Sunken boat in Dandy Hole, Plymouth

[Moonbeam]

We only made it up to Dandy Hole for the first time this season last week.

Kings Harbour Master reported a sunken boat at Wacker Quay (just round the corner from Dandy Hole) back at the start of this year. There is a position on their website. But it's inaccurate and the sunken yacht is actually in the deep part of Dandy Hole. It does not leave much room for deep fin keelers to anchor in comfort if wanting to avoid a possible fouled anchor.

Looks like a gaff rigged cutter or some such, wooden mast, got some chunky ratlines and it looks quite large judging by the distance of the wire toping lift disappearing off into the muddy waters.

We could not even see it's boom (perhaps it's floated off) or hull when we rowed right over it at low water neaps. Does anyone know the story behind this sad sight?

 

[Matador]

Hello, the wreck is an old wooden fishing boat 40-50ft that arrived about a year ago with someone living aboard. Apparently pumps had to be run all the time to keep her afloat. Then last winter she sank, don't know what happened to the owner.

 

[Bristolfashion]

These things are a bit of a pain in a tight anchorage like this - presumably there's an anchor out somewhere - we certainly kept away when we anchored there recently.

At least it's wooden - if no-one moves it, at least it'll rot away eventually.

 

[Moonbeam]

At least it's wooden - if no-one moves it, at least it'll rot away eventually.

Except it will leave behind the anchor, chain, wire rigging, engine and a whole host of detritus that will make it a foul ground for anchoring.

 

[Moonbeam]

Hello, the wreck is an old wooden fishing boat 40-50ft that arrived about a year ago with someone living aboard. Apparently pumps had to be run all the time to keep her afloat. Then last winter she sank, don't know what happened to the owner.

Thanks for that info. It's a great shame it's sunk where it has, it's ruined the deep hole. Plenty of room for shallow draught boats further round the bend though.

KHM rib came and had a check on it while we were there. I guess if they can not get the owner or insurance to pay for the salvage, then they might do it themselves. But it's a big boat to re-float.

 

[LittleSister]

Could be a good training exercise for those military chaps and chapesses?

From leisure boaters' point of view, it would be good if it could just be dragged out of the hole and anchoring area into shallower water where it'd be out of the way and less of a hazard, but I doubt public bodies would do that as they'd probably then have some responsibility/liability for the new location and environmental hazards.

 

[Gurrig]

Could be a good training exercise for those military chaps and chapesses?

From leisure boaters' point of view, it would be good if it could just be dragged out of the hole and anchoring area into shallower water where it'd be out of the way and less of a hazard, but I doubt public bodies would do that as they'd probably then have some responsibility/liability for the new location and environmental hazards.

May need to carry out a 'Risk Assessment' first

 

[[70521]]

Like others have said it has been there some time. Did you pass another wreck on your way up to the Dandy Hole?

 

[[70521]]

May need to carry out a 'Risk Assessment' first

The risks are well known. Sadly, nobody wants to clear up the mess as there is no cash to be made from it. Far to many people walk, or in this case swim, away from their responsibilities.

You can report it hear and while the RYA will do nothing about it, it does paint a picture of the amount of wrecks that litter the coast.

Report an abandoned End-of-Life Boat - The Green Blue

It is a rant of mine.

 

[Moonbeam]

Like others have said it has been there some time. Did you pass another wreck on your way up to the Dandy Hole?

Do you mean the wreck that KHM reported in the bay, west of Ince castle? I think they said that had been recovered. Certainly did not see any other wrecks.

 

[Matador]

Hello again, yes there was another yacht abandoned right in the deep part of Dandy. Someone towed it to Ince lake where it sank.It was later removed by the authorities. The military does use the river for training,so the wreck might be moved. There are others in the vicinity.

 

[Pigreg]

Svanskar. 60' Swedish trawler. Converted to Ketch in 80s/90s in Gloucester. Thats the mizzen. Main mast was taken down for repairs. Look for fb page. Left Bristol a couple of years ago.

 

[seeSimon]

Could be a good training exercise for those military chaps and chapesses?

From leisure boaters' point of view, it would be good if it could just be dragged out of the hole and anchoring area into shallower water where it'd be out of the way and less of a hazard, but I doubt public bodies would do that as they'd probably then have some responsibility/liability for the new location and environmental hazards.

Agreed, but...

There is an MOD salvage unit based in the very nearby Devonport south yard. A few years ago this sort of thing would have been right up their street, especially as there was several yachtsmen among them.

Nowadays not so sure...and even if moved "for free" (ie at tax payers expense!) Disposal costs will ne very significant indeed.

If dragged out of the hole and beached, doubtless the foreshore will "belong" to someone, who imho would be foolosh not to object/seek compensation?

Insurance?

 

[oldharry]

The longer it stays down the more likely it is that the structure will break up if anyone tries to move it, turning simple recovery into a major clear-up operation? Its not surprising the owner is keeping his head well down....

 

[LittleSister]

Boat for sale. Buyer collects.

 

[Moonbeam]

The face book page Bei Facebook anmelden was updated on 16th April by 'svanskar' and used my photograph from above. So I assume the owner is on this forum, in this thread? Could you update us on what is going to happen with this vessel? ' I'm not on facebook, so cant see much more than the initial landing page.

Svanskar' states on the facebook page that "Getting in the way apparently. In a useful deep area."

That's a bit of an understatement. It's completely ruined one of the best sheltered (from W/SW) deep water anchorages in Plymouth.

It does not seem like KHM is taking any action on this. Their nav warning is over a year old.

People are anchoring around the wreck... but it's only a matter of time before it breaks up and starts causing all sorts of foul ground in the area.

 

[jeff39003]

My Son in law is an mod diver and they have inspected it and it is pencilled in to be lifted and moved when the tides and their schedule allows.

 

[Moonbeam]

My Son in law is an mod diver and they have inspected it and it is pencilled in to be lifted and moved when the tides and their schedule allows.

Thanks for that updated info. Fingers crossed.

 

[ylop]

The face book page Bei Facebook anmelden was updated on 16th April by 'svanskar' and used my photograph from above. So I assume the owner is on this forum, in this thread?

If I've understood the facebook page correctly the person who posted it was not the most recent owner of Svanskar but was a previous owner.

 

[oldmanofthehills]

We moored at the NW end of the deeper Dancy Hole pool last Friday and chart plotter indicated about 200m from the wreck (marked by us waypoint in case visible mast goes). Slightly shallower at that end but this has benefit that one only needs about 20m of anchor chain not 35m. Unless a visitor habitually lets out 100m of chain the wreck is manageable. And that wreck is sort of marked unlike the sunken yachts off the Devonport Public Pontoon at North Corner - though divers were on that case last week

We only anchored in the deeper pool to be nearer Wacker Quay and its approach channel which I am exploring. The shallower Dandy Hole pool to the NW never dries and has a fair depth except at low water springs.