• Home
  • “Thinking Outside the Boat”
  • From The Helm
  • Destinations
  • About

Cruising The ICW

~ "Thinking Outside the Boat" ~ Destinations ~ Marinas ~ Restaurants ~ Attractions ~ Marine Services

Cruising The ICW

Tag Archives: BoatUS

Nothing Like The Prop Shaft Snapping In The Potomac — With A Bad Storm Approaching!!!

16 Tuesday Jul 2019

Posted by “Oh Captain My Captain” in From the helm, Thinking Outside The Boat

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

BoatUS, Emergency, Insurance, Reflections, Safety, SeaTow, TowBoatUS, Truth

Point Lookout Marina, Saint Mary’s County, MD. July 8, 2019. Details. You plan and plan in advance. You think all bases have been covered, but the unexpected still happens.  Remember, you’re cruising in a Break Out Another Thousand!

Safely secured at the Point Lookout Marina fuel dock

The afternoon of July 6 we were approximately 6-miles from our destination, Point Lookout Marina, Saint Mary’s County, MD. We chose Point Lookout to break up our cruise from Urbana, VA to Solomons Island, MD.  And then it happened.

At the upper helm I had been watching closely for crab pots.  Though I saw no crab pots or anything else in our path, we heard and felt a hard bump or boom, and the boat stopped dead in the water.  I immediately looked at the tach reading 3000 RPMs, and pulled the throttle into neutral. We had been running 2000 when we heard and felt the hard bump. At least the engine was still running as we drifted in 30-feet of water. Before I could leave the helm, large drops of rain started hitting the Eisenglas.  I looked to the southwest and saw the huge cloud coming at us.  They say ‘when it rains it pours!’ On this day they words would ring true.

I had the “Admiral” transfer the controls to the lower helm, and rushed down into the engine compartment to make sure we were not taking on water. Thank goodness, the bilge was dry.  I then asked her to shift into forward so that I would see if the transmission was okay and the shaft would spin.  All was well in forward and reverse, but the boat would not move under its own power.  It was time to drop anchor.

Exiting the engine compartment, I hustled to the helm, turned on the windless, and went to the bow to release and drop the anchor using the controls on the bow.  The next shock of the day — the windless was inoperable!  Insane!  Only a few weeks ago when we joined our cruising club on Nowell Creek, it had worked to perfection!  Now, when it was really needed, it was inoperable.  In the future, testing the windless will be done as part of the engine warm up and thruster testing before releasing the lines to leave the dock.

Thanks to God, a great physical therapist, and Gold’s Gym, I was able to let out roughly 75-feet of chain by hand. When the anchor took hold, God and Gold’s enabled me to secure the chain around the post before it pulled me over the bow.  In the wind, rain, and heavy seas — just inside the mouth of the Potomac — I kept thinking of Clint Eastwood’s words that led to Toby Keith’s song,  🎶Don’t let the old man in🎵

Time to call for help!  Our first call was to the marina to let them know of our situation and that at best we would be late arriving.  In calls to TowBoatUS and SeaTow we learned that both were approximately 2 hours away.  Moments later, the marina called back and told the “Admiral” that a young man at the marina had offered to come and help us.  With the safety of Carolyn and Kate being my #1 priority, I told the marina to send him.

With 3 -5 foot waves breaking on our bow, Joey Greenwall fought the storm to come to our rescue.  His nephew jumped onboard Slow Dance to help me secure the tow line and ultimately retrieve the chain and anchor. We secured the tow line to the bollard post of Slow Dance and began fighting the storm to move Slow Dance toward the anchor in order to relieve pressure off the chain. After a half hour of fighting wind and waves, the chain and anchor were secured and we were underway to the marina — and safety.

RESCUED! Storm has passed, seas calming, captain and crew breathing in and out

To their credit, though we canceled our request once our local rescuers had secured us, a TowBoatUS operator showed up to make sure we were safe and secure, and SeaTow remained in touch by phone until they were assured we were safely at the marina.  I regret we were unable to stop the TowBoatUS captain before he left his homeport.  If not for the storm, we could have felt safe waiting for one of the operators to make the trip to us.  One thing is for sure, we will remain loyal members of both organizations for as long as we own a boat.

Monday, July 15, 2019.   We’ve learned the storm that hit us in the Potomac is the storm that caused significant flooding in Washington and parts of Maryland.  Heavy weather delayed hauling Slow Dance until late last Tuesday afternoon.  As soon as it was lifted out of the water, it was obvious the shaft had been broken and we had lost our prop.  The question is why?   I felt confident we had not hit anything, but folks around the marina said that it’s not that usual for logs, other heavy debris, and crab pot lines to be encountered under water.  Based on an inspection of the boat bottom and shaft, our insurance adjuster and his superior felt the failure of the shaft was due to “wear and tear” resulting from 13 years of use, rather than a “strike.”  All things considered, we understand that determination.  It is possible that shaft damage went undetected when the boat’s previous owner damaged the original prop.  Since it has been more than three and a half years since the original prop was damaged, and there was no indication of a prop or shaft problem before the shaft failed us, it’s one of those questions that will never be answered.

img_0905

Hauling Slow Dance

img_0936

All blocked up, waiting for the adjuster and repairs to begin

NOT how the end of the prop shaft should look!

Today we also learned the company manufacturing the new shaft will not pick up the old one until Thursday.  Sadly, that probably means our trip home cannot begin until the end of next week — at best.  One the bright side, we have now cruised some of the most popular destinations on the lower Chesapeake Bay.  Our goal had been to reach Solomons Island before returning home.  We achieved that, even if we did arrive in an Enterprise rental car, and have already stayed longer than if we had arrived by boat!

Next year, good Lord willing, we may return to cruise the Upper Chesapeake. We would still like to visit Annapolis, Saint Michaels, Oxford and a few other towns on the Eastern and Western Shore.  We would also like to revisit a couple of small towns we really enjoyed visiting this year.  One thing is for sure, our “details” list will grow before leaving on another long cruise.

Have you and your “Admiral” devised an emergency plan in the event of a lost prop, broken shaft, or other emergency?  My advice learned from this experience:

  • Check and test all equipment and systems you may need to secure the boat in an emergency.
  • Have a float plan (Our’s evolved daily — i.e., we didn’t have one)
  • Become members of BoatUS for protection of TowBoatUS, and SeaTow,  and keep their apps on your cellphone.  You never know which will be closest and available when you need them!  Both apps will show your position to you and your rescuers as soon as you open it.
  • Have an emergency checklist.  I suggest one for “normal” events, and one for stormy seas.  We bought a “Fast Trawler” to have speed available to hopefully escape storms.  There’s nothing that gets your attention like your “Fast Trawler” coming to a stop as a big storm approaches!  The storm that we encountered went on to seriously flood parts of Maryland and D.C..
  • As captain, you may have an emergency check list stamped in your brain, but if something happens to you, others on the boat need a written plan to follow.
  • If you hear or feel a hard bump or boom, get your bearings, put the boat in neutral, and immediately check for water intrusion.  It could mean the difference in a call for help from TowBoatUS or SeaTow, and a MayDay call for emergency assistance.
  • Keep cellphones charged, they may be your lifeline if any problems arise with VHF communications.
  • Keep your boat insurance close at hand, preferably on your insurance company’s app.  It’s one more thing that can reduce your stress.
  • To repeat, TowBoatUS and SeaTow apps will give your position to you and your rescuers as soon as the app opens.  TAKE A SCREEN SHOT OF THAT POSITION FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.

There’s no doubt other and more experienced cruisers can add to this list.  I welcome all suggestions.

Fair winds and following seas, 

Oh Captain My Captain

 

 

 

 

 

 

Share this blog with a friend!

  • Email
  • Print
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest

Like this:

Like Loading...

Can You Tell When A Person Is Drowning?

03 Wednesday Jul 2019

Posted by “Oh Captain My Captain” in From the helm

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

America's Great Loop Cruisers' Association, Blessed, Boats, BoatUS, Chesapeake Bay, Cruising, Drowning, Family fun, Friends, Grateful, Life, Marinas, Slow Dance, Soundings, Soundings Online, Thinking Ouside the Boat, Water Safety

A MUST READ BY MARIO VITTONE FROM SOUNDINGSONLINE ~ April 26, 2018.

A swimmer doesn’t splash and wave for help. Here’s how to know when someone is trouble, and how to respond.

A MUST READ STORY

Share this blog with a friend!

  • Email
  • Print
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest

Like this:

Like Loading...
← Older posts
Newer posts →

“Follow In My Wake”

Lanes Ferry Dock and Grill features the best hot dog on the planet!
Lanes Ferry Dock and Grill features the best hot dog on the planet!
Myrtle Beach Yacht Club
Myrtle Beach Yacht Club
Bridge Tender Marina
Bridge Tender Marina
Sullivans Island skyJPG
Southport Marina
Southport Marina
An early sunset casts a warm light on the "Next Chapter," a beautiful 130 ft Westport, at the popular Southport (NC) Marina.
An early sunset casts a warm light on the “Next Chapter,” a beautiful 130 ft Westport, at the popular Southport (NC) Marina.
Big Tuna, Georgetown, SC
Big Tuna, Georgetown, SC
Starboard sunset
The Admiral enjoys reading, while Kate the Mate stands by the captain.
The Admiral enjoys reading, while Kate the Mate stands by the captain.
Captain Buck's Port Chef James Kohler
Captain Buck’s Port Chef James Kohler
Follow Cruising The ICW on WordPress.com

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 249 other subscribers

Blogs I Follow

Categories

  • A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words
  • Attractions
  • Classic Yachts
  • Cruising Life Style
  • Cruising pups
  • Destinations
  • Dining
  • From the helm
  • From the Writing Room
  • Marinas
  • Marine Services
  • The Writing Room
  • Thinking Outside The Boat
  • Uncategorized

Boatyards

  • Atlantic Yacht Basin

Destinations Along the ICW

  • Beaufort, NC
  • Beaufort, SC
  • Belhaven, NC
  • Chesapeake, VA
  • Elizabeth City, NC
  • Georgetown, SC
  • Golden Isles, GA
  • Hampton, VA
  • Little River, SC
  • Morehead City, NC
  • Southport, NC
  • Swansboro, NC
  • Wilmington, NC
  • Wrightsville Beach, NC

Great Boating Magazines

  • BoatUS Magazine
  • Maine Boats, Homes & Harbors
  • MarinaLife Magazine
  • PassageMaker Magazine
  • Power & Motoryacht Magazine
  • Soundings Magazine – Real Boats, Real Boaters
  • Southern Boating & Yachting

Marinas

  • Atlantic Yacht Basin
  • Belhaven Marina
  • Harborwalk Marina
  • Isle of Palms Marina

Blog at WordPress.com.

Cruising Aboard Monk36 Trawler Sanctuary

Cruising Adventures in Another Life

The Alchemist's Studio

Raku pottery, vases, and gifts

My Serene Words

Seeking Solace in the Horizon & Beyond

Cosy Chaos

Always have a blanket and a notebook nearby

Ailish Sinclair

Stories and photos from Scotland

Writing about...Writing

Some coffee, a keyboard and my soul! My first true friends!

  • Follow Following
    • Cruising The ICW
    • Join 56 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • Cruising The ICW
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...
 

You must be logged in to post a comment.

    %d bloggers like this: