Santa Cruz Tsunami

[SantaCruzS2]

Greetings everyone.

As we all know the earthquake off the coast of Japan has affect many there, it has affected several here as well.

For those of you who saw the video, the harbor was impacted greatly. Most importantly U Dock was virtually destroyed.

My boat was on U Dock.

Here's what we know so far: U dock was truly a U shaped dock. The arm of the dock closest to the ocean was destroyed and most boats lost or damaged.

My boat was docked on the other arm, and the finger of the dock that I am tied to, as sunk. There is video of a capsized boat, drifting and then slamming into my boat. I'm assuming the rudder and keel were at least damaged, not to mention the hull sustained several impacts.

The dock moved 8-10 feet up and down, depending on the the size of the surges.

The zodiac was deflated and at this time presumed lost. The 2 stroke outboard engine was attached to it.

The Coast Guard has sealed the harbor and has restricted all movement of all boats.

It's been raining non-stop since the tsunami, and I'm sure that my batteries are now dead.

Boat is fully insured, which brings me to this:

What would you guys do? I won't be able to get the boat looked for, at least, another 5 days (which will be raining the whole time).

The insurance company will have me haul it out of the water and then have estimates done. If the damages/repairs are 51% or more, they total the boat.

Any advise is great appreciated.

 

[CalebD]

First of all I'm sorry to hear of your losses so far.
Our boat parted its mooring pennant in a bad storm and the repair estimate came to well over half the stated value (this is back in 2003 or 4) of around $7K. They claimed the boat a 'total loss' and offered to sell it back to us for $800 which we did. I don't need to bore you with the details of the repairs but there was some fiberglassing work, a new bow sprit and a new roller-furler to be installed which I mostly did myself and farmed out the roller-furler to a local sail loft. The worst part of this was that we were unable to insure the boat the following season since most ins. companies ask you right up front if you have had a complete and 'total loss' within the past three years. We eventually discovered that a home and/or auto insurer might easily add a boat rider to the policies we already had for not so much more.
We came up with the repair bill ourselves because we were newbies and did not call a surveyor to assess the damage. We did have a registered salvage company rescue the boat which probably cost about $750 to the $800 we paid back to the insurance company to retain ownership of the boat. It is a bit of a sticky wicket. I'd try not to get into 'total loss' territory myself the next time, even if that meant a bit of a heavy out of pocket repair or service.
Are you insured? Can a local salvor gain access to your boat? If so maybe you can get down there too.

 

[SantaCruzS2]

Currently the dock is so badly damaged, I can not get on the boat. I've not seen it, in person, for a week.

This will sound dumb but..... when they say: We'll give you 7K and we'll sell it to you for 500.... does that mean I pay them 500, get 6500 and do what I want with the boat?

I'd be comfortable taking what I get and starting new....

 

[CalebD]

Yes.
In my case I could not have chosen to buy the boat back from the insurance company and they would have to payed me $7K. Instead, we opted to buy her back and fix her and got a check for $6200 to do the repairs ourselves, after the agreed upon price of $800 to buy her back.
Salvage costs could be prohibitive but might be worth looking into.

That is what I think I know.
Good luck.

 

[John Nantz]

Hull De-lamination Concern

There were numerous videos of the Santa Cruz marina with boats floating by slamming into boats that were still tied up. Although you said you were on the inside this is still what I'm thinking of:

If another boat slamed into yours broadside one thing I'd be really concerned about is de-lamination between any of the layers of fiberglass in the hull. Just by looking at the surface you'd never be able to tell if there is a problem but I don't know how one could, except by maybe tapping the hull with a hammer like what a surveyor would do.

Several years ago we were in a marina and it was really blowing hard when about a 35-ft powerboat came in and tried to go into the slip next to us. He got caught in the crosswind and in the process of backing out got T-boned in the side of his hull on the stern of a sailboat with a raked stern. I remember hearing what sounded like several dozen wine glasses breaking yet in looking at the side of his hull I couldn't see any significant mark. Obviously his hull got delaminated.

Another area for concern would be the deck-to-hull joint. The bond could have cracked and how could you know until there was a water leak? Ditto with stanchion screws.

Talk to several surveyors and, given the scenario, ask them what kind of things they would be looking for and see if their list seems reasonable. Also question how they might test for whatever.

There is a good likelihood that whatever a surveyor manages to discover will be less than what the actual damage was. Then there is the repair work and insuring that it is done properly.

Doesn't sound like fun.

Hope this doesn't impact your sailing season too much.

 

[Liam]

Be careful if you decide to buy the boat back from the insurance company. If you later find that in fact it is a total loss and you have to pay for the disposal fee it will be way more than what you buy it back for..
I am really sorry for your loss. My boat is on Q-dock and we came through with just scratches to the gel-coat.
I was there all day the Friday of the tsunami and saw what happened to your dock. It made me sick to see it.

 

[SantaCruzS2]

Thanks for the advice guys.... all things considered, it's just a boat. My heart and prayers go out to those who were lost.

As for sailing season, who knows.... might be scrapped unless I can get this issue resolved quickly.

Liam, yeah, I was working on that Friday, and watched the whole thing unfold. The first video I saw, was a capsized blue bottom boat wedged underneath the stern of my boat. Then it was wave after wave after wave pulling the boat one way, then slamming it into the dock as the water rushed out to sea. I was lucky enough to get down onto my boat that night to check the batteries to see if the bilge pump was working, but something was clearly wrong with my electrical system. So, who knows.

My boat is still tied to the sunken finger of the dock, and I can only imagine the amount of pressure that is putting on the starboard side. The dock lines have an amazingly amount of tension on them. Might have to cut them in order to get the lines free.

Any contacts you might have for repairs, I'd love to get.

 

[SantaCruzS2]

Update: S2 was totaled out by insurance company, and they just gave it to me to scrap. New boat search begins.....

 

[caguy]

Can you get FEMA to help you with the salvaging and removal cost? Salvaging out for parts may get you more than the boat is worth.
Knowing what you know now, would you have headed out to sea before the tsunami hit to avoid damage?

 

[SantaCruzS2]

Not really sure what I'll be able to salvage off the boat, and not sure if FEMA will help out with either. I'm trying to work with the harbor to see what can be done.

As for heading out to see.... not sure. I think that I would have tried to relocate to another slip and ride it out. What did me in was the capsized boat wedged underneath my boat shearing off my rudder.

But.... hindsight is 50-50 right?

Can you get FEMA to help you with the salvaging and removal cost? Salvaging out for parts may get you more than the boat is worth.
Knowing what you know now, would you have headed out to sea before the tsunami hit to avoid damage?