Lessons learned

Carpediem44DB

Well-Known Member
Aug 18, 2015
3,230
Sanfransico Bay area
Boat Info
2000 Carver 506
2006 44 DB Sedan Bridge
Engines
Volvo TAMD 74 P
Make a rule and stick to it is my latest lesson learned. I made a rule for myself the day I ran aground in June 2016. Never leave the harbor within two hours either side of low tide and avoid hitting bottom. Great rule to live by and I did until we decided to ride the ebb down the bay to maximize efficiency. Problem was we ended up at an unfamiliar harbor at a minus tide. I followed a fellow cruiser right into a mud flat and found a rock!
New rule, follow first rule and when I don’t follow first rule, at first sign of finding bottom shut down and wait for the tide. Only really bent one prop. Had it taken off and then motored home on one. I had my original nibryl props, damaged on my first grounding, repaired so I now have a spare set on board.
Not a great start to the season but that’s boating. Big shout out to Steve at Thomas Marine Service in Sacramento. He made my chewed up props new again and prop scanned them. Cruising 60 miles this weekend to see how they run. Cheers all
21A0BEE8-54B6-4F7B-B266-AD4EBDE89D48.jpeg
FFE2AB35-3F8B-4F8F-A95B-299D982B4B9D.jpeg
67162684-8A74-4368-A0E6-C7538326FA05.jpeg
80F8A6B2-652A-45A2-993F-7F3F24BA0EBE.jpeg
 
I'm sad to say I'm in Group #1 in Rusty's comment. Been there, done that.

A lesson I learned was one I'm glad to pass on. We pulled the props while the boat was in the slip. Getting them off was no problem for the diver. We hooked lines to the prop blades and lifted them out onto the dock.

Getting them back on produced a head scratching session: How was the diver going to manhandle the props up onto the shafts when he had nothing to stand on or brace himself?

I came up with the idea of suspending an aluminum step ladder horizontally beneath the boat, adjusting the height of the ladder so the diver could stand on it, then securing those lines to the aft cleats.

It worked like a champ. A friend and I lowered the props into the water with each of us standing on the finger piers on opposite sides of the boat. The diver signaled us to raise or lower it by jerking the dock line (1 to lower, 2 to raise).

It took less than a half hour to get both props on and secured.
 
Been there, done that. Probably only a matter of time before it happens again.
 
A very unfortunate event, but now you get to play all weekend!

I was once crossing a lake in Wisconsin in my 290 Sundancer when I hit a submerged object which ripped the entire outdrive off the back of the boat! I needed an entirely new outdrive! YIKES!
 
Another Group 1'ner here. Hitting at max high tide means mother nature will not eventually re-float your boat.
Grounding 006.jpg
hammer and sea ray salvage 053.jpg
 

Forum statistics

Threads
112,950
Messages
1,422,862
Members
60,932
Latest member
juliediane
Back
Top