An Embarrassing Story

[Bill]

Last Saturday was the fourth monthly Inter Island Yacht Club Regatta.  This time, the regatta was in the South Bay.  The boat bottom had been scrubbed Thursday and the crew (Steve and Ebb) were hyped and ready for an exciting day.  

It was already windy at 11:00 AM.  Early for the South Bay – usually, the wind shows there about an hour after the scheduled 12:30 PM start.  When we arrived in the starting area, the race committee boat had not yet established the starting line.  While waiting, we removed the outboard engine from the well and handed it to Ebb to stow in the companionway between the main and fore cabins.  

Meanwhile, we were bouncing around in the wind trying to set the sail trim when Steve yelled, "buoy!"  I looked up and there it was.  Big and Red and about 12 feet away.  Dead ahead.  At about 3 knots.  

Ebb reports that the noise below when we hit sounded like an explosion!  

The boat rolled off the buoy to leeward and headed off to starboard.  I think I was in charge?  We did an assessment of the damage and found a small bulge on the inner side of the bow that was weeping a bit, but no other punctures.  Some nasty scrapes on the port side and the bow pulpit was a little messed up.

Not really knowing if anything else might be awry, we decided to call it a day and sailed cautiously back to the Estuary and the slip.  

Once at the slip, closer examination showed that the bow pulpit had pulled up, leaving cracks around the forward base plates.  That was it, other than what we found originally.

A trip today to the yacht yard turned up a $2k estimate to repair it all.  

Here are the damage photos:

[Bill]

The starboard foot on the pulpit:

[Bill]

And the port foot . . .

[Bill]

Then there's the pulpit istelf . . .

[Bill]

The yard said they would not have a good handle on the damage to the deck around the pulpit bases until the removed the pulpit.  It could be minor, or . .

The yard is backed up a bit and they will not get to work on the boat until sometime next week.  I can't wait . .  :rolleyes:

[commanderpete]

Sorry, but a buoy to leeward has the right of way. You were overtaking too. Wouldn't win that protest hearing.

Of course, I've never hit a buoy.......except that one time.......

Doesn't look too awful, aside from the pulpit.

Gotta be ebb's fault somehow

[Ed Ekers]

Mr. Bill, Well stuff happens. You mention the yard being backed up. I assume you are speaking about Svens. If I can offer a little insight I would suggest you give Nelsons a try. A number of people I know that have used Svens lately have been very disappointed. The estimates have been way off, the time line dragged on for ever and the quality of work has been somewhat shabby. You might want to talk to Scott about his experience.

On the other hand I hear nothing but good stuff about Nelsons. Their estimate might be a bit higher but it is honest and they have always done good work. ......ed

[ebb]

Wanna thank the Commadore for this expensive
and very detailed lesson in tactical compression.
 
As usual Ebb was not present, being somewhere
else.  The wind was UP and I thought I'd tuck
Bill's ole Mariner into its sleeping bag.  Yas, Bill's
OB has his own cozy comforter!

Was an horrendous noise,
Never be the same any more.

You shoulda seen them wide-eyed boys
Ashakin' to the core.

[frank durant]

OOPS !!! like the saying goes...'**** happens'  While you are not the 1st nor the last to take on a marker bouy, I admire your bravery to post pics ! I once took on a channel marker bouy here at home..Ebb's right..the sound is the worst part..I figured we'd sink with all that noise,but only suffered a few scrapes.  WOW Bill ....is your boat EVER yellow..you would of thought the marker would have saw YOU and got out of YOUR way. Happy racing

[CapnK]

Ouch.

Ouch, ouch, ouch!

Best wishes for a speedy and complete (and hopefully as cheap as possible) recovery!

I've always had a fear of accidently hitting a buoy and sinking my boat right next to it. Your pics have somewhat allayed my fears that a buoy could be an Ariel-slayer - yours looks like she handled the impact pretty well, considering.

Did the buoy sink? I hope so...

I'm with Frank - it took some chutzpah to post the pics - Thank you, Bill, for sharing.

Don't let Ebb fix it - he'd probably try to sneak a bow thruster in there, and one of those retractable spinnaker poles.

[ebb]

Bill like my idea of a truck tire on the bow.

[frank durant]

Ebb...a spare tire would be kinda tacky....how about wrap around 'baggywinkle' (spell check..Mike) like on an ole tugboat...much more charactor than a radial ply....much more fitting for a yacht the age of ours.A wonderful combination of charm and dam fine protection too !! May even increase your PHRF rating as an added bonus.

[Mike Goodwin]

That actually would be a puddin or a mustache  if it were on the bow of a tug , and it is baggy wrinkle not winkle ;>)

[ebb]

A "puddin on the bow"
sounds like just the thing.
Have it designed like an airbag!

Way it was blowing, we had to be closer to 6 knots.
Way it sounded below, an EXPLOSION! 3 knots, NO WAY.

Having a later number Ariel,  I'm real glad I beefed up
the stem on 338.  Assuming that Bill's earlier edition is
thicker in the stem.  If it isn't (maybe the yard can
take some photos of the cleaned out wound) THEN
THAT SHOWS AN ARIEL CAN TAKE A REAL WHACK ON
THE BOW.

It would be a good idea to keep on board a two part
quick set epoxy putty that could be smeared over a
hole with or without some propylene fabric.  There are
epoxys that can be applied underwater to any surface.
The fabric would be used primarily to span the hole if
needed.  You'ld apply the patch with a piece of vinyl
film and hold it in place with a cushion.  Maybe Marine
Tex makes something like this?

How about packaging it in a clear bag that would have the
catalyst in a capsule inside that would be popped by
squeezing, and then the bag kneaded to mix and activate.
It should be a quick set repair, like 10 minutes.  10 ounces,
10 year storage life, 30 bucks!  yahsurebygolly.
[As a kid, when margerine first came on the market, it was
my job to pop the color cap and knead the white brick
into an orange imitation of butter.  I think butter went to war.]

[mbd]

Ah, so that's what you were was up to, eh Bill - demonstrating the ruggedness of the Ariel hulls!  (Seriously, though, sorry to hear of the accident.    )

And you're right on Ebb.  WM sells an Epoxy stick for around $13 which will cure underwater.  It comes in a tube.  you remove the putty, knead it until it turns white, then apply.  I tried it out on my stern tube leak, but couldn't shimmy into the bilge through the cockpit locker far enough to really jam it in there.  Tim L. is going to help me install the cockpit hatch tomorrow AM so we can get at the stern tube area to stuff a couple more putty sticks in there and hopefully make a decent temporary patch to get me through the rest of the season....