Stupid - hit breakwater stones ...

[Frayed Knot]

It’s a horrible shock when something like that happens, I know. First time through the Kiel Canal we stopped dead, from 6kts, against what I think was a concrete-encased pipe, whilst cruising close to the bank - as advised was safe by the pilot book. The new edition published only the next year advised keeping a good distance off!
Boat - an elderly Van de Stadt, built like a tank, was barely damaged. First Mate - not built like a tank (and even if she were I’d never dare say so) fared less well, flying backwards down the companionway & landing on her back.
I hope your boat mends ok - the First Mate did and subsequently promoted herself to Chief Pilot.

 

[pmagowan]

I have come to a rapid halt while sailing a boat though a gullet that the 18th Century charts claimed was at least 2 fathoms. I suspect the particular passage, serving no other purpose than adventure, was simply ignored by the surveyor and a few depths filled in to keep the admiralty happy everyone did their job! This was in a remote area of West Ireland and I am sure we are the only keeled vessel to have ever navigated the channel purely on the basis that there is a) no point and b) everyone else has half a brain cell. Our initial inspection made us think tide would be going against us allowing a quick abort if problematic but an eddy meant that once engaged, and close enough to see the seals sun bathing like bananas on the semi submerged rocks right in the middle, we were committed. We only hit one rock, the aforementioned one that persuaded us to stop. The skipper, a man then in his twilight years (now resting in peace of unrelated causes), was thrown against the stays and received a nasty cut to the face. I ran to the bow and directed my father at the helm in a kind of slalom around the multiple rocks and we made it out the other side. We opened some rum and checked for damage (I am not sure of the order of these, maybe simultaneous). If we had foundered we had 100 foot of cliff to climb and then a long hike to the nearest life. It was written up in the Irish Cruising Club journal as 'Hydrography by impact'.

Most of the other times we have 'touched the bottom' it was semi inevitable and partially controlled such as entering Portpatrick slightly too soon on a rising tide and a deadline for a feed in the pub. We eventually 'ploughed' our way in and tied up in time for a good pint and some scampi in the Crown!

 

[johnalison]

It’s a horrible shock when something like that happens, I know. First time through the Kiel Canal we stopped dead, from 6kts, against what I think was a concrete-encased pipe, whilst cruising close to the bank - as advised was safe by the pilot book. The new edition published only the next year advised keeping a good distance off!
Boat - an elderly Van de Stadt, built like a tank, was barely damaged. First Mate - not built like a tank (and even if she were I’d never dare say so) fared less well, flying backwards down the companionway & landing on her back.
I hope your boat mends ok - the First Mate did and subsequently promoted herself to Chief Pilot.

There are signs in the Kiel canal at points where clearance is needed, commonly 30m. Maybe this is why I never use pilot books other than Reeds.

 

[Refueler]

Lifted .... checked ..... so far better than expected .... once yard pressure wash her back to clean - will see extent of gel crazing ...

But she looks like a 2 - 3 day job to fix.

Biggest problem was cradling her so keels are not taking weight ..... photos will be posted shortly - have Mother in Law to deliver home / sprayhood to Pavilosta etc.

Phew !!

 

[Frayed Knot]

There are signs in the Kiel canal at points where clearance is needed, commonly 30m. Maybe this is why I never use pilot books other than Reeds.

Well, they have their uses, just not to be relied upon quite so faithfully. I’ve been past the spot quite a few times since & it’s not between any of the pairs of warning markers. I think I just interpreted the word “close” too literally.

 

[Refueler]

Called Harbour guy ... lifter ready when I move round ...

I leave pontoon ... round into lifting basin ... call him .. Nigel you too fast !!

In lifter and start to lift out .... guys tell me what they see ....

They pull SA forward and I can get off ....

I see the 'crunch point' in lower stbd keel ..

As suspected - water likely entering via the disused tank space in keel.

As she got closer and I could see better ... keel has been stressed and front / rear show stress crazing ... and along the moulding joint..

Checking dimensions - no distortion ......

Interesting though .... I need her to be supported by the hull and keels off the ground .... no stress on keel moulded joints. Took some figuring out with blocks and chocks ... and to stop her 'rolling'.

Tomorrow once she's cleaned up ... I will put some blocks under keels that are just to be 'insurance' against her rolling .... the wedges are good - but we expect strong winds next few days ...

Work :

Pressure clean her off.
Myself and GRP guy will then inspect.
Subject to inspected tomorrow - likely grind out stress crazing front / rear (plus any on other keel) re-glass.
Grind out moulding joint both keels ... re-glass.
Cut out damaged area of keel and re-glass.

Estimate 2 days work.

I will also have guy clean up some crazing I have in other areas .....

Boy am I glad its not more serious.

 

[Refueler]

Daft thing is ... if the boat had hit approx 10cms lower - the keel would have ridden over ... but it hit the front straight edge ....

 

[rogerthebodger]

Just shows how strongly build Superann was origionally built if that all the damage inflected by that huge stop

 

[Porthandbuoy]

There is the potential there for long-term consequences. If the ballast in the bilge keels is steel punchings there is a risk of corrosion expanding and wrecking the keel. Do you know what the ballast is?

 

[Refueler]

There is the potential there for long-term consequences. If the ballast in the bilge keels is steel punchings there is a risk of corrosion expanding and wrecking the keel. Do you know what the ballast is?

Concrete.

Iron pellets ... pig iron ... and similar are known to burst GRP keels.

 

[Porthandbuoy]

Concrete.

Iron pellets ... pig iron ... and similar are known to burst GRP keels.

My point exactly. Let's hope it's a straightforward fix.

 

[Elessar]

I have been in / out of this harbour so many times and always stayed well away from the breakwaters .... I know well about how some of the blocks can end up as obstructions close by.

Superanne had spent time in Pavilosta to have new sprayhood ... mainsail cover and dodgers.

All done and when I returned from looking at possible boat to buy (Mamba 34) .... I and the two 'Sasha's sailed Superanne out from Pavilosta.
We had a marvelous sail and approaching home port entrance ... Sasha 1 mentioned he used to cut close - near 5m - to south mole ... with MILDA ... 60ft Schooner with 2.85m keel ....
I said no ... he said its fine ... I went 10m and ..... BHAM .....

He fell forward and ripped my new sprayhood ..... boat stumbled and continued .....

We tied her up and kept an eye for water .... seemed ok.

Guy called us on shore and gave us copy of video he shot of our incident ...

She seemed ok - but I left an auto pump in her just in case ...

3 days later return from purchasing new boat and found she had taken on over 10cm water in cabin ... so she is definitely not well.

She gets lifted Monday ... and then we will see ..... have GRP specialist on call ....

There are two types of boater.
Those who have hit something and liars.

In the first category, those who can admit their mistakes and talk about it are proper sailors.

That was a good clonk though. Hope the damage isn’t too pricey.

 

[Elessar]

Daft thing is ... if the boat had hit approx 10cms lower - the keel would have ridden over ... but it hit the front straight edge ....

And if she’d been a fin keeler you may have written her off.

A surveyor I trust thought me to put the weight on and off the keel after a clonk And look for the deflection as the weight goes on and off.

He could tell by experience on a fin keeler. On a bilge you can just see if they deflect the same is my guess.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

I have come to a rapid halt while sailing a boat though a gullet that the 18th Century charts claimed was at least 2 fathoms. I suspect the particular passage, serving no other purpose than adventure, was simply ignored by the surveyor and a few depths filled in to keep the admiralty happy everyone did their job! This was in a remote area of West Ireland and I am sure we are the only keeled vessel to have ever navigated the channel purely on the basis that there is a) no point and b) everyone else has half a brain cell. Our initial inspection made us think tide would be going against us allowing a quick abort if problematic but an eddy meant that once engaged, and close enough to see the seals sun bathing like bananas on the semi submerged rocks right in the middle, we were committed. We only hit one rock, the aforementioned one that persuaded us to stop. The skipper, a man then in his twilight years (now resting in peace of unrelated causes), was thrown against the stays and received a nasty cut to the face. I ran to the bow and directed my father at the helm in a kind of slalom around the multiple rocks and we made it out the other side. We opened some rum and checked for damage (I am not sure of the order of these, maybe simultaneous). If we had foundered we had 100 foot of cliff to climb and then a long hike to the nearest life. It was written up in the Irish Cruising Club journal as 'Hydrography by impact'.

Most of the other times we have 'touched the bottom' it was semi inevitable and partially controlled such as entering Portpatrick slightly too soon on a rising tide and a deadline for a feed in the pub. We eventually 'ploughed' our way in and tied up in time for a good pint and some scampi in the Crown!

"Hydrography by impact" is a well known thing in Antarctica , with many rocks named after the vessel that "discovered " it! But my favourite is "Fullastern Rock" - a near miss?

The above water bits of Antarctica are reasonably well-mapped, but hydrography tends to be on the "Here be Dragons" level.

 

[Refueler]

And if she’d been a fin keeler you may have written her off.

A surveyor I trust thought me to put the weight on and off the keel after a clonk And look for the deflection as the weight goes on and off.

He could tell by experience on a fin keeler. On a bilge you can just see if they deflect the same is my guess.

Old hands trick ....

While boat is in slings ... hang a line with weight over side midships - line with keel centre. Make of the line so bottom of bob is level with keel bottom edge (heel).
Now lower the boat slowly ..... the line is a far better judge of deflection than you or i !!

BUT take note that most modern boats WILL deflect due to the lighter construction. Not only that - but its common for some moderately aged boats - example Carter's - will 'soften' underhull GRP. Its not unknown for such boats to be supported more by cradle side arms than on the keel. But lets not get into this too deep !! Its a can of worms.

If it had been my new 38 .... she would have probably been a salvage job.

 

[Refueler]

There are two types of boater.
Those who have hit something and liars.

In the first category, those who can admit their mistakes and talk about it are proper sailors.

That was a good clonk though. Hope the damage isn’t too pricey.

Despite nigh on 60yrs boating ... years as Ships Officer ..... decades as Marine Surveyor - Yachts and Commercial ....

S**t happens !

I am not so proud as to hide and not pass on - so it may help others. We are learning till day we shuffle of this world. If my misfortune / error and embarrassment can help others ... then sure ...

During lift out ... it appears that the incident has become a conversation piece with many here ... people coming up during lift out ... Hi Nigel - whats the news ? Hi Nigel - damage ??
Boat yard put her smack bang in middle of yard where everyone can see her !

Its actually not only the damage that interests people ... bilge keelers are near unknown here - except occasional bk visitor. Its why yards here have difficulty catering for them. Their cradles are all Fin Keel based ... (Yes a BK 'r can stand on her own ... but they have difficulty moving the boats as most are craned ... its unusual to have a mobile lifter like Ventspils).

 

[TC Tuckton]

Thank you for sharing this.

 

[C08]

Comiserations and I am pleased it was not worse. It looks as you have a good plan for repair and I hope it all goes ok.

 

[fisherman]

Yes I hit something. 80cm x 50cm crazed. If the gel coat is crazed you will find the first layer of substrate crazed also. I had to grind back til I got uncrazed layup, then rough it up, replace with mat/resin, new gelcoat. Survey two years later all good.
The deck beams had punched the other side of the boat out, the deck was up along with the forehatch, internal tophat frames detached, but the hull sprang back and was untouched apart from the crazing. 14 ton boat vs 2-3 ton buoy.

 

[Daydream believer]

I hit a rock at between 5 & 6kts with my fin keeled Hanse. It stopped dead. One minute I was standing, holding the tiller, behind the traveller. Next I had been thrown over the traveller & was half way down the cockpit steps, before I could stop my self. Apart from pain in my shins, where I hit the traveller, the hardest bit was reversing myself out of the hatchway.
There was absolutely no visible effect to the keel (apart from some lost coppercoat, up the front edge on the lower 400 mm) & no gel crazing.
Some years later I was with my son & daughter we were motoring along the side of the Gunfleet sands late one night. I had warned them about a projecting spit, because we had hit it the year before. With the tide up the chuff & motoring at 6kts I went below to the heads. One minute I was peeing in the loo, next I was peeing in the sink. Fortunately it is just hard sand & one can bounce over the top. But coming on deck at night after the boat has spun round makes orientation very difficult. I have hit the same spot 3 times now & the cruiser class have presented me with an enlarged printed chart, complete with special warning for my benefit.