A Bent Rudder and Lessons Learned

[DennisM]

Thanks, DeepFrz. (I'm a rookie. Can ya tell?)

[zeehag]

we all are always learning and sometimes the lessons are hard and pricey---i hope the rest are easier and that ye keep on keeping on---smoooth sailing!!!

[DennisM]

Thanks, zee! I'll be back out there ASAP!

[zeehag]

gooood---and remember--ye aint a sailor until ye run her aground--- just make sure the gounding isnt tooo traumatic....

[DennisM]

LOL. The rudder will be repaired, but my dog is still recovering from the trauma.

[zeehag]

Dennis--my cat stillhates and fears the feeel of pounding on a shoal--he learned that one in gulf of mexico on another persons boat---- is something even goggies and kats get over as time passes--i keep bubba with me for storms and whatevers that happen to skeereded him... he is a good critter and bounces back well. i think goggie will also...

[DennisM]

The dog gets nervous whenever there are waves. By the end of the grounding ordeal, he was totally terrified. And he hadn't been to shore in 13 hours. He's a great boat dog, though. Gets in and out of the dinghy gladly. Boards launches with enthusiasm and loves to swim.


The dog on a calmer day. His name is Radar.


The damaged rudder (not showing the bend in the post).

[SailFastTri]

Originally Posted by DennisM

Thanks, SFT. I've been quite faithful in studying my Eldridge (plus an iPhone app on tides and currents) before every leg of the trip, and I've made a successful habit of catching the slingshot effect in both directions on the East River - Hudson River leg on 4 or 5 occasions. My next anticipated leg will be from Onset to Newport, with the effects of Buzzard's Bay and The Race currents in mind.

I've been hammered with 6 foot steep chop due to wind-against-current in the waters north of Block Island even though the current only runs a bit over a knot there. Also since you mentioned Newport, lower Narragansett Bay has the same nasty habits as Buzzards Bay.

If The Gods are with you, you will depart Onset during a cold front and enjoy 15-20 knots NNW winds on an ebb current through Buzzards, and the same 5 or 6 days later when leaving Newport Unfortunately that won't help you going north to Newport, so you'll have to pay the piper and maybe the best thing to hope for is mild weather.

Also watch for fish traps SE of the Sakonnet River -- at first they might look like lobster buoys but then you get close and realize you're looking at a connected string of floats almost a mile long, and it's time to tack.

[DennisM]

Thanks again, SFT. I'll be on the lookout for the traps. Maybe I'll even sharpen the cutter on my prop shaft, since the boat's on the hard anwyay right now.

[zeehag]

bubba doesnt like seas from stern anymore---since our bashing into a spoils bank in opb 2010 april--he runs below when he seas any size wave/wake/seas coming anywhere near boat....i figger is a good safety thing-- he wont get lost to a sea....

[DeepFrz]

Thanks, DeepFrz. (I'm a rookie. Can ya tell?)

Well, not so much a rookie any more <gr>.

A friend once told me there are two kinds of sailors, those that have run aground and those who will. Been there done that and it, like your experience, was a learning experience. So take what you can from it and keep on truckin...

[DennisM]

Will do, DeepFrz. And thanks.

[alan_za]

Remember the 7p's: "Proper planning and preparation prevents piss poor performance". In other words refilling and dropping anchor should not be something impossible when you are single handed. Guess next time you'll remember that!

[phiwum]

Originally Posted by DennisM

One of my biggest oversights was going by the inlet to Onset, MA, twice in tough conditions without even knowing it was there. If I had pulled in there instead of pressing on into Buzzard's Bay, I wouldn't have had the problems I ended up with. And if I had pulled in on my way back up the canal, I probably could have made it in there before I ran out of fuel. 20/20 hindsight at its best!

You went past Onset? You must have been very close to my mooring location (Monument Beach).

Where exactly did you go aground?

[Edit: And the answer is: On a shoal near Onset. Just as he said in the first post. D'oh.]

For myself, I'm enough of a novice that I have never been to the canal. One day, I went close to the channel as it passes Mashnee Island. Unfortunately, the tide was coming in and the wind was light and I couldn't sail myself back out of the damned channel. My motor was overheating as well that day, so I was being dragged towards the canal. I finally dropped anchor and got a tow --- likely from the same fella as you.

My story isn't too similar to yours, I guess. You've got more experience, and so sail in more difficult circumstances than me. Thus, when things go badly for you, the scale of "bad" is broader than for me.

[DennisM]

Hi Phiwum,

I ran aground about 200 yards south of where they tie up the large training ship. The TowboatUS guy's name was Bill. I can't praise him enough.

Sounds like you did the right thing by anchoring before you were in over your head. I should have done the same thing, as you can tell by reading some of the responses here.

Though I've been sailing since I was a kid, this is only my third season of boat ownership and cruising. And this season is my first solo cruise. But one incident does not define what has been a GREAT cruise to Cape Cod and the islands. I look forward to continuing it.