this is a baffler

[letterman]

The boat sunk. She was raised yesterday. The owner said he struck something with the rudder. The evidence shows the shaft is straight, but a foot below where it should be. There is no damage to the rudder face, or any other part of the rudder. Now comes the mystery.The CG came to his assistance and were going to put a pump on board, but it wouldn't start. SeaTow showed as the CG called them and Cricket, the captain, was going to put her pump on board and tow the guy in. He was about 2000 feet from the marina entrance.  He would not allow her to put the pump on board. Rumor has it she declined to tow him in at this point citing the amount of water in the boat. The CG ordered the owner to abandon ship. It sunk about 20 hours later, as in twenty hours! Someone raised then boat and it was removed from the water.My guess is that something came off the spade rudder causing it to fall off the boat, as the owner said it "floated behind the boat, but was attached to the boat".Our guess: since he had insurance, he must be an idiot. Any other guesses?

 

[Bill Roosa]

Look at it from the JSCG point of view

The owner will not let a pump be put on board, is 2000' from safety and the USCG is going to have to wait 20 hours till he gets off of his own accord. There assessment must have been he is not going to do what it takes to save the boat so why should we sit here for 20 hours?

 

[Ctskip]

Looking at it from their view point,

they can board any vessel, any time they want. If they can give him a ticket for out of date flares, why can't they can place a pump on a sinking vessel. Surely the CG has more than one pump aboard. Lets talk "safety". And to leave a ship floundering? Ther's more to this story? Keep your eye on the bouncing ball. Keep it up, Ctskip

 

[Bill Roosa]

There is no law against sinking

The USCG cannot tell you what to do with your boat. They just enforce the rules and there is no rule that says you can't let your boat sink. You could get charged for making an obstruction to a waterway but you would have to be in the channel and the owner of the channel would have to press charges.You are still the captain of the boat and as such don't have to accept help if you don't want it.IMHO it sounds like an insurance scam but I clearly don't have all the facts.

 

[Ctskip]

I don't believe that for a moment

Bill you say; "The USCG cannot tell you what to do with your boat." Now I thought they had the rule book on their side. Is not a floundering vessel anywhere within the 3 mile limit "a safety hazard"? I would think so. I'd also bet there is are laws governing the sinking of ones vessel, no matter where it takes place. You also state: "You could get charged for making an obstruction to a waterway but you would have to be in the channel and the owner of the channel would have to press charges."I didn't know that the channels were privately owned. Learn something new every day. Who do you suppose owns the channel leading into New Haven, Ct? I was always lead to believe that the public owns the water/land from the high tide level on out. Is this not correct information? Have I been wrong all this time? Please tell me.  Keep it up, Ctskip

 

[sailortonyb Allied Mis]

Sounds like

he wanted the boat to sink.

 

[filthy liberal scum]

I tend to agree with most!

He wanted the boat to sink and collect the ins. but did'nt do a very good job of it. sounds like an ins scam.

 

[Ctskip]

Maybe he thought he could do it

himself and by asking or accepting assistance, he would be a failure? Why do most think it's a scam? Are we that critical? After all, it did take 20 hours to sink. Maybe he thought he had it under control and is the type of guy who asks for nothing(proud)from anyone. He obviously thought he do it himself, Lord knows he did something for 20 hours. I know people like that. Maybe he had a nuclear bomb or (heaven forbid) some pharmaceutical drugs bought in Mexico or Canada on board. We don't know the whole story, but we are building the gallows already. Maybe he didn't have insurance? I think it shows determination to do something for himself and not rely on public assistance. Maybe we need more people like him, with his courage and determination, and not people that call "mayday" when their motor quits in the channel. This is a tough crowd. I wouldn't want to be found with dirty jeans and long hair with tattoos and a Harley. With this crowd, I'd be guilty of something. Keep stereo typing. Lets put the blindfold back on lady justice. I do hope that someone will follow this story and keep us posted as to the facts as they are reported and twisted to make for some good reading. Keep it up, Ctskip

 

[sailaway78]

Your right ctskip

This is a tough crowd, but most of the time our perceptions are pretty accurate. I could accept your version of this, maybe, except then how do you explain the coasties showing up in the first place. These guys do not just drop in out of thin air, when your taking on water. They were called. So I have to go with the rest of the rough crowd. Something hinky going on with this deal.

 

[Nimbus]

What about the pollution ?

This quy should at least been cited for water pollution, as in FUEL, OIL, and whatever else was in this vessel. Accidents happen, and you still get a fine, but this was on purpose.

 

[Tom S]

Maybe the guy didn't want TowBoat to claim Salvage

How big was this boat? How much do you think it was worth? Maybe he didn't have the insurance to cover it like you think he does? Maybe he thought he could rescue the ship himself (2000 feet from Marina Entrance ? Maybe after hearing all the horror stories about Salvage didn't want want to chance it. Maybe the Tow operator scared the bejesus out of him and made him feel like they wanted him to sign away his first 3 children (I have been privy to that conversation before)Though once he was ordered to abandon ship by CG he should have let the Tow boat take over as it was futile at that point. Not sure why the Tow Boat didn't try and save the boat before it sunk and not sure why the CG didn't let the Tow Boat try and save it before it sunk. The potential polution hazard alone would dictate the authorities not letting it sinkPS The CG does have the legal authority to terminate a voyage if they deem the vessel unseaworthy. (Whether they are right or wrong. Its a judgement call) Not sure how far offshore they have authority.Either way something doesn't add up

 

[filthy liberal scum]

What would I do???????

OK we've ascertained that he was 2000 ft from the marina entrance. approx 1/4 mile. the approximate distance from the dolphin to my slip entrance. I would have called my marina and told them its an emergency come out and get me, put my boat in the travel lift and i"ll be there Mon morn to ascertain what the real problem is. even if it was the middle of the night on Sunday they would be available probably at 7 am Monday morn which is less than 20 hrs no matter how you calculate it. I smell a skunk in this wood shed. IMHO. OK lets just say no one from his marina staff could help him out. I'm sure that even if he swam ashore and explained the situation I'm sure some one in his marina would have come out and given him a tow. there's more to this story than this guy is willing to tell. I still think it was an insurance scam of some sort. time and some digging will tell. It all sounds too fishy.

 

[letterman]

more info..to clarify things

the sailboat was 31'.He only had 3 gallons of gas on board (necessary by the rules to race)Value was most likely under 25k.The tow operator is a sweetheart...they would do it for free, if necessary. Really, they go overboard to help anyone.The boat owner was in a race with about 50 other boats (or more) and was going back in to port after the race. Apparently the other boaters didn't think he would make it in and called the CG (who usually hang out around the corner...or within 6 limes of the sinking).The pollution was minimal. Nada. Zip.The boat owner did nothing...till after it sunk. He didn't ask anyone for help and there were hundreds of people who would have helped. Cricket, the TowBoat operator, was probably out alone, but could have cell phoned for assistance to set and work the pump.Most of us think the owner is a few bricks shy of a load.Cricket was going to send the insurance company her side of the story. We went dumpster diving after the owner cleaned the boat after it was raised, and we got a LOT of good stuff, from Harken blocks to caribenerss (sp). And we inspected the vessel...no way the insurance company is going to total it.

 

[Ctskip]

Statements were made, questions were asked

and no response was given. What up with that? I thought we were having a discussion. When I am asked something, I do my best to respond politely and with what ever information I have on hand. I may not be correct 100% of the time, but I respond none the less. It's the right thing to do. I stand up in what I say, right or wrong. Just differences I guess.Or is it a way of being snubbed? More like blatantly disrespect I'd say.Like my Daddy use to say ,"just consider the source". Live and learn. Keep it up, Ctskip

 

[John5961]

Responses?

Ctskip, I'm not sure what response you were looking for. Should everyone say yes we are that critical? I noticed that Nice and Easy did respond to you. Your comments seemed more rhetorical to me, but maybe I am misreading them.I'm sure no one was intentionally ignoring you.