Hit a submerged rock...whats next?

[steve mac]

Well, it happened to me on Sunday. I have been boating around Buzzards Bay, Woods Hole and Vineyard Sound (Massachusetts) for 15 + years.
I was out with my family (wife and 2 daughters), 3 additional kids, another couple and their 8 month old infant. We went over to Marthas Vineyard for the day. The weather was pretty crappy - winds around 20 kts, cloudy with some occasional rain showers. Once we got over there, the weather seemed to improve slightly. The original plan was to go over for the afternoon and them come back to our home port up near the Cape Cod Canal at night. At 6PM I listened to NOAA weather and they predicted the same 20 kts winds, scattered showers, some pathy fog. With that, we debated whether we should stay the night or head back. We decided to head back. We left Marthas Vineyard in relatively clear skies. Approaching Woods Hole the fog rolled in to the point where I could see about 50 ft in front of the boat. I drifted off course between the 2 channels going into Woods Hole....and BAM! I hit a submerged rock. I was moving about 10 - 12 kts. The rock was not visible and my depth alarm did not go off until AFTER I hit the rock. I immediately had everyone put on life jackets and checked the forward and aft bilge for water...and there was none. Once I was sure I was back in the channel, I put both engines in gear and felt a good deal of vibration. I motored out of Woods Hole cut as the current can run 5 - 6 kts thru there and I did not want to drift into any mre rocks or into some of the many bouys. When I was out in Buzzards Bay I tried to determine which prop (or both) took the hit. It seemed from the vibration that they both hit. I notified the Coasties, just in case we started to take on water - which we never did. They said they would "stand-by" on 16.
I limped back to my marina which was about 9 miles away at less than 10 kts.

My boat is being pulled out this afternoon to see what the damage is, but with all of the experience on this board I figured I would ask....besides the obvious - props, shaft and struts, what other things should I be concerned about?

The good news is that no one was hurt and we were able to make it back to shore. Everything else could be repaired (except maybe my ego and pride....but those too shall heel).

Any advise on what to look for would be appreciated. Sorry for the long message.

 

[MExcelsior]

Hi Steve, I'm just glad that you are ok and that everyone is in good spirits! Really is it all a guessing game at this point what damage might have happened. The good thing is that you will know shortly. I wouldn't worry about the ego at this point. If your ego hasn't been bruised once, twice or more, you haven't been boating long enough. Of course, I'm an inland cruiser, and it would be really scary to be in your shoes out on big water........ let us know what the damage was.

 

[sfergson727]

Usually what happens next is you sink.....but you got lucky!!!!:smt038

Sounds like you have a pretty good plan, and have thought about all the details. Obviously after they have put your boat back together, and you have it in the water for a while (a week or more) have the alignment of the engines checked.

Hopefully you also called your insurance company after the collision with said rock occurred. Check also as to whether you need to file an accident report. I found out in my recent experience with things that go crunch, that if you exceed $2000 damage, you are required to file one. Fortunately I only was at $1074.

I do have to ask though, why were you going 10-12 knots when you could only see 50 feet ahead?

 

[steve mac]

Thanks for the replies.

I was going about 10 - 12 kts becuase the current that runs through Woods Hole is so strong that if you aren't moving fast enough, you actually get pushed backwards. But, with that said, you are probably right in asking why I was moving that fast in thick fog.

 

[wetpaint]

I know the area well.....was it the triangle rocks...it has happend to 20 foot boats to 150 foot yachts........One other issue that may occur is the gears on the transmission should also be checked........Glad everyone was okay......You seemed to of handles the whole situation well.....

 

[Warren]

Sorry to hear about your experience going hard aground Steve. You responded really well. Good advice from posters so far - best advice that I can think of is to take the boat to the best boat repair shop in the area - something I'm sure that you have already done - as insurance will likely pay anyway and you are going to need good solid, reputable advice. They will know what to check, what to replace/fix and what issues are unnecessary. A reputable shop will eliminate the need for a formal survey, assuming that insurance does not require it, and they will get you back doing what you enjoy with a minimum abount of time and money wasted. They will also stand by their work without any hassles.

Hopefully there will be no surprises other than what you have already mentioned. Remember, noise travels fast through water so, while it sounds really bad at the time, the damage may well be only a bashed prop!

Let us know and good luck!
Warren

 

[ChuckW]

I know the area well, too. I was there Monday, after the fog lifted in the morning. We ran through it around 10am.

For those that don't know, Woods Hole is legendary for its rocks and the boats that find them. The water turbulance is something to be seen. If you hit the flood or ebb tide at peak you need 10 knots just to maintain stearage.

Steve, sounds like you handled the resulting situation prudently. Especially the part about putting the CG on notice. Something more boaters should heed. It's all about the safety of the crew and guests at that point.

 

[sbw1]

I wonder about the decision to go with the weather marginal, fog common and having other people's children on board. We do travel in some iffy weather on Lake Michigan depending on the direction of the winds and waves so maybe it's not a big deal. I don't know the area. But we do not cross the lake at night nor take extended trips at night because darkness complicates problem solving if issues occur.

 

[ChuckW]

The area is notorious for fog almost daily.

 

[bushway9172]

The area is notorious for fog almost daily.

I wouldn't say that. I live about 2 miles away and I would agree that the area is notorious for its rocks, complicated channel markers, and crazy currents!

Glad everyone was okay! I am always a bit nervous when going through Woods Hole.

Especially when you have the complications of the fast ferries as well!

Hope the damage isn't too bad.

 

[ChuckW]

Steve, was it Great Ledge or Red Ledge? By the sounds of your description it sounded to me like Great Ledge. Wetpaint sounded like he was thinking it was Red Ledge.

How'd the inspection go today?

 

[JV II]

Steve,
Were you going to Kingman? That short hop from Wood's to Catamet can be a rough ride. I hope for the best possible outcome.

 

[ChuckW]

I wouldn't say that. I live about 2 miles away and I would agree that the area is notorious for its rocks, complicated channel markers, and crazy currents!

Glad everyone was okay! I am always a bit nervous when going through Woods Hole.

Especially when you have the complications of the fast ferries as well!

Hope the damage isn't too bad.

Yes a bit exaggerated, but the point being fog is very common in this area. I've lived here my whole life and in the 40+ years of boating those waters (Woods Hole, Buzzards Bay and Vineyard Sound) they get more fog than just about any other place in New England.

Yes, the fast ferries add another dynamic as well. It can be absolutely crazy going through there, whether it's traffic, weather or currents any one of those makes it choas, often its all three. Add to that those unfamiliar with the channels coming from Buzzards Bay often wind up on the wrong side of the markers.

 

[steve mac]

I was going from Marthas Vineyard back to Kingman Marina.

ChuckW - I agree with you it is an area that gets fog a lot. In fact when I left Oak Bluffs Harbor, the sun was out and the skies clear. By the time I got to Woods Hole, the fog was thick as pea soup.

I actually hit Great Ledge - probably the rock on the eastern edge of the chart you attached.

I did go look at the boat last night, now that it has been pulled out of the water. I banged up about a 3 foot section of the hull, right directly on the keel, just in front of the prop shafts. I also banged up both props pretty good. Possibly bent 1 or both shafts slightly (they need to be on a machine to determine). The estimate will likely come in around $8,000 - according to the guy who is writing it up.

SBW1 - I agree with you about questioning my decision to leave marginal weather, fog..etc. I have thought about that a thousand times between Sunday night and now. The outcome could have been much, much worse. In retrospect, if I stayed the night and came back on Monday morning everything would have turned out great. Monday was a beautiful day...flat calm seas (especially in the morning).

 

[bport]

Steve, please let us know how it works out. Sorry it happened - I know Woods Hole can be tough to navigate. Did you have radar operating?

Also, $8k sounds really high to me. Others that read this board will have a much better perspective than I will, but it seems really high for the damage you describe. Good luck.

 

[The Bill Collector]

Steve, sorry to hear and glad everyone is safe....

Several years ago with my '89 300 Weekender I hit a submerged deadhead and did some damage, at first it didn't look too bad but after a more in depth review it was both props, both struts, both rudders, one shaft and then the glass work around the struts, rudders and point of first impact.... $22,000.00 !!! Thank God for insurance and $1000.00 deductable...... + they pulled the tranny out to for inspection since the engine was running @ 3000 rpms when the shaft snapped....

 

[sbw1]

I was going from Marthas Vineyard back to Kingman Marina.
SBW1 - I agree with you about questioning my decision to leave marginal weather, fog..etc. I have thought about that a thousand times between Sunday night and now. The outcome could have been much, much worse. In retrospect, if I stayed the night and came back on Monday morning everything would have turned out great. Monday was a beautiful day...flat calm seas (especially in the morning).

Most of us who have boated for many years have done something that in hindsight could have been done in a better way. Count yourself lucky that you got home safely and no doubt learned a great lesson. As far as the repair bill, it seems in the ballpark and that is why we buy insurance.

 

[Bajan]

Steve, I'm glad that you and the others made it back safely and the situation wasn't worse!!

I hit a floating 1 X 6 Monday, don't believe there is any damage....but it sure puckered my cheeks:grin:

 

[wetpaint]

steve...i dont know what your deductable is, but I would run it through insurance if it is less than 5K

 

[steve mac]

Re: Hit a submerged rock...whats next? - UPDATE

I got the final estimate back from the boat yard yesterday - $19,400. The Nibral props are $1700 a piece, plus struts, shafts and fiberglass repair and labor to remove and reinstall everything. I had a surveyor there this morning (from the Insurnce Co.)and he validated and agreed with the yard estimate. So, now the work begins. Hopefully, it will go quickly and I can get back in the water soon.
Thanks for all the input and suggestions.