Two boats go down in Kansas

[Steve Wright]

For anyone who hasn't Winterized your boat because of the warm weather,I went out to check our local lake and found two boats have sunk at thedock. I don't know why, but we have had a very warm weather then suddenlyit turned cold enough to freez the lake 3 to 4 inches of ice. Now that theice is thawing, the boats are sinking. My guess is that the through hullvalves were not closed, and they froze and cracked. So take the time toWinterize your boat if you haven't already done so.

 

[LaDonna Bubak - CatalinaOwners.com]

There's water in Kansas?

I've driven through Kansas a number of times but don't remember any water... ;-)I'm just playing with ya - Kansas was actually quite pretty! Good points on winterizing, thanks!LaDonna

 

[Brian]

Mine cracked

I'm in Chicago. When I purchased my boat last year, the inlets were closed and my head inlet cracked. Luckily it was on the inside of the boat and did not leak unless you opened the valve. However, when you first put a (new to you) boat in the water, the last thing you want to see is water coming in when you check all of your through-holes. This year I left them open and from what I can tell empty. Here's to a good start to the season, SOON!

 

[jcherubini]

Same thing in NJ

In our area two boats about 25-30 ft that were left in for the winter (NOT on a bubbler) apparently got locked into the ice and were carried upstream to smash into the bridge. This did NOT happen on any major body of water but on the Rancocas Creek in Delanco NJ! The channel is about 4-5 ft max. The boats have been squashed together against the bridge for about two weeks with a police cruiser stationed there 24/7 to prevent looting. From the bridge you can see they are both listing at an angle and their spreaders and rigging are tangled, broken, banging against the steel girders, etc. Nice nasty mess. It pays to winterise-- but even more to NOT underestimate Mother Nature's weather trends!JC 2

 

[Dakota Jim Russell]

LaDonna, there is in South Dakota too <grin>

In spite of what the east and west may think we have great water in the plains. In fact we have a lake 200 miles long in SD of which I've navigated 120 miles, the largest body of fresh water west of the Mississippi.Further, we have sail boats up to 40 feet (C&C) on it. It has been great training ground for sailing short crew in the Caribbean (my wife and I alone). So allow me to give you a little jab in return . . . <grin>