H34 Washed Ashore - Back In Water

[steve21968]

First of all, thanks to those who made suggestions on getting my 34 off the beach (see post below). If ANYONE ever doubted the punishment these boats can take, check out my pictures of beaching/launching at http://www.anguilla-weather.com/OMAR.html This boat broke 4 anchor lines, was washed 75 feet up on a beach, pounded by waves for hours, launched by dragging on it's keel and pulling with a boat down on the mast - and the only damage was a 1 inch "stress" crack in the fiberglass keel rib closest to the stern! Not one leak! ALL other boats beached or launched like this suffered damage - cracked hulls, rudder ripped off, one with the keel loose. Couldn't believe it.

Thanks again to all for suggestions.

 

[Joe Mullee]

Congrats! Glad You're Off

Steve,

Nice work. Glad everything worked out for you. I keep hearing about the H34 and it's strengths. Just received an email from Richard Bennett about a friend of his who had followed him over the Atlantic in the spring of 2007. Within a week or so of each other they had both sailed their H34's from the Chesapeake to Europe. Both solo as far as I can recall. Richard's friend has since sailed back to the Carib, thru the Panama Canal, and on to Austrailia having just arrived earlier this month. He reports that his stock H34 is alive and well.

Joe Mullee
TaknMyTime
1983 H34 #170

 

[Scott B]

Glad to hear it turned out ok. Thanks for the update and the pics. I'm surprised the crane was that far out on the beach, but diffenrent "rules" down there. A little luck and inginuity.

 

[steve21968]

That crane in the water is nothin'! Here's a Beneteau 35 I helped put in yesterday - on the rocks, rocky, coral bottom, second attempt at launching. This was as far as the the loaders could get him - pulled down on mast with a boat and got him launched, but taking on a lot of water. Made it safely the 10 miles over to St. Martin where he can get hauled out today. i was still one very lucky guy!

 

[Scott B]

Great shots. Amazing what these guys will do to help out.

 

[mark_swart]

I just bought my H34 earlier this month -- your story definitely reinforces my confidence in the boat. Come to think of it, we had a H34 get knocked off of its cradle last winter in a microburst, and other than some scratching on the bottom, no real damage (other than the rig, which went into the boat next to it)

I really wonder if Steve's story would have had the same ending with a wing keel boat...

 

[Jim Legere]

Cherubin Hunters - The Best of the Breed!

I had a similar experience with my 1983 H37C almost exactly a year ago, when Noel hit us up here in Nova Scotia. We ended up on the beach, shy about 3 feet of water to float us. I rigged a purchase from the top of the mast to an offshore mooring and back to my electric anchor windlass. Using this setup, I was able to stand the boat vertical and allow it to splash onto the opposite bilge at high tide and then kedge off the beach. There was absolutely no damage, despite the boat being on its starboard bilge through two tides. The rig and chainplates were able to withstand all the forces involved in getting 18,000 lbs of boat off the beach. These are well built boats!

 

[Rick Sylvester]

Actually, the mid 80's 34 isn't a Cherubini

Hey Jim. That particular boat (as well as the 31 and 40) were primarily designed by Cort Steck.

You're right though, the 37c is one stout boat. I'm glad you had a good outcome.

 

[Jim Legere]

Re: Actually, the mid 80's 34 isn't a Cherubini

hey Rick,

You are, of course, right - I assumed since Steves boat was an 82, it must have been a Cherubini design like mine - WRONG! Nonetheless, Hunter was obviously building tough boats in the early 80s, regardless of who the designer was!