Squally Morning (long post)

Pipe_Dream · #1 06-25-2005, 02:39 PM

I noticed that the Pipe Dream wasn’t going quite as fast at a given RPM as it should have, so I planned to beach her this morning in order to give the bottom a good scrubbing. I checked the radar which showed showers but no thunderstorms moving through the area from the low pressure system to our SE, but since I’d be swimming anyway I figured I go on ahead. There is a large sandbar about 8 miles from our slip that is exposed at low tide, and I knew it wouldn’t be a problem with NE winds. I anchored and jumped in, and cleaned a lot of slime where I could get to it, but I had missed dead low and was in 1-2 feet of water so I could not see the bottom but scrubbed as best I could.

As I was nearly finished I pulled the anchor and climbed aboard just as a squall came over. Nothing major, winds maybe 20 kts and moderate rain, as I eased her into the wind and started toward home. A mile or so later the rains got heavy and the wind soon produced large whitecaps that turned into 2-3 footers in the more exposed areas, still nothing major – until visibility went to about 50 yards! The wind and waves increased and the last 5 miles were pretty wild, with everything getting wet, rain coming through the top (I guess it’s really not designed for driving rain) and around the cuddy hatch by the windshield, occasional salt spray coming around the side windows and into my face, and anything not secured going wherever it wanted. I thought I would pause under a bridge for a few minutes and see if it let up, but the rain was driving sideways under the bridge so I kept on moving. I was glad to enter the harbor and tie up, and the rain slowed to a drizzle by that time so I didn’t have to unload in a downpour.

A few thoughts crept into my mind during and after the trip:
I was glad to have GPS and a depthfinder when visibility was poor, but I kept close enough to the shoreline that I was never out of sight, just in case one or both failed (you know, Murphy’s Law).
I WAS concerned about the ferries that ply these waters, that I wouldn’t see them or they wouldn’t see me until it would be too late. They rarely slow down, even in bad weather.
My boat is NOT waterproof! Not by a long stretch. Most areas of the cuddy were wet to some degree, something I’m going to try to change as much as possible.
I DID leave a floatplan, written on the kitchen counter for my wife in case I didn’t come home. I wasn’t scared, but this short trip served to remind me to respect the elements and the limitations of a 20 foot boat (although this trip really didn’t test those limits, but I know they’re there!).

Sorry for the long post, but it’s raining and blowing outside and I really don’t want to clean out the garage . . . not just yet. I know a lot of you guys have been in much worse situations than I was in this morning, but I wanted to share. Sorry MJ, no pics! My camera isn’t waterproof!

reelapeelin · #2 06-26-2005, 12:50 AM

Hey, Pipe sounds like a pretty good BLOW and that you were headed STRAIGHT into it...I can tell ya my top/curtains would have allowed water thru, too under those conditions...amazing how a short ride can turn into a REAL eye-opener!!... :o...

Pipe_Dream · #3 06-26-2005, 09:38 AM

My top is a blue, canvas-like material -- I had it made around 7-8 years ago. I'm going to call the woman that made it and ask if it can be waterproofed at all. Light rain runs off, but once it gets soaked the water drips right through. And I take my plastic side curtains off every spring and leave them at home so they don't deteriorate, so the rain blew right in! But the visibility dropping so low so fast, that's really something! :o I guess that's what Maine lobstermen deal with all the time, eh?

phester · #4 06-26-2005, 09:57 AM

hey pipe, sounds like you had your hands full, for at least a little while, how did that v20 feel going thru all that soup?

Pipe_Dream · #5 06-26-2005, 11:23 AM

That big heavy V did her job, parting the waves. ;D
But I am thinking that trim tabs may be the next order of business. Big gusts ofwind on the beam made her feel wobbly side-to-side. But overall AOK.
It also feels good to turn the key on my "new" Yamaha and have her start first time, every time -- inspires confidence!

Franco · #6 06-26-2005, 02:43 PM

Glad your safe Pipe

macojoe · #7 06-26-2005, 03:43 PM

Sounds like you ad a great time!!

I get sea's like that all the time in Vinyard sound less the rain!
I cross in fog so thick that the water and fog are one, and you see nothing!

We have the same ferrys here crossing all the time.

I no they can see me on radar but I can't see them. Even if they blow the horn your not going to no which way to go??

Isn't it great!! I would not change it for anything!

fillet1 · #8 06-26-2005, 04:36 PM

PIPE,

That sounds like fun! Squalls are really dangerous because they are usually unexpected.

Try some Scotchguard on the bimini top.

If you find a way to seal the hatch let me know! I have been trying to figure that one out for a while.

Mac_Attack · #9 06-26-2005, 09:53 PM

Cabelas sells a water repellant to put on your top. Water sories always interest me glad you made it back to tell it. Pics are wortha thousand words. Bill Mc ;D

Pipe_Dream · #10 06-27-2005, 10:18 AM

MJ I love your spirit of adventure! *Ain't life grand!
Back when my boat was a Company boat, my boss set out to make the crossing to a neighboring island when a thick fog set in. *He did something smart: when he was completely lost he cut the engine to listen. *He heard one of the ferries coming, so he decided to follow it to the island. *Pulled in behind her and followed, keeping the ferry in sight . . . only to end up back where he started, at home port. * ::) *He decided it wasn't a good day to go across, tied up and went home.

I wish I would have had the camera (in a waterproof bag). *Maybe I could have snatched a few quick photos through the windshield of the rain and fog, but I was pretty busy as it was. *

Sunday was SO beautiful, by contrast. *Blue skies, puffy white clouds, nice breeze . . . we went out for several hours, got some shrimp, too them home and cooked 'em up. *And the cuddy got to dry out, too! ;) *A great day on the water! *But I must still have some slime or other kind of bottom growth I couldn't get to, because I topped out at 42 mph which is significantly less than when we first launched after re-powering. *I'm going to have to completely beach her next weekend and see what's what.

Thanks for all your comments, everybody! *BTW, several guys at the marina are jealous -- it seems they can't get t-shirts for their boats like we have ;D! *