Regret to Inform Have Lost my Boat off Honduras...

[Rakuflames]

Originally Posted by Wrong

In the distant past, before the top dogs decided employees were spending too much time actually helping customers, one of them may have led you to a Baha Filter and explained its use. Not going to name the U.S. company, but my guess is most seasoned sailors will know. Hint: It was mentioned by a poster in this thread who passed the Baha Filter many times without knowing what it was...

That would be me; the store is West Marine; and if I stopped to ask the store employees what every single thing was that I didn't recognize when I started out I'd still be in the store for my first visit and on about my 5300th sales clerk.

Instead, I was at a marine yard sale with a knowledgeable friend. I picked the thing up and he explained what it was. However, he didn't call it a Baja (not baha) filter. He called it a fuel separator. So when someone else said "baja filter" I did not know what they were talking about.

I would like to have a cigarette before being put before the firing squad for that urgent lack of knowledge on my part.

Oh wait. It's too late!

And, as for the "top dogs" deciding the employees at West Marine should not help customers, that has never been my experience -- not even recently.

I wonder how many times they have explained the newest features of some electronics gadget only to have the customer go and make a (now) informed choice at Amazon ...

[Jammer Six]

Ah, West Marine.

Now we just need someone to say that if the OP had had a gun, he'd still have his boat.

[Rakuflames]

Originally Posted by Jammer Six

Ah, West Marine.

Now we just need someone to say that if the OP had had a gun, he'd still have his boat.

If the OP had had a gun, he'd still have his boat.

[PSX]

Originally Posted by Astrid

Wonder if someone boarded the adrift boat and was going to sail it to a port and claim salvage rights?

Serenity was an unmanned "ghost ship" which made her own way from Honduras to her resting ground (appropriately?) on the Costa Maya.

The "people on the boat" referred to in the article were the local 'buitres' (vultures) laying claim to the goodies, who beat the authorities to the punch.

Note to OP -the local authorities are indeed looking for their pound of flesh. (multas)

To all you Cruisers - note in the article that 7 sailboats have run aground in Xcalak over the past 4 yrs. Six of those were manned vessels, trying to negotiate the 'cut' to anchorage @ Xcalak. (Serenity is 9 km north).
Reefs are tricky - and unforgiving to deep keeled oops's. Also note that all 7 were total losses - not from primary damage, but "secondary effects".

[Wrong]

Originally Posted by Rakuflames

That would be me; the store is West Marine; and if I stopped to ask the store employees what every single thing was that I didn't recognize when I started out I'd still be in the store for my first visit and on about my 5300th sales clerk (who didn't know what it was either...) <content added>

<content didacted>

And, as for the "top dogs" deciding the employees at West Marine should not help customers, that has never been my experience -- not even recently. ...

Perhaps official company policy has reverted to what it once was, before the company went public and employees/customer service became less important than the bottom line. Sometimes an economic downturn reminds big companies of the importance of good customer service.

Yes, once upon a time I worked there.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by Wrong

Me thinks you need a group hug, but I don't know where that icon is. Maybe someone else can find it.

Now your just being silly... I don't do those things... that might be your forte.. mines more fun and does not involve other males...

[Rakuflames]

Originally Posted by Wrong

Perhaps official company policy has reverted to what it once was, before the company went public and employees/customer service became less important than the bottom line. Sometimes an economic downturn reminds big companies of the importance of good customer service.

I have no idea. I just know that in the six years I've been sailing I have found them to be helpful and informative.

[Wrong]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Now your just being silly... I don't do those things... that might be your forte.. mines more fun and does not involve other males...

Who said your group hug would be with males? You don't think there are any empathetic female sailors at Cruisers Forum?

Maybe someone can come up with an all female icon for you!

Which reminds me. Where do posters find the icons I do not see in my view?

[PSX]

Originally Posted by PSX

To all you Cruisers - note in the article that 7 sailboats have run aground in Xcalak over the past 4 yrs. Six of those were manned vessels, trying to negotiate the 'cut' to anchorage @ Xcalak. (Serenity is 9 km north).
Reefs are tricky - and unforgiving to deep keeled oops's. Also note that all 7 were total losses - not from primary damage, but "secondary effects".

Advice: obviously the cut into Xcalak must be negotiated with precision. Unfortunately the approach is facing straight into the setting sun which is when most cruisers arrive. (Consider appropriate trip planning to minimize this issue). And if you are unsure that you can "nail it" - call the Capitania del Puerto (or XTC Dive Center) and ask for a local escort. It's only a short run in a panga and the locals are always willing to help.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by Wrong

Who said your group hug would be with males? You don't think there are any empathetic female sailors at Cruisers Forum?

Maybe someone can come up with an all female icon for you!

Which reminds me. Where do posters find the icons I do not see in my view?

I sail alone....
I drink alone...
The internet is great coz I can sit on my own...
And the press of a button is all that's needed for a bit of peace..

[Delfin]

Originally Posted by parito

Some people suggested sailing back under mainsail only.

I don't know about other boats, but my boat even with a _new_ mainsail barely crawls (if any) without a headsail up. Headsail is for driving and mainsail for balance..

Which is better, a slow crawl, or your boat on a reef?

[neilpride]

Making 2 or even 3 knts is enough to reach the coast.....

[kmacdonald]

As close as he was, if all else failed he could have swam in.

[Rakuflames]

Originally Posted by neilpride

Making 2 or even 3 knts is enough to reach the coast.....

Yes, but when you're exhausted ...

better to fix the sail.

I don't see how the way he was sailing damaged the headsail, but I would fix mine.

[svlamorocha]

Originally Posted by Janet H

Spotty translation: He explained that when the grounding reaching the place, there were people on the boat, so it has already begun the search for those responsible...

That part of the translation is wrong. The article in Spanish says that there was NOBODY on the boat when it got there ("..no había personas en el bote." ). See Velero americano destruye 35M2 de Arrecifes; daña colonias de Coral Cerebro y Fuego; pone en riesgo a Cuernos de Alce; responsables abandonan embarcación | Mahahual | Noticias | Eventos - Costa Maya Magazine

Originally Posted by PSX

Serenity
The "people on the boat" referred to in the article were the local 'buitres' (vultures) laying claim to the goodies, who beat the authorities to the punch.

Do you have any evidence to blame the locals for anything? In my understanding as far as the published facts go, the only intervention of the (poor) local community will be to pay for the removal of a boat from the reef. I would save the adjectives for the owner of the boat if he dos not pay for the damage as he would in his home country.

C