STEVEDUNSTABLE
Well-Known Member
hi all..... on sunday, myself and bruv, thought we would have a run from hamble down to lymington and back on my S24..as most of you know by now the weather over the whole weekend was FAB, oily calm water, relatively warm sunshine for 11th of march...had great cruise down at 23knts with yours truly at the helm..while we were there bruv took the helm to do the return run about 13.30. .same conditions but pushing into about 2knt of tide ...im next to the helm very busy doing lots of damage to a very large cheese sandwich, when we go from 23knts to zero in about 3boat lengths !!!!! almost bashed my beak on the chart table!!!!!.....bruv was actually looking at the rev gauge, when he noticed the revs drop like a rock and threw it into neutral BEFORE i realised we had a problem !!!!! BIG THANKS TO HIM !!!!!!...as we came to a stop i flew round to the stern to see the well diced AND big sheets of plastic wrapped around the leg and props !!!!! this was,nt ordinary plastic either !!! .. it was the thickness of damp course or a very thick pond liner !!! engine off asap, did a very quick assessment of the problem in case we needed help, eg, seastart, decided we would not drop the anchor or call for help unless it was not doable on our own... raised leg to max, bruv threw out a long rope we carry for emergancies to use as a grab line if i fell off the bathing platform...reached down as far as possible (it was bl**dy freezing!!), all blades were there and free to turn by hand, smoothly and easily !!! sofar so good..got remaining plastic from around the leg,(still keeping watch on our position and drift).. next lifted the engine cover expecting fish or stuff just floating about.. again all ok !!..pulled in safety line, dropped leg and stared engine with cover open and just watched for a few mins.. time to try gears astern first, all ok (could,nt belive it!!).. same with forward and on both locks.. no vibration or anything !!!.. continued journey back to hamble getting progressively faster!!! madeit back to mercury and loaded on trailer ahead of schedule!!!!!.. checked leg out today inc removing props and all is in order..NO DAMAGE AT ALL !!!! BUT IT COULD OF BEEN SO DIFFERENT...moral of the story......have my bruv on the helm by god he,s fast to react and i think that was our saving.....THANKS PHILIP !!!!.......sorry for the long post as all this was on video "as it happened" but i deleted it in error !!!!!....BERK !!!!! any comments OR critisiums FEEL FREE !!
where were you when that happened Steve?
