Scary moment

[Don T]

Hello,
Thought I would share an event from our last San Juan Island trip we just got back from.

Got caught out in the Haro Strait last Thursday 6/16, 25 kt wind and a very confused sea. I was motoring to Garrison bay, OK more like running for a snug harbor. I was soaked with sea spray and my glasses were obscured by same. As I came over a wave crest there was a log down in the trough I didn't see. 10" dia X 12' long with 10' of polyester line tied through a hole. KABAM it slammed into the motor, I was doing 12 mph. Stopped us dead in the water. I shut the motor down and ran up the tilt. The log was jammed between the motor and the transom and wouldn't come out. The wind was pushing us towards a very rocky shore, the log actually slowed our drift so in a funny way that was good. In that pitching sea I had to go out on the poop deck and kick that log free and untangle the line. It took an agonizing 3 minutes (seemed much longer) to accomplish this. I thought about stopping to set the anchor to stop us and turn us into the wind but continued working. Within 100 yards of the shore I knocked it free lowered the motor and prayed. The old Tohatsu fired right up and we were away. No vibration, no sign of damage that I could detect without a close inspection. I didn't hear it but my wife said she heard the log bumping down the hull before the big kaboom. When I trailered the boat the following Saturday I could see no sign of damage, not to the propeller, lower unit or hull. The only thing that happened was the inj oil level sensor popped out and when I raised the motor (both to free the log and later for inspection) a quantity of oil drained out in to the marina. Roche Harbor in a slip with the 65 footers. Embarrassing, the staff used absorbent pads around us and I jury rigged a repair with aluminum wire. All is well that ends well and I didn't get fined. Fortunately I use the expensive bio degradable inj oil or they might have. I have been boating in the "SS Otter" for 16 years and this is the first time I have hit something or fouled the water. I didn't like it much but it could have been a lot worse.

Don

[LOUIS B HOLUB]

Sounds like a close call toward something that couldve been a disaster.
Striking a log, at 12 mph, stopping the boat dead in the water is further proof these MacGregor transoms are built well.
We had a similar incident last year, striking a 14 ft. piece of Pier Plank debris...likewise, no damage.

[Phil M]

Hello,
Got caught out in the Haro Strait last Thursday 6/16, 25 kt wind and a very confused sea. I was motoring to Garrison bay, OK more like running for a snug harbor. I was soaked with sea spray and
...
Don

The largest waves I've ever encountered were in Haro Strait, but I was sailing with reefed sails. Might it have made a difference in your situation if you were sailing at the time? ( I have never hit a log. )

Phil M

[pokerrick1]

I've never hit a log, but in 2007, while sailing at about 5 MPH south of MDR toward an unloading oil tanker, I hit something real big and heavy - - - and it turned out to be a dead decapitated (is that redundant?) sea lion - - - probably 200 lbs or so Absolutely zero damage to my Pretty ugly sight.

Rick

edited for spelling of course

[c130king]

Mmmmmm.....

Sea Lion Bacon.....

[NiceAft]

Scary story Don, but informative. It's stories like this that help us all to remaine vigilant!


Ray

[Russ]

I've never hit a log, but in 2007, while sailing at about 5 MPH south of MDR toward an unloading oil tanker, I hit something real big an heavy - - - and it turned out to be a dead decapitated (is that redundant?) sea lion - - - probably 200 lbs or so Absolutely zero damage to my Pretty ugly sight.

Rick

There is so much material there to write a witty comment. I'd better pass.

[Russ]

You were lucky and apparently kept your cool and sorted out the situation well. It could have been a lot worse.

Years ago, I hit a floating telephone pole in our Hunter. Boom boom boom. The third boom was the rudder skeg which bent and pinched the rudder against the hull. It was a long trip back with the rudder jamming midway and we were offshore. It also was leaking seawater.

The Mac is a simple boat that is very resilient to hitting submerged objects with the motor being the biggest danger.

[Crikey]

Sometimes, I just can't help myself!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hP0kWqJJ ... re=related

Well, if you've never heard of Ren & Stimpy ..... er never mind!

[Don T]

Hello,
Got caught out in the Haro Strait last Thursday 6/16, 25 kt wind and a very confused sea. I was motoring to Garrison bay, OK more like running for a snug harbor. I was soaked with sea spray and
...
Don

The largest waves I've ever encountered were in Haro Strait, but I was sailing with reefed sails. Might it have made a difference in your situation if you were sailing at the time? ( I have never hit a log. )

Phil M

The largest waves I've encountered with my Mac were out in the Strait of Georgia but at least the sea was organized and careful piloting with motor, reefed main and a small triangle of jib kept the boat fairly steady and me dry.

[Don T]

Hello,
Thought I would update my fix for the Tohatsu M50D oil tank sensor that caused the oil slick. After 16 years of service the glue holding it in was jarred loose in the impact and the rubber grommet no longer had a good seal with the tank, so it fell out. I fabricated a retainer out of stainless to hold it in place and found I could put thin A/C O-rings around the grommet. Now it has a firm seal and will never puke oil out at a marina again.

[Divecoz]

Well I am Impressed DonT....Nice job...SS is a pain to work with and it sure appears you hand built a nice unit.. ( humm Pipefighter? Belt Buckles? )

[Craig LaForce]

Mine broke also, I found a rubber cork and jammed it in the hole (and removed the sensor) . I like your fix better.

[Don T]

Well, I am a music teacher now but I do have 30 years in automotive. Very much a Jack of all, master of none guy.

Thanks

[arvid]

I planned to passing nearby an area with underwater rocks when crossing towards the wind who acted to be safe & stable , then an hard windgust out from nothing - or from hull ? - pressed me to near the rocks and i heard a scratching noise ... It is practical with swing centerboard - it nearly need only some new paint , if i had sailed a boat with fixed keel the damage had been fatal and expensive ..... Maybe there should been a rubberwheel on the frontend of centerboard so it would roll softly over what it hitted ?