Grantala just went on the rocks.... she's still floating though

[The Bigfella]

She's leaking.... but not too badly. The pumps won't have any problems unless the leak increases. She didn't leak at all for the first 90 minutes after we pulled her off the rocks.... but after I drove her back to the mooring, there was a slight leak from under a rib in one of the places she hit.

As usual with such events, it was a comedy of errors.

I had the mooring contractors doing the annual service of my mooring today. I went to start my tender.... a 12' fishing boat - a catamaran with a 40 hp outboard.... and there was a leak in the fuel line. I left it at home and grabbed a hire boat with a 6hp outboard to go out and meet the guys.

They turned up, I put Grantala into reverse and idled back off the mooring. I gave them plenty of room and reversed throught the other boats in the mooring field.

I went to put both engines into forward.... couldn't get either lever to move. Tried to turn the wheel... nothing. I yelled out to the mooring guys.... and they came over as fast as they could. We'd just got a rope on when we hit.... stern first onto the sandstone rocks. That's the cliff-face behind Grantala in my avatar photo.

When we got her off, I could see plenty of white scrapes on the rocks. We were only just moving when we hit them.... but we are talking about a 25 ton boat.... so I'm a bit concerned as to what might have been done. It took a bit of effort on the barge's part to get her off.

The cause.... a lump of timber under the inside steering station dash. How it got there??????? It allowed the levers to go into reverse.... then jammed everything solid when I tried to get forward... Its got some nice dings in it where I tried to force the gear levers and steering.

The nearest boatyard that can take my boat is 13nm downriver. I think I need to dive on her first to see what's going on with the running gear. Everything seemed fine idling her back onto the mooring.... but that's when I first noticed the leak. Not major, but if you break the stream of water, if joins back up again immediately.

Both pumps are, of course, working OK.... and there's an 80w solar panel on 5 batteries... and no other load.... so she should be OK.

I'f I'd had my 40hp boat tied alongside.... I'd have not hit the rocks. Bugger that little fuel leak.

Such is life.

[ripley699]

I must say that I wish you the very best of luck ...take care and it will be okay ....
While it sounds horrible,,,you may actually be kinda lucky..could have been worse

[mmd]

Sorry to hear of your troubles, Ian. I hope the damage is slight. G'luck.

[The Bigfella]

Thanks Ripley and Michael.

I must admit, I was expecting a swim to result from the hit.

I'm rather glad that I'd just idled back.... as I always do. A burst on the throttles would have been fatal to the boat.

[Larks]

Bugger eh!!! I hope it's not too bad when you get down there for a look. Both props? Rudders??

[The Bigfella]

I reckon I've hit one prop. The rudders seem OK.... but dunno really.

I'm going to do the fuel line on the Whaler this arvo and head down again in the morning.

[elf]

Oh man. Makes the heart collapse into the bottom of the stomach just reading about it!

Watch that boat in case the pumps have more trouble than you think they're going to.

[rufustr]

Bugger!

Hope it's not too bad.

Keep us up to date.

[WX]

yeah, keep us updated on this Ian.

[StevenBauer]

Glad it wasn't worse. Keep a close eye on her now.


Steven

[Phil Y]

Bummer-as you say, lucky she was only idling.
get well soon mate

[David G]

Certainly could have been worse. Nonetheless, I hate to hear it.

[PeterSibley]

Bugger ...very bad luck Ian .Did you feel vibration from the bad prop ?

[Jim Ledger]

What a shame, Ian. I hope the damage turns out to be easily repaired.

Jim

[John B]

Sorry to hear it Ian, I hope its minimal damage.

[The Bigfella]

Thanks guys. I'm hoping so too....

No - I didn't feel any vibration.... but again, I only idled her back over to the mooring.

I need to get some diving gear together. The kids have probably dispersed mine around various holiday destinations... I'm sure I can rustle up something though.

Sorry no photos guys.... camera's in for repairs. :rolleyes:

[The Bigfella]

Well... the 40hp boat now has an entire new fuel line and filter... and new plugs. The bit that was leaking was the newest part of the system.... a priming bulb that is about six months old. I bought it at the local marina.... which only stocks crappy stuff. Its got a nice one now.

[B_B]

Sorry to hear of your troubles, Ian. I hope the damage is slight. G'luck.
+1!

[The Bigfella]

Jeez Ian , that would rip the crutch outa yer undies !.
Have you got someone keeping an eye on her ?.
Regards Rob J.

She should be OK Rob.... unless there's a big paper thin area that I didn't spot. She was leaking from under a rib though, so I'd say its via a fastening.

I've got more aches going than a headache pill test facility.... so I'm not heading back till the morning. The 40hp boat is all hooked up, ready to go.

[PeterSibley]

Thanks guys. I'm hoping so too....

No - I didn't feel any vibration.... but again, I only idled her back over to the mooring.

I need to get some diving gear together. The kids have probably dispersed mine around various holiday destinations... I'm sure I can rustle up something though.

Sorry no photos guys.... camera's in for repairs. :rolleyes:

If there's no vibration ,you're likely to be OK as regards prop damage .They really don't like being out of balance at any speed .Have you been able to get to the section of the hull that's leaking ? You may just have spewed a bit of caulking ...best case ! :)

GOOD LUCK !

[The Bigfella]

She's due a scrub and antifoul ... which I was going to leave until I got back from Asia. I guess she'll get it sooner.

When I took all the old antifouling off last time, I found evidence of a high speed scrape - so this isn't her first bump.

I might add that I'm rather cranky with myself for having left a bit of timber in there that obviously wasn't secured. Fancy losing both engines and steering from one crappy little piece of kauri.

[Uncle Duke]

Best of wishes on this one, Ian!
We all know that you'll fix it up right - it's just the suspense between now and your getting her to the yard that's killing us!

[PeterSibley]

It's not an unusual accident Ian .A mate bought a yacht from an old bloke ,it had been unused for some years and the maintainence had been neglected .2 days after he collected it ,he was turning her in a narrow creek ,dropped her into reverse and a steel split pin on a linkage dropped off ....and all 15 ton of her just kept going astern .

The boom poked quite neat hole in the superstructure of a bay cruiser behind her .

[dhic001]

Best of luck with it Ian, not a pleasant experience thats for sure. Being aground, or not being in control of what the boat is doing is not a pleasant experience.
Daniel

[The Bigfella]

Its all grist to the mill eh? I've had one or two systems fail at the same time before, in cars and boats, but this one takes the cake.... three concurrent failures, all due to the same thing though. I thought about trying to get the anchor in... but I wouldn't have made it.

[rufustr]

Best of luck with it Ian, not a pleasant experience thats for sure. Being aground, or not being in control of what the boat is doing is not a pleasant experience.
Daniel

I think Ian is quite used to not being in control, it's going aground in reverse that had him confused.

:D:D

[Duncan Gibbs]

G'luck mate! Just make sure that head is still working in a few months time! Oh, and she's fit for service!

Bit of a bastard eh?!

[Duncan Gibbs]

I think Ian is quite used to not being in control,...

Yeah... He just needed another project! :D:D

[Paul Pless]

Dang Ian. Glad you got through this as well as you have so far.

Goodluck!

[John B]

I've lost cables before now. A friend lost their reverse cable coming into the marina and porpoised the marina pier. ( or the pier porposed them.)Thank goodness for bobstays and spoon bows. Boats with plumb bows don't do so well when that happens.

[The Bigfella]

I've lost cables before now. A friend lost their reverse cable coming into the marina and porpoised the marina pier. ( or the pier porposed them.)Thank goodness for bobstays and spoon bows. Boats with plumb bows don't do so well when that happens.

Yeah... but reversing into a 200' high sandstone cliff doesn't leave much opportunity for a pleasant ending eh?

Rufus.... rarely out of control mate, rarely. Often on the verge though.

[rufustr]

Sandstone cliff?

What Sandstone cliff?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJS58LzBhsw

[Bob Adams]

Oh boy. One of the supposed advantages to being twin screw is redundancy. So much for that! Sometimes I think it just means twice as much stuff to go wrong. Glad it wasn't worse.

[Ian McColgin]

The best sailors have the strangest cock-ups. Bet you never stash scrap there again.


Hope the damage is slight.

G'luck

[C. Ross]

Just read this. Bad news Ian. Hope the news is good when you get her to the marina for repairs.

(A bitter reminder that a routine check of transmission and steering before casting off is a necessary precaution. I never do it. I will now...)

[floatingkiwi]

G'luck

[Raka025]

Do you have a Toyota transmission in that thing?

[Vince Brennan]

Alla best, Mate! Hope it's only a bit of caulk or perhaps a sprung fastener, not a crack!

[J. Dillon]

That's got to be one for the books for unusual foul ups. Hope all is repaired and back in commission soon.

JD

[johnw]

For want of a nail...

Sorry to hear it. I never have trusted engines.

[The Bigfella]

Yeah... that itty little bit of wood is sitting here on my desk. Its a bit of 2" x 1 1/2" x 22" Kauri. Its got a range of fresh ding marks in it. Some nice gear teeth marks from the steering and some nice round impressions from the gear levers.... the gear change setup on Grantala is made of 3/4" BSP water pipe. I renewed it all a few years back.

Why that piece of timber was loose up under the interior station instruments, I'll never know. One of the mysteries of life.

Anyhow.... she's floating on her lines. There's no leak today. I'm not diving on her, because its been raining here for the last 3/4 day.... and she's moored on a river downstream of a major city area. I don't like swimming downstream of cities after rain. Something to do with cats, dogs and urban runoff.

The batteries are fully charged, so I'd say the leak wasn't happening for long.... although there's 440 amps of grunt on board, with 80 watts of solar panel to keep them happy. I'll go down again another day and double check the leak wasn't from the exhausts or some silly thing.

I took a look at the rocks I hit... and the bank comes up very steeply there so any damage might be quite localised - and its possible the rudders took it all. I'll try to get back at dead low tide for a better look at the rocks.

[AussieBarney]

Ian, If you need any help at all just PM and I'll be there. I'm only two hours south so dont be shy. You have my land line number. Barney

[Lew Barrett]

I just came on this too. Sorry to hear about it and best of luck with the outcome, Ian. I'm glad to hear she took up, and I know we all would like to hear what the dive report returns.

When this is all over and you are laughing, I'll tell you about my story of being stuck in reverse. As a result of it, I know exactly how you feel.

[Phil Y]

Back when I was in Pt Moresby my marina neighbour had a somewhat similar experience. He'd lost one engine while out for a run, and then as he came into his berth he lost reverse on the other. It was one of those boats that needs a bit of way on her to have any steering control. Missed the turn and went smack into the back of my boat at a fair rate of knots. My boat at the time was 52' of steel, with a f...glass dinghy on davits on the back. He sliced the dinghy quite neatly in half, then bounced off, and thereafter drifted along until he was able to nose her gently into a vacant berth.
He looked quite pale, think he may have crapped his dacks.

[htom]

Ouch!

[johnw]

Don't know how the storm sewers are in your area, but here an excess tends to um--blend the storm runoff and the sewer.

ick.

More than one way to do it, though.

http://www.water.ky.gov/NR/rdonlyres/A734258E-E0EA-469D-83D9-B034B29C3FDF/0/CSO_graphic.jpg

[The Bigfella]

Thanks for that offer Barney. I'm of two minds about pulling her out before I go away. If she's in need of new planks.... it could be a problem with my trip arrangements. If I leave it till I get back, it will be the first job on the list....

I don't think I'll know the answer to that this week. I'm not going to take her for a run for a few days. Giving her a few revs should let me know what I'm dealing with.

Yes... that sewer issue is lovely eh? There was a lot of that happening in Sydney a few decades back, but they've smoked out (literally) most of the illegal storm water connections to the sewer system. What worries me is that all the dog and cat crap washes out of the backyards and down into the river.

[WX]

Good to hear she's holding Ian. Maybe one of the planks just opened up a little on a seam but has closed up again.

[The Bigfella]

Well, to celebrate her being in fine shape today... I brought home the last of the scotch from the last EBS. It was Jeff who brought the Sullivans Cove, Tasmanian whisky, wasn't it? There was two fingers left (in my favourite scotch glass... which I haven't used for at least six months).... and I've just applied it to my aches and pains.

[johnw]

That's the spirit!

Uisgey beatha, water of life, that is.

I am named after John MacBeath, which is not a patronym. MacBeath means son of life. The McBeths, MacBeaths, McBains and McBeans were all efforts to transliterate the same untranslatable Celtic vowel, for Son of Life. My great-great grandfather, John MacBeath, is said to have tied up three revenue men while protecting a still. That was before he got religion and became a faith healer.

He was raised fishing and crofting, but later operated a ferry across the Inverness. Think of the likes of him when you raise a glass, and maybe read "Whiskey Galore." (http://www.amazon.com/Whiskey-Galore/dp/B000BK6102/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1274164187&sr=1-1)

[The Bigfella]

Yep. I feel better now. Bottle 240 of 276 from Barrel No HH0044 is empty though..... Bugger. It was a nice drop.

Speaking of whisky... a wee lass who used to work for me lives in Edinburgh these days. I had lunch with her the other day and she's offered to track down and send me a bottle of my favourite - Glendronach.... a bottle of which I've been stretching out since 2001.

[Duncan Gibbs]

That's disciplined mate! :eek:

Good to hear she's not in such a bad way!

[seanz]

Good to hear she's not in such a bad way!


2nd that......had my fingers crossed......must've worked. ;):)

[PeterSibley]

Relaxed and comfortable now ?:D

You're a lucky bloke !

[The Bigfella]

Well short of relaxed and comfortable.... but the fire's lit and dinner's done

[Larks]

Your not looking hard enough Ian, I still have the remains of a bottle of the 15yo. You should be able to find at least one of the Glendronachs' at most of the duty free shops and I've used each of these guys before:

http://www.theoddwhiskycoy.com.au/catalogue.php?start=361

http://www.nicks.com.au/Product/View/Glendronach-Original-12-Year-Old-Single-Malt-Scotch-Whisky-(700ml)/474432

[WX]

It was Jeff who brought the Sullivans Cove, Tasmanian whisky, wasn't it?
That it was and what a fine drop it was.

[maxwaterline]

Ian, don't forget the trick with sawdust in the ice cream container on the end of a stick, fill container, hold against hull until in the suspect area then twist to release sawdust. Have done this myself and its surprisingly effective. Hope it goes well.

Regards

Adrian

[RFNK]

Just saw this thread! Don't you think someone ought to put a ban on people in big cruisers going around wrecking our heritage sandstone foreshore?

Don't forget, if you can stand it, send me a PM and I'll send you the contact info. in Hanoi.

Happy to hear that all seems well! Rick

[Peter Malcolm Jardine]

Whew.... glad to hear nothing was catastrophic:):)

[peter radclyffe]

good luck with it

[The Bigfella]

Just saw this thread! Don't you think someone ought to put a ban on people in big cruisers going around wrecking our heritage sandstone foreshore?

Don't forget, if you can stand it, send me a PM and I'll send you the contact info. in Hanoi.

Happy to hear that all seems well! Rick

Yeah..... I had thoughts of coating all that ugly sandstone with engine oil and diesel for a while.

Seriously though... I've got shutoff valves on the fuel system everywhere except the breather pipes - although, I'm not sure I'd be diving into the lazarette to shut them off if she were going down.

I'll definitely send you the pm re catching up in Hanoi, Rick. The plan was originally to be there for my 55th birthday.... during Hanoi's 1,000th. I really don't know what the timing on reaching Hanoi is now though. Sometime between mid July and mid September.

[skuthorp]

Just found this Ian, what a near thing that was. Glad she seems to have survived the crunch.

[johnw]

So, no issues with rudders or props? Congratulations!

[paladin]

Just checked the thread...I'm damn glad things are alright....if I could send you some good stuff, I would, but I betcha it would disappear in customs.

[Stiletto]

I've just seen this and am glad the damage wasnt too serious.

Do you have contingecy plans for her when you are overseas?

[The Bigfella]

John.... I'm not sure yet re any damage to props or rudders. I'm thinking it might have to wait a while before I find out too.

Re contingency plans... nope. I should.... but I haven't.

[purri]

Off to Porters eh?

[The Bigfella]

Porters?

[purri]

Porter and Sons, propellor manufacturers and repairers located at Marrickville.

[The Bigfella]

Sorry, my mind was in neutral.... another issue. Porters is out near Parramatta - or it was a year or so back when I was last there.

[C. Ross]

I think we need a contest while Ian sorts this out.

A drink recipe for "Grantala on the Rocks". My entry is Foster's Lager, vodka, and lime juice. Served in a 41 ounce glass. Whaddya think?

[Paul Fitzgerald]

Needs some bilge water and sump oil ....

[John B]

I think we need a contest while Ian sorts this out.

A drink recipe for "Grantala on the Rocks". My entry is Foster's Lager, vodka, and lime juice. Served in a 41 ounce glass. Whaddya think?

Or just shorten it to Grants.....

[The Bigfella]

grumble, grumble.......

[L.W. Baxter]

Topped with a kauri toothpick umbrella...

[purri]

^ You're too cruel mate!

[62816inBerlin]

.... a bottle of which I've been stretching out since 2001......

As someone else said .... THAT IS SELF-DISCIPLINE!!

My sympathies regarding your mishap. I know the feeling, having nosed our boat into a concrete jetty although the outboard was full speed astern (a big wave had picked up the boat). I was seventeen at the time and vowed never to approach a landing with a following sea ever again! (The boat survived, BTW, taking a bit of concrete out of the jetty).

Gernot H.

[Wooden Boat Fittings]

.
Sheesh! I just saw this, Ian. And I'm mighty glad it was (apparently) no worse. Fingers crossed that that's how it remains.

Mike