OH Well its Ireland ! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
And where was the "FAT SNAKE" when all this was going on?
Sounded like he said "For "FAT SNAKE" when they hit,or was it just poor sound quality!!
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OK I'll get my coat. /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif
Fair play to the chaps though, typical Irish approach to disaster...."bejesus sure what the eck we're still here anyway" could you imagine that on the Hamble, screaming and shouting all over the place /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Er, it's fess up time for me. I did the exact same thing many years ago to our Sealine 305 on it's maiden voyage from Sealine's yard at Swanwick on the Hamble river. I wiped off the radar arch on the underside of Bursleden Bridge. The only consolation was that the radar arch fell in to the cockpit below and smacked onto the head of a friend's dog who was sitting in the cockpit minding it's own business. Me and this dog had never got on so it was Deleted User 1 dog 0
Reminds me of approaching St Olaves bridge many years ago on the broads being carried by a 4 knot tide. Sign on hire boat helm says 7'6" airdraught. Bridge says 8'3" available. Still doesn't look like we'll fit. Few feet from bridge and we definitely won't fit! Have half a second to decide between full throttle forward and full starboard wheel or see if single 30hp antique lister-petter can go astern against the tide in a 40 foot boat! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
Decided on full throttle and full lock and avoided collision by about 3 inches. Amazing how quickly the crew melt away when there's the first sign of trouble. They didn't re-appear until I turned onto the new cut. . . . .
When we got back to the boatyard I mentioned the signs appeared wrong on the bridge and was told quite casually it was the ones on the boat that are wrong, should read 8'6" - been meaning to change it for months gov. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
Spent many happy days moored by Potter Heigham bridge watching hire craft experiencing 'interference fit' when attempting to pass under the bridge at 6 knots with fingers crossed! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
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Doesnt look like an Emerald Star or Carrickcraft boat so don't think so although there are other smaller hire companies on the Shannon.
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There are lots of small hire companies on the Shannon in addition to the biggies like ESL and Carrickcraft. That boat and crew is almost certainly a hire boat, so Graham and his crew have only lost their €500 deposit, hence the "don't give a sh##t" attitude. The attitude is generally the same when a hire boat ploughs into your boat and gouges your gel coat from stem to stern.
The secret to keeping your boat in one piece on the Shannon in July and August is plenty of fenders and crew strategically positioned with boat hooks when a hire craft approaches you.
Ah, the joys of boating /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif