Well hurricane harvey got us in Corpus Christi Bay and we are seeking advice on how to get the boat off the shore. It's in about 2-3 feet of water with a dry bilge. This boat was a salvage from hurricane Ike in 2008, have no insurance, but we had it fixed up pretty nice and hoping to sail again. Funds are limited to probably less than 10k for the salvage. Please offer any advice you can think of. Questions I can think of now include the following. Thanks for any wisdom!!!
1) Can we tip it over with a water bag using main halyard, wash out around, behind, and under the wing keel to float it with a water jet/pump, and drag it out?
2) Will the one upper stay hold the boat over at a 45 degree angle or more while weighting the 1/2 dia main halyard.
3) How much weight, how big a water/lift bag is needed.
4) What kind and size of water pump for jetting/washing out around and under the boat?
5) What else or other plan??
Thanks!! (i attempted to include 2 pics)
Dwain
Ingleside Cove in Corpus Christi Bay
Dwain
1997 Catalina 36 - Coastin'
Ingleside, TX
A sad picture to see. What kind of structural damage did you sustain?
I had a friend with a C34 on Cape Cod. The storm surge drove the boat onto the beach and left it high and dry when it receeded. He hired a recovery service that used a ~40 foot boat with a very large propellor (Tugboat?) and the prop wash dug a channel. It was loose sand- no rocks or clay and the job went well. His only damage to the boat was a bent rudder post.
Good luck with finding the right solution.
Paul & Wendy Keyser
"First Light"
Rye NH
2005 C36 MKII #2257
Wing, M35B
You present an interesting problem, and I'll start off by saying that I'm not at all qualified to answer your question, but I won't let that stop me.
If you can find a professional to move your boat who is not cost prohibitive, that's probably your best bet.
I'm not sure of the geometry exactly, but with a wing keel, won't you be increasing the draft as you cant the boat? That makes sense for going under a low bridge but not for freeing the boat.
A problem with having someone tow your boat to deeper water is that the keel is only inches deeper than the rudder, and you are very likely to damage the rudder. If you are expecting a particularly high tide and you can get some weight in the bow, someone may be able to pull you out.
If I were doing this totally on my own, I would put an anchor off the stern attached to the boat with a bridle so that the force on the boat is evenly distributed. Using the winches and lines with a fair amount of stretch, I'd make the bridle taut. Over the following days, with high tides and some favorable wave action, your boat might ooch away from shore. You'll re-tighten the bridle as needed.
Again, I'd want weight in the bow so that if the boat moves, you won't be plowing with the rudder. It might be prudent to shovel out a narrow channel for the rudder. You might want to secure the bow so on the off chance that this works, you won't swing into someone. This all assumes that you aren't a huge distance from suitably deep water.
A professional remains the best choice I would think.
Southern Comfort #1881
Tall rig, Wing Keel
Potomac River/Chesapeake Bay
Tipping a grounded boat using a halyard is not for the timid as you will increase draft (wing keel) before draft decreases. I don't know how many degrees you have to tip before you've archived a net decrease. As soon as the boat floats while tipping, it will want to slide away from the tilt, so you have to push on the hull to oppose the slide, all the time trying to maintain the tilt and counteract the slide while also trying to move backwards. Tipping works best when the boat is sideways to the shore where levers can be used to counteract slide while being pulled into deeper water.
I think I'd go with the advise from Southern Comfort first. Protect that rudder at all costs whatever you do. Dig or wash as much as possible a channel to deeper water. Using two anchors at maybe 30 degrees to the winches might be an option vs. a bridle so you can achieve more pull and adjust direction a bit. Don't expect this to happen all at once. It may take days. Constant pressure is the key. During the high tide, you might supplement with some wakes from another boat to "lift" the boat a few inches.
Nick Caballero
Retired C36/375IA Mk II Technical Editor
Thank you very very much gents for the thoughtful replies. I'm pouring over each word. I like the idea of putting out an anchor or 2 and taking a strain on them and let the tide and wave action work. Maybe do this while heeled over to keep the keel and rudder up. I might need another tide raising storm to float her out.. but i should be careful for what i wish for. I'll keep you posted and welcome more thoughts.
Dwain
1997 Catalina 36 - Coastin'
Ingleside, TX
Also, empty your water tanks and remove as much stuff from the boat that not necessary. Inches and pounds will make a difference here.
Nick Caballero
Retired C36/375IA Mk II Technical Editor
I have watched YouTube videos of boats in similar situations and they have used crane to help lift the boat and push back.
Sail La Vie 1999 Catalina 36 MKII, M35B-17031, Coyote Point, San Mateo, CA
About Sail La Vie
Certainly a land crane would work assuming the crane has access and can boom out enough to not only lift the boat but also boom you out to deeper water. You gotta make sure the crane uses straps and spreader bars. Perhaps you can share the cost with the other boats that seem to be in the same situation. A floating crane might also work as long as they can get close enough to moor and boom over.
Needless to say, there will be a waiting list for crane services throughout the area.
Nick Caballero
Retired C36/375IA Mk II Technical Editor
If I was going to try water jetting I would use a high pressure engine driven "fire" pump. Northern tool has a Fire fighting system for sale for $779.
The big difference between a trash pump and a fire pump is the pressure. If you could rig up a float to keep the suck line in clean water. Trash pump will pass more dirt but at less pressure.
You will ruin a fire pump if you pass to much dirt.
I have moved a lot of dirt jetting on dry land. Never tried in deep water. Should work if you have the time.
Chuck Lennox
97 MKii Ventura Ca
Island Girl Hull #1611
I've got a fire pump coming and a strain on it. Thanks! I'll post further updates on the Cruisers Forum.
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f129/hurrican-grounding-advice-190291.html#post2467232
Dwain
1997 Catalina 36 - Coastin'
Ingleside, TX
Curious how this is coming along?
Nick Caballero
Retired C36/375IA Mk II Technical Editor