Anchoring disaster

[over40pirate]

In the ICW in Englewood FL, there has been a red 30' +/- C & C (?) sailboat anchored.
A wk or so ago, it dragged and went aground. Someone floated it and re anchored. It survived the big winds we had a few days ago.
Now, here is how it sits.
My sister goes to the area for sunsets and has seen it progress to this.
No sail cover. Hatch open. I feel sorry for the boat.

[Lizzy Belle]

Very painful to see

Boat looks like the owner just arrived and went ashore for some shopping or something - but I guess not, since it's been alone for weeks ...

Very, very sad

[cruisersfarm]

That's what happens when people use anchorages to store unattended boats as if it's a mooring field.

They take a huge risk by being too cheap to get a seasonal mooring.

That's the cheap owner's gamble and he lost.

In the past month, 2 boats sank in my anchorage. Same situation. Shouldn't leave unattended boats in an anchorage.

[Doug Brown]

You'll notice the front hatch is open...probably won't stay afloat forever.

It would be nice if someone local were to call the USCG or River/Marine Patrol/Police and ask if they would come and board the vessel and close the hatch before it sinks and causes a real hazard to navigation and a giant expense to re-float.

[four winds]

I think it's already on the bottom, Doug.

Probably waves over the cabin right now as today is a repeat of last Saturday night. Winds around 30+ all night tonight.

Ah, the joys of anchor watch and CF surfing.

[zeehag]

it is shiny so it has to be a good boat.. looks tad wet now.

[Lepke]

Too bad for the boat. Hopefully someone responsible will salvage it. Too many new boat owners just don't accept the responsibility of boat ownership.
I'm sure you've seen it before. In my time I've seen a lot of masts sticking out of the water. Especially when there were more wood boats.

[sanibel sailor]

boat in the background has an open forehatch as well. No visible dink, combined with the loose sailcover, suggests neglect. Is this the boat bum backwater anchorage area?

[over40pirate]

Update on sailboat. It's currently aground. Story I heard is the "owner" was given the boat, and was using it as a bedroom. Sure hope he transferred title into his name, and really hope the seller, has a signed paper saying who he sold it to.
This could be a good, "how would you do it" discussion. The tide is only 1.5', and looks like it would take at least 3' to float it.
The beach it's aground at is a County Park beach.


A real shame.

[Island Time O25]

Is that an electric motor hanging off of a stern?

[sanibel sailor]

typically salvaged piecemeal with a backhoe.

[over40pirate]

I think it's a wind vane. I think it also has a hyd. vang on it.

[Captain Bill]

Originally Posted by cruisersfarm

That's what happens when people use anchorages to store unattended boats as if it's a mooring field.

They take a huge risk by being too cheap to get a seasonal mooring.

That's the cheap owner's gamble and he lost.

In the past month, 2 boats sank in my anchorage. Same situation. Shouldn't leave unattended boats in an anchorage.

The reason people store boats anchored out in Florida is because there are virtually no mooring fields, despite the complaints about Sarasota, Boot Key Harbor (which doesn't allow storage), St. Augustine, Stuart, Titusville, dinner key and Key West. In New England virtually every harbor has a mooring field and a seasonal mooring still often means being put on a long waiting list. Your choice is anchor it out or get a very expensive slip in a Marina. With so many Florida marinas going dockuminium even they are very hard to find. Maybe the poor guy is on a waiting list for a slip. That doesn't excuse the fact that the hatches were open and he did a poor job of anchoring.

I take it from your last sentence that you are anchored out as well or am I misreading it.

[over40pirate]

After the last pic. he moved the boat until it was floating, and anchored.
And the next day it was aground again!
Wonder when he will get tired of ungrounding and re anchoring?
I sure would be moving my boat, if I was anchored near him.
This has gone from being a shame, be being a menace.
No wonder why landlubbers don't want boats anchored off their property, when this continues to happen.
The boat owner is very lucky the boat hasn't smashed into a boat or dock and done damage.

[cruisersfarm]

Originally Posted by Captain Bill

The reason people store boats anchored out in Florida is because there are virtually no mooring fields, despite the complaints about Sarasota, Boot Key Harbor (which doesn't allow storage), St. Augustine, Stuart, Titusville, dinner key and Key West. In New England virtually every harbor has a mooring field and a seasonal mooring still often means being put on a long waiting list. Your choice is anchor it out or get a very expensive slip in a Marina. With so many Florida marinas going dockuminium even they are very hard to find. Maybe the poor guy is on a waiting list for a slip. That doesn't excuse the fact that the hatches were open and he did a poor job of anchoring.

I take it from your last sentence that you are anchored out as well or am I misreading it.

To put it bluntly, if you aren't aboard full time to handle these situations and can't afford a slip or a mooring for your weekend diversion, you probably shouldn't be boating at all.