The Exe Major Damage

[Robin]

If you drive a boat that looks like a car then I suppose you are right, I wouldn't shed a tear for my car after all. But my lovely sailboat is different, she has a personality gained over years that isn't quickly replaced by a cheque from the insurers, that part is not covered by the insurance.

<hr width=100% size=1><font size=1>Sermons from my pulpit are with tongue firmly in cheek and come with no warranty!</font size=1>

 

[nicho]

A pal of mine was on board his boat in Falmouth marina during the height of the storm. He reckons the bigger (70mph) gusts had her heeling to 20 degrees against the pontoon...!! The marina car park was also flooded evidently, after the tide was some 1.5 metres higher than predicted.

Nasty stuff - I guess Torquay Marina would have also taken a fair old battering in these huge Southerlies and very high tides?

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[nicho]

I understand your point Kev, but nevertheless I know I would be totally distraught if it was Prophecy - I'm sure I would be "grieving" too, and hence, like the many other forumites who have posted, I can almost feel Peters loss personally! Prophecy's not simply a boat to us, it's part of the family, and is much loved. I know I don't feel the same way for my car (which cost virtually as much as the boat).

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[Clive_Rigden]

I would if it were my M.G.

<hr width=100% size=1>Khyber

 

[KevB]

I guess I just don't have that kind of emotional tie with my boat, but mines out of the box and if it got destroyed tomorrow I could have another identical a week later.

My reaction would be... 1) Shite. 2) on the phone to the insurance company. 3)Looking forward to searching for a new boat.

I can see how someone could get attached if a lot of effort has been invested in the boat but still it needs to be kept in perspective.

Of course I feel sorry for those who have lost their boats, but sorry for the hassle they are going to have to go through with their insurance, rather than their emotional loss which I would not experience if in their predicament.


<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://static.photobox.co.uk/public/images/45/99/10714599.s.jpg?ch=97&rr=16:00:39>Nirvana</A>

 

[bedouin]

Intellectually you are correct. All that has happened is that a lump of fibreglass and wood has disappeared. Assuming it is insured the financial loss will not be great, and you have the chance of upgrading your boat without having the hassle of having to sell the old one.

Unfortunately boat ownership is more emotional than that. After all very few of us can justify the cost of boat ownership purely on intellectual grounds (chartering tends to be better VFM).

We can't really be blamed for our emotions, and I know how upsetting this can be even when your brain is telling you it's no big deal

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[tome]

I agree. Amaya is much more than just a boat to us. We've also made many changes to her to make her easier for us to handle, from fitting an inner stay and modified sails right down to tiny details like coloured whippings on the halyards to mark reefing positions, and Turks heads to mark the wheel position.

If I were to buy an 'identical' boat it would take me a couple of years to re-do all this and the insurance wouldn't help. I couldn't compare this to a car (once had one written off and a new replacement within 3 days).

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[clyst]

If thats the case how come owners are quick to sell /upgrade etc they dont care about sentiment then do they??
Sad to hear the loss of any boat but at least no life has been lost . I think some of the posts have been a bit OTT.

Cheers
Terry

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[Twister_Ken]

Selling is different - you're able to convince yourself the old bucket has gone to a good home, you're able to have a last sail, pat her topsides one last time, convince yourslef she'll look after someone else the way she's looked after you.

Whereas to lose a boat that way leaves you feeling you've let her down. What could you have done to prevent it happening? And that's a question you'll be asking yourself for a long time.

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.writeforweb.com/twister1>Let's Twist Again</A>

 

[Robin]

I probably wouldn't miss your boat either but I would miss ours. Ours is no longer made and has been heavily modified by the previous owners and by us to suit long term comfortable cruising for 2 plus a guest cabin. I could not find another the same for the value of the insurance cheque nor could I modify another of the same type (never mind the cost) in less than a couple of years of hard graft. Poter has worked very hard on making Shady Lady fit his bill, I know because a number of us here have given him advice on some of the many changes and upgrades.

When we sold our last boat and watched her sailing away, believe me there were tears in my eyes, 14 years of memories on board AND she was going to a good new home too, not sunk in a storm.

I once saw a friends boat break adrift and go on the sea wall, badly damaged. He had built her from plans and bare wood over several years. He managed to rebuild her (took another year) but 5 years later it happened again. This time she was totally destroyed in front of his eyes in a matter of minutes, he was distraught.

As you say no life has been lost and that is good news, but don't try and tell me it is OTT to be sad. Some folks have no soul.

<hr width=100% size=1><font size=1>Sermons from my pulpit are with tongue firmly in cheek and come with no warranty!</font size=1>

 

[bedouin]

True - I should really have said "some".

Some people treat their boat the way I treat a car - a pure comodity with no personality. For others it is almost as if the boat was a living thing with a soul. Even though we know that it is just an inanimate object it is very difficult to regard it as such after a thrill sail or a hard passage.

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[clyst]

Didn't mean to be offensive to anyone ---- Be supportive and offer help yea but for a third party to be sad???? Nah.Put it into perspective If someone tells you they have cancer thats the time to be sad . All IMHO of course.

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[sailorman]

first sentence was enough

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[bob_tyler]

"I would if it were my M.G"

I presume that it is a pre-BL one or I'd wonder why.

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[jimboaw]

Poter,
our boat is our home. we came through hurricane "Charlie" Ok here in S.W. FL. You have our heart felt sympathy.We came close to losing all we own. Hang in there. Jim and Alice

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[Clive_Rigden]

No. A rubber bumper "B" but with lowered suspension, the block bored-out by Oselli with a stage two head, electronic ignition, sports manifold &c., &c.

Boy-racer Morris Oxford, perahps, but it's a lot of fun and affordable!

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<hr width=100% size=1>Khyber