Challenge: Float this Boat!

[neelie]

Its been two weeks since the last update.
How did you get it off? Or is it just shredded fiberglass now?

[Cheechako]

Two lines, one to the halyard at top of mast, the other to towrail or mid cleat. pull the boat by the top of the mast until it tips free of the reef, then pull with both. Now how do yo keepit from sinking? Where's that thread about the 1000 empty water bottles....! Any empty oil drums around?

[Hud3]

Here's an update--I just talked with Greg today.

The boat is still sitting on the reef. The good news is that the waves haven't been too big since the grounding, so it still seems to be in one piece. Greg likes the idea of creating a "sled" out of timbers and working them under the hull so it could be pulled off by a boat with a strong engine. He has a supply of 6"x6"s for the job. The problem is that the Receiver of Wrecks hasn't given him permission to conduct salvage operations in writing, only a verbal OK. Greg's concerned that if the reef is "damaged", he could be held liable, so he wants it all in writing.

The owner doesn't seem to be too interested in the boat, from what I've picked up. It turns out that it has no inboard engine. The crew was using an outboard, which was stolen by looters after the crew swam ashore and the police picked them up for "illegal entry". The three crew are back in Dominica now.

[Hud3]

We had a bit of an increase in the Trades recently, causing larger easterly swells, and the grounded C&C 27 has been rotated and shifted a bit. She's lying noticeably deeper in the water, too. It appears that she's been moved off the shallowest part of the reef into deeper water.

Still no go-ahead for salvage from the Receiver of Wrecks, so chances for salvage are dim at this point. I noticed that though the boat and owner are from Dominica, it's flying the flag of Antigua and Barbuda. Curious...

[conchyjoe]

Hud,

Seems to be a common theme..

[Christian Van H]

Hud, stick a fork in it...that boat is done.

[Hud3]

Yep, Christian, I'm afraid you're right. As they say here on Nevis, "She all mash up, Mon. De boat, she finish."

[Drumroll30]

Send dee man to Sunshines for some killer bees!

[cantxsailor]

It seems a bit late but all the photos of the rescue of my boat show how we did it over ground. A bit different if your working in the water but it would have been doable if started right away and without "official" interuptions...........m

[slabber]

Unbolt the keelbolts

[hellosailor]

How odd, to American eyes. Which after all are close kin to the British and the laws and obligations a Receiver of Wrecks must have.

If the RoW is negigent in promptly discharging his duties, and that negligence or failure to take timely action results in the completer loss of the vessel, one might ask whether that RoW is now personally liable to both the salvor and the owner, for having destroyed the value of the owner's property by refusing the salvor to operate on the vessel.

Personally I'd rather see the RoW beaten with a good barnacle-encrusted stick. I fully expect that permission was denied because no one offered the RoW a hefty payment under the table. That's about the only plausible explanation (other than literal idiocy) for not ensuring a vessel is promptly salvaged and removed from the reef.

Unless...the removal now becomes a matter where the government will remove it and send the owners a bill--part of which pays for the operation of the RoW office.

Sorry, folks, but as American journalists say, if you can't understand what is going on, follow the money! This all points to pockets expecting to be lined, one way or another.

[captain58sailin]

Tis sad to see a perfectly good boat go to waste.

[Ex-Calif]

I think an earlier post eluded to teh RoW "concern" about reef damage getting the boat off. What damage caused by recovery wouldn't be caused by the boat breaking up on the reef?

And why is the RoW the authority on this?

Skids not greased is my assessment.

My boat definitely would have been recovered. We can sort the fines out later...

[Dick Pluta]

Words of wisdom:

It is easier to get forgiveness than permission.

Dick Pluta
AEGEA

[lorenzo b]

Dude
It's the 4th of July, put that poor boat out of it's misery with a small canister of propane, a cigarette, and a book of matches.
HST would want you to.
Post pics.