Stolen Irwin

[JPA Cate]

"delivery captain??????"

[StuM]

If "Vessel did not drag ...", how did she "break loose" ?
Inquiring minds want to kwow

[Celestialsailor]

I think the "Delivery Skipper" has some spaining to do.

[kevin.fortitude]

Yes, our boat has been found. After several hours and lots of $$, we were able to drag her out on her beam and get floated again. It appears that the only obvious damage is a small 2-3" chunk out of bottom of rudder. It was murky where I checked and will dive again in clearer water. She is not taking on water and everything is working as it should. We will be hauling out in the next couple weeks and will address all bottom issues.

On a separate note, we'd like to thank everyone for your help and vigilance during this process. To sum up what happened: We received a call that our boat was "gone" and to call the police as it was likely stolen. There had been a "handshake" agreement that someone would keep an eye on her at her anchorage. That person states they were not notified to keep an eye on her. She had a 44lb bruce anchor out with 100' of chain. Someone had reported her drifting on the 21st, but authorities did nothing. She was found in 2-3' of water listing on her side with her anchor and chain holding. It is strange to us and to all we've spoken to that she would have dragged 1 mile without resetting. Locals are suggesting that it was some sort of spring break prank gone wrong. Either way, we are very happy she was found and without any major damage. Thank you all again.

[Bycrick]

I don’t find it at all surprising that it "dragged a mile without resetting." Once, anchored off the marina in La Cruz, Mexico, we returned from a shopping trip to find the boat "gone." It was a mile and a half downwind, in about 12’ of water a few hundred feet off the beach. And still dragging slowly. It can happen.

[JPA Cate]

It is particularly likely with the Bruce anchor. It gets its "hand" full of mud, and the whole ball just skitters along. It is not able, like a modern generation anchor, to keep diving down.

Plus, the boat was anchored in an area known for poor holding. If the OP would like to keep the boat from dragging, he can start looking at a better anchor. It may not be 100% [our Manson Supreme dragged once in sustained 65 kn., but it was loose mud], but the Bruce can be improved upon. We've had previous Bruces drag when their hand gets full of coral rubble, large rocks, and various muds.

Boats aren't like cars, they don't stay put when parked.

Ann

[mojoman2]

You might try posting it on this site - https://boatwatch.org/. This is a internet and SSB net that helps people find lost sailors and boats.

[fstbttms]

Originally Posted by mojoman2

You might try posting it on this site - https://boatwatch.org/. This is a internet and SSB net that helps people find lost sailors and boats.

The boat was found last week.

[piloto]

Originally Posted by JPA Cate

It is particularly likely with the Bruce anchor. It gets its "hand" full of mud, and the whole ball just skitters along. It is not able, like a modern generation anchor, to keep diving down.

Plus, the boat was anchored in an area known for poor holding. If the OP would like to keep the boat from dragging, he can start looking at a better anchor. It may not be 100% [our Manson Supreme dragged once in sustained 65 kn., but it was loose mud], but the Bruce can be improved upon. We've had previous Bruces drag when their hand gets full of coral rubble, large rocks, and various muds.

Boats aren't like cars, they don't stay put when parked.

Ann

Just for grins, cars (or trucks) don’t t necessarily stay parked either in a mountain town on a steep street grade in a snowstorm on a icy hill- I came back from a visit with some friends in Telluride Colorado one evening to find my ancient International Scout relocated to the bottom of said hill, amazingly having avoided hitting any of the vehicles parked below it on either side of the street (full both sides). Having followed proper parking protocol of turning the wheels inward to “chalk” the front wheels against the sidewalk, the scout had rotated out of the parking spot and skillfully self maneuvered to the bottom of the road-really: can’t make stuff like that up.

[Montanan]

So glad you soon found your gone wayward boat. All is good that ends well.

Almost all missing boats turn up to just have floated from their moorings for various reasons, just look for them in the direction of down wind and/or down current as they typcially don't stray far fast.

One just never knows when an anchor will hold and / or reset.

Therein lies the reason for the Colregs requirement that an anchor watch is required at all times.

Perhaps an upgrade in ground tackle is appropriate to a newer generation of anchor to realize improved holding.

FYI, interest videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjdwefSTfS0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8U7gU5qY7c

In the meantime, you may desire to have your vessel wear the Yankee flag to display "Dragging Anchor" notification to provide warning to other boaters.

In the meme time. "As to whether Size Matters: Said no mariner ever."

Wishing many Bon Voyages.

[jipcho]

Funny how everyone thinks they are so good at anchoring, that their vessel could never drag. Haha.

[motion30]

The Bruce Anchor was designed in 1970. We have made great Improvements in the last 52 years. A new generation anchor will likely serve you much better and keep this from from happening again

[Montanan]

Glad you were able to retrieve your vessel.

So in summary, the vessel was reported to the authorities to be dragging on the 21st and not noted to be missing until the 25th.

That is a lot of days being left unattended at anchor. Begs the question as to how long it had been left unattended at anchor before the 21st.

Sorry to have to say this but straight-up this is in a serious owner / operator error as to leaving an anchored boat unattended / unaccounted for.

And definitely a jump to a wrong conclusion that the vessel was stolen which is in itself indicative of not taking accountability and responsibility for maintaining its proper mooring and situational awareness.

One is fortunate that it did not drag down and become the cause of damage to another vessel or onto a property such as a dock or that it did not lay up onto rocks and become holed, or cause environmental damage to a reef, or become sunk and thus requiring very expensive salvage for removal of the wreck, or fines due to environmental damage. That could have been a very expensive outcome.

Strongly recommend that one at the barest minimum to utilize an anchor alarm and a simple tracking device so as to be remotely notified of the vessels departure from its moored position. With today's simple technology one should never not be able to locate one's vessel.

But foremost, one should maintain a diligent anchor watch.

Hopefully, a lesson learned and an issue never to be repeated.

[Capt. Ray]

A good reason to have a Garmin inReach permanently on a charger cable hidden in a waterproof electrical box somewhere. By the time thieves discover it they would be located or of course it can be monitored for dragging when unattended.