My boat sank today
08-04-2002, 09:45 PM
#11
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Wildfire and Mrs. Wildfire,
Glad you are safe, and sorry to hear about the mishap/loss. Hopefully the motor and drive are salvagable. Good to know people in the dive/recovery business, because that stuff costs a fortune and then some.
I have had this happen to me before, not in a boat, but on my Polaris runabout twice. The ski was filled with stryrofoam, so it did not sink to the bottom, but it does go down to the handlebars. Once, the torque of the new motor and tightness of the new jet pump cracked and ripped a baseball sized hole out of the pump cavity. This was 1 March, and Lake Anna was about 62 degrees. I was in a half-wetsuit, and I was lucky a little fishboat saw me and saved my life. Second time, I ruptured the raw water out hose to the rear of the hull, about 2 miles offshore in the Chesapeake Bay, on a charity ride. We had Coast Guard and Police escorts that towed me in. I was lucky that time too. There were 4-5 foot swells out there. It is horrible feeling knowing you are sinking, and it scares the crap out of me just to talk about it.
Glad you are safe, and sorry to hear about the mishap/loss. Hopefully the motor and drive are salvagable. Good to know people in the dive/recovery business, because that stuff costs a fortune and then some.
I have had this happen to me before, not in a boat, but on my Polaris runabout twice. The ski was filled with stryrofoam, so it did not sink to the bottom, but it does go down to the handlebars. Once, the torque of the new motor and tightness of the new jet pump cracked and ripped a baseball sized hole out of the pump cavity. This was 1 March, and Lake Anna was about 62 degrees. I was in a half-wetsuit, and I was lucky a little fishboat saw me and saved my life. Second time, I ruptured the raw water out hose to the rear of the hull, about 2 miles offshore in the Chesapeake Bay, on a charity ride. We had Coast Guard and Police escorts that towed me in. I was lucky that time too. There were 4-5 foot swells out there. It is horrible feeling knowing you are sinking, and it scares the crap out of me just to talk about it.
08-04-2002, 10:08 PM
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I would bet an exhaust hose came loose. I took my boat in to have it worked on once, and they didn't tighten the hose from the riser to the y pipe. I couldn't belive the amount of water that was pouring in. I'm glad I always start with the hatch up and take a quick look at the engine before getting underway.
08-04-2002, 10:15 PM
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Buck,
We were about a mile or so east of Prairie Creek between Coose and the water intake about 250' south of the north shore. There is some survey tape on one of the trees to mark the spot. We were in somewhere between 60-100' of water.
It should be easy to spot with a fish finder and I managed to tie the throw cushion to the anchor line as a buoy. Unfortunately, the anchor line was shorter than the water is deep. So we will see if we can find it with divers.
Thought about calling you to see if you were going to be out...
Scott
We were about a mile or so east of Prairie Creek between Coose and the water intake about 250' south of the north shore. There is some survey tape on one of the trees to mark the spot. We were in somewhere between 60-100' of water.
It should be easy to spot with a fish finder and I managed to tie the throw cushion to the anchor line as a buoy. Unfortunately, the anchor line was shorter than the water is deep. So we will see if we can find it with divers.
Thought about calling you to see if you were going to be out...
Scott
08-04-2002, 11:18 PM
#15
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Scott,
We couldn't have been more then a 1/4 mile from you at the most. LOL. (not that the situation is funny)
I'm glad to hear no one was hurt. That's the most important thing IMO.
That would have been a heck of a way to meet you, that's for sure.
Buck
#183
We couldn't have been more then a 1/4 mile from you at the most. LOL. (not that the situation is funny)
I'm glad to hear no one was hurt. That's the most important thing IMO.
That would have been a heck of a way to meet you, that's for sure.
Buck
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08-05-2002, 12:25 AM
#16
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Based off of first hand experience here are my comments:
First of all be glad it sank. Mine was recovered and I stil havn't seen a check. It's been over a year now and the deposition is first coming up.
Second: Don't attempt a recovery!!!!! No! If the insurance company want's to recover it (which they proably don't) why do you? The engine is junk. The drive is still good, but it's proably a trs so it's not worth much. Every electronic item is junk. The trim pumps are junk. The interior junk. The only thing that will come out of this is evidence for the insurance company. They can now prove that you didn't maintain the boat (which is why the hose blew-claim denied). Or that you forgot to put the drain plug in (neglegent operation-claim denyed). Or that the boat wasn't seaworthy (ie rot-claim denyed). Why do this? The boat is gone, and it should be left where it's resting. The good is that it's deep and will be expensive to get too.
In the end be thankful that you were able to get some things off of the boat. Especially both of your butts. I guess the lesson for all of us is to pop the hatch after launching to check for water in the bilge.
So, whatcha gonna get for the new boat?
First of all be glad it sank. Mine was recovered and I stil havn't seen a check. It's been over a year now and the deposition is first coming up.
Second: Don't attempt a recovery!!!!! No! If the insurance company want's to recover it (which they proably don't) why do you? The engine is junk. The drive is still good, but it's proably a trs so it's not worth much. Every electronic item is junk. The trim pumps are junk. The interior junk. The only thing that will come out of this is evidence for the insurance company. They can now prove that you didn't maintain the boat (which is why the hose blew-claim denied). Or that you forgot to put the drain plug in (neglegent operation-claim denyed). Or that the boat wasn't seaworthy (ie rot-claim denyed). Why do this? The boat is gone, and it should be left where it's resting. The good is that it's deep and will be expensive to get too.
In the end be thankful that you were able to get some things off of the boat. Especially both of your butts. I guess the lesson for all of us is to pop the hatch after launching to check for water in the bilge.
So, whatcha gonna get for the new boat?
08-05-2002, 01:11 AM
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Wildfire,
Glad you guys are ok. I keep reading these kinds of posts in horror. Main thing is your ok. I can't even imagine how you feel. I hope the insurance company treats you the correct way. Unfortunately new or used it can happen to anyone.
Good luck and keep us posted,
Dan
Glad you guys are ok. I keep reading these kinds of posts in horror. Main thing is your ok. I can't even imagine how you feel. I hope the insurance company treats you the correct way. Unfortunately new or used it can happen to anyone.
Good luck and keep us posted,
Dan
08-05-2002, 01:26 PM
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I gotta agree with Cord...I'd just leave it there.
But I have a question: Doesn't the EPA or some other environmental agency fine you for having a boat on the botton of a lake? Oil, gas, batteries....all pollution. Anyone have an answer to that?
Glad you two made it out safely!
But I have a question: Doesn't the EPA or some other environmental agency fine you for having a boat on the botton of a lake? Oil, gas, batteries....all pollution. Anyone have an answer to that?
Glad you two made it out safely!
08-05-2002, 09:17 PM
#19
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I can see Cord's side of it, but heck I would have to wait and see if the Ins. Co. want's to pay to bring it up. If not then wait a few day's and bring it up with your buddy's, I think it would be worth getting back if it has a Areson Drive(sp?)
Plus like G-Force said, Don't you have to bring it back up just for the EPA's sake?
I'd feel too bad and would have a buddy find it at sea!
Plus like G-Force said, Don't you have to bring it back up just for the EPA's sake?
I'd feel too bad and would have a buddy find it at sea!
08-05-2002, 10:26 PM
#20
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Talked to the insurance company today. We are covered and the claim was filed. All I have to do is sign the back of the registration over to them and they will cut me a check for the insured value minus the deductible.
I have not yet heard whether or not the boat must be recovered for EPA reasons. I will probably wait for them to contact me rather than ask and open up a can of worms.
I have a feeling that the engine may be toast and who knows if the drive is serviceable. It all depends upon how the boat landed and what the bottom structure is like. It sank nose up, so it probably hit drive first. If it went in the mud, the drive may be ok. If it hit rock, which is highly likely, the drive is probably bent, spindled or mutilated beyond repair (or at least interest).
Other than a nice bomar hatch and Gaffrig flame arrestor, the fish can keep it. Besides, at this point, I'm not real interested in seeing that thing again.
Haven't gotten the photos yet, but they will be posted for your viewing pleasure.
I have not yet heard whether or not the boat must be recovered for EPA reasons. I will probably wait for them to contact me rather than ask and open up a can of worms.
I have a feeling that the engine may be toast and who knows if the drive is serviceable. It all depends upon how the boat landed and what the bottom structure is like. It sank nose up, so it probably hit drive first. If it went in the mud, the drive may be ok. If it hit rock, which is highly likely, the drive is probably bent, spindled or mutilated beyond repair (or at least interest).
Other than a nice bomar hatch and Gaffrig flame arrestor, the fish can keep it. Besides, at this point, I'm not real interested in seeing that thing again.
Haven't gotten the photos yet, but they will be posted for your viewing pleasure.
