Hit something

[SEADANCE]

Hi guys and gals,Have a question because I am still frazzled by this. We were motoring thru the Back Bay Biloxi, MS yesterday morning on our way to Horn Island. I was behind the helm , still gloating over my first time pulling her out of the slip by myself and had about 18 feet of water, nothing and nobody around and then I hit something really good. Did not see any debris floating anywhere. Gin Mill hit it and went right over it or past it I don't know, made her shake everything on her but she kept on moving. Steering felt a little off afterwards. No problems in bilge or engine compartment as far as water coming in goes. We tried going under to see what her bottom looked like and or any damage but the waters were not our usual mint green that day.What trouble signs should we look for? I still want to know what the hell I hit out there!! With so many people out there on the water...it had to be me.P.S. if that wasn't the icing on the cake...when my husband dove under the boat, he came back up and showed me 5 fingers. I thought 5 holes. Nope. He had lost his wedding ring to 30 feet of water. The sentimental part of me could not bare mine sitting on my finger and felt mine had to join his and it did. Of course I silently boo hoo'd about it the rest of the day but the only comforting part of that is that the rings belong together and not apart and if anything together at the bottom of the sea at our favorite island where we have the most good memories and the very best of days doing something we really both love.B/Seadance

 

[gr8_2_av8]

I've had the same

I blamed it on a water logged submersed piece of wood or the likes.

 

[CharlieCobra]

Up here in the PNW

We have tons of deadheads about. Some float just below the surface and are impossible to see. We lose two or more boats every year from it, usually powerboats.

 

[Deryk]

debris

Usually sailboaters get lucky, we hit the debris at such a slow speedwere usually ok.

 

[SEADANCE]

speed

thats one thing I forgot to mention...speed was at its max....

 

[sailaway78]

Hi Seadance

It was more than likely a piece of old piling, or something similar, that was water logged and floating just under the surface. Impossible to see. If the steering feels off, check the rudder pretty close. Going to try to get over that way in a week or so and visit with you guys again. My youngest son is coming in from Germany, so will kind of depend on when he gets here.

 

[sailaway78]

Bye the way

The deal with your wedding rings, thought that was kind of a neat thing for you to do. Of course now you can get Peter to buy you a nice new and much bigger diamond.;D

 

[Brian D]

Seadance...

Keel hauling hubby? Again? *5

 

[Denise]

steering

I ignored my steering not feeling "right" and lost the bottom plate that has the pulleys for the cable. The old edson steering pedestal bolts are aluminum. all 4 of mine were completly gone! good luck! Denise

 

[higgs]

Rudder and keel

Is your rudder deeper than your keel? Most boats the answer is no, but some wing keels do have rudders that are deeper. If your keel is deeper, the object probably hit that and you should be OK. You say steering seemed off - what do you mean by that?

 

[Honeyman]

Still a LOT...

of debris in the water all along the Gulf Coast, especially in the bays and shallow areas like ICW. As Nice & Easy says, check out the rudder alignment when possible. Touching thing you did with your ring, I admire your sentiments.

 

[Ross]

A dive in clear water should show a place

where the dirt/slime was rubbed off. Sorta like a brush by with your front bumper on the car. Inspect the rudder from above and below. Not to worry too much about the rings, I almost lost a finger because of one. It got snagged on a bolt on an engine stand when I stepped off . Only wear mine when I am dressed for a party, never while dressed for work or play.

 

[Jim]

I hit a pilling in the East River

I heard a loud rumble as I went over it. I piece of wood came up behind the boat as the loud sound stopped. You could have damaged the shaft, rudder and / or prop. You could of also damaged the keel stub. I would check for water coming into the bilge and at the rudder post. I would dry both areas out one at at time. Spray Scrubbing Bubbles over the entire area and look for water running through the bubbles. Sound stupid i know but it works; besides you'll have a nice clean bilge.Don't panic if there is water coming into. All production boats leak (even mine). You just want to get an idea how bad. When you haul out the boat check the shaft and prop. You may need to 5200 the keel bolt up a little. All and all you should be ok. If you had a real problem, you would know it by now.

 

[Jim]

RE : A dive in clear water should show a place

Good idea! The rudder fiberglass could be broken.If it is just cracked you might not be able to see it until you remove the paint. I would worry becuase the rudder core is foam. When you hual out remove the bottom paint at the bottom of the rudder and look for cracks. You can also drill a hole in the bottom and see if water comes out.This is not as big a problem for you as it would be for Ross and me. The cold winter air would freeze anly water in our rudders and cause them to split.

 

[higgs]

Jim

Wouldn't you think a crack in the rudder caused from such a hard hit would show up through the bottom paint as the paint would crack as well. Also, most rudders have water in them anyways.

 

[Paul Akers]

Seadance?

Basically, barring any damage, the thing you need to be sure of is that there are no vibrations that would indicate something went out of adjustment. Have the prop checked, too. It could have lost it's pitch. That happened to me and one side if the two blades was 1/2" over the other on pitch. Had it reconditioned at the same time and it made a world of difference.

 

[Jim]

Higg might and might not show

depend on the extend of the damage. It would show up if water was allowed to freeze and crack to fiberglass, but a hairline crack down south may never show up. They will have to hual the boat to find out.

 

[higgs]

Ji,

You may be right, but I am going to disagree with you here. Hitting something hard enough to do damage the rudder is going to show up on the paint. Of course, sanding down the rudder to be sure can never be a bad idea.Water ingress into the rudder is not a sign of damage, as many, if not most, rudders would drain water if you drilled them at the bottom.

 

[Jim]

You might be right, Higgs....

maybe, in the case of rudder failure I have seen the water leaked in from the rudder post. The rudder didn't crack until the water froze.

 

[higgs]

Rudder failure

If a rudder is damaged it will undoubtedly take on water - no question. However, most rudders leak at top where the post enters the rudder structure. It is very difficult to make this joint water tight. I knew one guy who drilled and tapped holes at the bottom of his rudder so he could put plugs in. He removed the plugs and drained his rudder at the end of each season.