead it will absorb some of the impact because it is very soft and ductile by plastic deformation. I would be willing to bet that you have a keel that no longer is a nice shape, and you probably have structural damage. No question you should haul the boat. A C&C 34 next to me on a charter hit a rock at about 6 knots and had a huge crack behind the keel requiring a massive repair. Unseen damage could propagate over time into catastrophic failure. Best of luck dave
F=ma. Isaac Newton invented this famous equation which applies here. Going from six knots to zero in essentially no time means you went through a very large acceleration. Combine that with a very large mass (50 foot boat? say 30,000 pounds?) and the force you generated which was all transmitted into the keel is tremendous. If your keel is lead it will absorb some of the impact because it is very soft and ductile by plastic deformation. I would be willing to bet that you have a keel that no longer is a nice shape, and you probably have structural damage. No question you should haul the boat. A C&C 34 next to me on a charter hit a rock at about 6 knots and had a huge crack behind the keel requiring a massive repair. Unseen damage could propagate over time into catastrophic failure. Best of luck dave
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