Posted by Monty
So this is how the world is supposed to be. 
And this is how it is, Yes, the boat sunk. Don't know why. Doesn't matter why.
We had been making stellar progress on the boat, Carol basically swabbed the entire interior with Clorox, so everything sparkled. (At one point while I was stuffed into the engine room, I actually worried I might die from ammonia poisoning.) All my tools were stowed in various lockers and no longer underfoot. We were becoming comfortable sleeping and living on the boat, even though we had, for the most part, basically horrible weather, a couple of pretty good days, and one spectacular day,
Then, as per plan, we came back home to be here to support a couple of family members having some medical issues. We knew this was coming, and weren't really concerned about the boat (OK, I was worried about the milk and eggs we left in the fridge, but what is the worst that can happen in ten days, right? Sour milk?). I spent some time researching and procuring the items needed to get the engine back in top shape, as well as some creature comforts to be installed when we got back. We also waited out another weather event (see below). I fully intended to take my Bride on her first cruise on the boat when we returned. (I had the boat out during the survey, but Carol has never left the dock.)
It was not to be.
The salvage crew foreman tells me the usual reason for a boat sinking at the dock is failure of a hose clamp below the waterline. We'll see when the boat is refloated, but it has to be something like that as the boat was not taking on water while we were on it. On some boats the bilge pump runs frequently, this one did not.
So I got the call from the Dockmaster on Valentine's Day about 4:00pm while I was at the hospital. "Your boat sunk." A quick trip down, a night in a hotel and a quick trip back, and it is all in someone else's hands. Salvage companies and insurance companies will take it from here. Old hat for the both of them.
For us, the shock is wearing off. A few tears were shed at the dock (or was it raining? Yes it was). No matter, it is not the end of our dream. Depending on the outcome, we will continue our journey either way, with this boat or another one. Unlike some disasters at sea (and this was not one), no one was hurt, and there was no loss of life.
There are things more important than boats.
P.S. Rob, your room is no longer ready.
P.S.S. Steve, we really need to talk about this plan thing.
We had been making stellar progress on the boat, Carol basically swabbed the entire interior with Clorox, so everything sparkled. (At one point while I was stuffed into the engine room, I actually worried I might die from ammonia poisoning.) All my tools were stowed in various lockers and no longer underfoot. We were becoming comfortable sleeping and living on the boat, even though we had, for the most part, basically horrible weather, a couple of pretty good days, and one spectacular day,
Then, as per plan, we came back home to be here to support a couple of family members having some medical issues. We knew this was coming, and weren't really concerned about the boat (OK, I was worried about the milk and eggs we left in the fridge, but what is the worst that can happen in ten days, right? Sour milk?). I spent some time researching and procuring the items needed to get the engine back in top shape, as well as some creature comforts to be installed when we got back. We also waited out another weather event (see below). I fully intended to take my Bride on her first cruise on the boat when we returned. (I had the boat out during the survey, but Carol has never left the dock.)
It was not to be.
The salvage crew foreman tells me the usual reason for a boat sinking at the dock is failure of a hose clamp below the waterline. We'll see when the boat is refloated, but it has to be something like that as the boat was not taking on water while we were on it. On some boats the bilge pump runs frequently, this one did not.
So I got the call from the Dockmaster on Valentine's Day about 4:00pm while I was at the hospital. "Your boat sunk." A quick trip down, a night in a hotel and a quick trip back, and it is all in someone else's hands. Salvage companies and insurance companies will take it from here. Old hat for the both of them.
For us, the shock is wearing off. A few tears were shed at the dock (or was it raining? Yes it was). No matter, it is not the end of our dream. Depending on the outcome, we will continue our journey either way, with this boat or another one. Unlike some disasters at sea (and this was not one), no one was hurt, and there was no loss of life.
There are things more important than boats.
P.S. Rob, your room is no longer ready.
P.S.S. Steve, we really need to talk about this plan thing.