Captain With Over 25 Years Of Experience Runs Aground

[Sparky1]

Oops! Lemme see... red, right, return. Yeah, that's it.

 

[GJH]

He was WELL between the sticks there. I just passed that spot this morning at high tide and understand exactly what happened; the extra five feet made it easy, but I sure needed three of them! Spots like this can sneak up on you in many spots on the AICW at lower tide. Been there, done that.

Was there a point to this post?

George

 

[Paul45c]

Oops! Lemme see... red, right, return. Yeah, that's it.

That's not nice at all, Sir Sparkalot. C'mon, you know how YOU (in a previous life) snuggled up against a nice sand bank. Back then you even had 2 good motors and still couldn't pull out!

 

[Sparky1]

He was WELL between the sticks there. I just passed that spot this morning at high tide and understand exactly what happened; the extra five feet made it easy, but I sure needed three of them! Spots like this can sneak up on you in many spots on the AICW at lower tide. Been there, done that.

Was there a point to this post?

George

Yes George, there was a point to this post... to give Pascal a hard time. Paybacks are hell.

I assume they issue notices to mariners concerning shoaling on the ICW, but maybe not. I was WELL outside the sticks (entrance buoys in the Gulf) when I grounded my 58 a couple of years ago, but according to SeaTow, it was a moon tide associated with a new sandbar that had been caused by a previous storm.

Pep... uh, Pascal knows I'm just busting his chops. Now he doesn't have to be worried about being grouped with the liars who say they've never run aground.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

I see no grounding. It looks to me like he is just checking the anchor.

Hopefully the boat did not sustain any damage.

 

[Sparky1]

I see no grounding. It looks to me like he is just checking the anchor.

You really did vote for Obama, didn't you?

 

[SKYCHENEY]

I can make up stuff like this too. Look, now it's out of the water for repairs!

Seeeeeeeeee!!!!!

 

[Sparky1]

Hey, I don't make stuff up.

http://www.boatered.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=120541&whichpage=6

Seeeee!!

I'm really disappointed that Pascal didn't share this with us so we could all learn. I fessed up on here when that sandbar jumped out in front of me, and I don't think it's happened to anybody else on here since then... except Pascal of course. LOL

 

[Pascal]

I didn't share it here because there was very little interest in the trip anyway... I did share it on a number of sites where the information can benefit others who run the ICW this fall.

Anyone who has run the ICW knows that there are some areas where you have far less water than advertised, even in the middle of the channel. This is the case north of the Ben Sawyer Bridge in Charleston.

I went thru the same area in the spring, also mid channel and there was 8' MLW... now there is 5'.... Knowing it was a possible trouble spot, i was already at slow idle approaching the area and bumping in and out of gear one engine at a time when i touched. So, Randy, it's not quite the same as running aground while on plane at night...

I knew i had a rising tide, so i just put out the anchor across the channel to make sure the wind woudlnt' push me off center and waited for the tide. An hour later i floated free... no damage, no vibration.

The picture shown on the hard was taken a month before while the boat was hauled out for various things incl underwater lights install.

Randy, you really need to get a life...

 

[Sparky1]

Ah Pascal, I do have a life and you just brought some joy into it.

Seriously, I'm glad you've found a way to get out more yourself. It beats the heck out of sitting tied to a dock. I wish you continued success in your new career, and I mean that.

 

[yachtbrokerguy]

If you have not run aground, you have not left the dock enough.
I just did that trip a few weeks ago bringing a new 52' Buddy Davis from New
Jersey to Fort Lauderdale for the boat show. I ran outside for most of the trip, but when on the inside I had to slow to idle like Pascal a number of times.

 

[doc g]

FWIW,The QE 2 ran aground this morning coming in from it's last voyage before it gets made into a hotel in Dubai....................Pat

 

[Brian Degulis]

Ah Pascal, I do have a life and you just brought some joy into it.

Seriously, I'm glad you've found a way to get out more yourself. It beats the heck out of sitting tied to a dock. I wish you continued success in your new career, and I mean that.

I'm just praying for his customers.

Brian

 

[Angela]

I'm just praying for his customers.

Brian

Hopefully, I have misunderstood your comment, but from the way I read it, it sounds to me like you think Pascal somehow puts his customers in peril. If that is, in fact, what you intended to convey, then you're DEAD WRONG!

I can tell all of you first hand that Pascal is one of the most capable captains I've come across. No voyage is ever perfect, and what counts when things get a little hairy, is that the captain knows instinctively what to do, how and when to do it, and with a "poker face" that does not alarm or panic the passengers.

When was the last time any of you made a 4,500 mile voyage without a single hiccup?

***********

As for seeing a photo of a boat hauled out, one shouldn't jump to the conclusion that something is broken and that that's the reason to put a boat on the hard. Sometimes we haul out to do maintenance, install underwater lights, or make other improvements, etc.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

As for seeing a photo of a boat hauled out, one shouldn't jump to the conclusion that something is broken and that that's the reason to put a boat on the hard. Sometimes we haul out to do maintenance, install underwater lights, or make other improvements, etc.

If you re-read my post you will see that I stated that I was "making stuff up". The photo was just used to illustrate that what you think you see and reality can be two different things. It was just my way of saying to the originator of this thread that we need to wait to really hear the facts from someone who was there. So, I was actually agreeing with you, Ang.

 

[captddis]

Hopefully, I have misunderstood your comment, but from the way I read it, it sounds to me like you think Pascal somehow puts his customers in peril. If that is, in fact, what you intended to convey, then you're DEAD WRONG!

I can tell all of you first hand that Pascal is one of the most capable captains I've come across. No voyage is ever perfect, and what counts when things get a little hairy, is that the captain knows instinctively what to do, how and when to do it, and with a "poker face" that does not alarm or panic the passengers.

When was the last time any of you made a 4,500 mile voyage without a single hiccup?

***********

As for seeing a photo of a boat hauled out, one shouldn't jump to the conclusion that something is broken and that that's the reason to put a boat on the hard. Sometimes we haul out to do maintenance, install underwater lights, or make other improvements, etc.

I have been running boats professionally since 1977 and have NEVER put anyones boat aground! Bumped a couple times but never aground.

I had someone else put my boat into the mud during the boat parade a few years ago, but he was following the lead boat that led everyone astray.


BTW Angela, Having made many east coast trips, I do not believe it is 4500 mi from Nantucket to Miami.

 

[Angela]

If you re-read my post you will see that I stated that I was "making stuff up". The photo was just used to illustrate that what you think you see and reality can be two different things. It was just my way of saying to the originator of this thread that we need to wait to really hear the facts from someone who was there. So, I was actually agreeing with you, Ang.

Yes, I know...I was just making a point to those who might have put Sparky's photo together with the other one and then drawn a conclusion that the captain damaged the boat and she was in for repairs. I wasn't really responding to your post, directly, though in retrospect, it may have appeared that way. Charmer does have new underwater lights now. I want some too!

 

[Angela]

I do not believe it is 4500 mi from Nantucket to Miami.

I was talking about the round trip voyage and that's the number I was told somewhere along the line; regardless, it's a long way there and back. How far is it from Miami, up the winding ICW, to Nantucket? That's got to be an awesome trip. I hope I get to do that some day.

 

[Pascal]

it's about 1750 miles each way from Miami to Nantucket... so 3500 miles round trip. not that it matters...

"Bumped a couple times but never aground."

Sounds like Bill Clinton's famous "define sex"!!! i'm not sure how you define aground or bumping... I know that when i see the bottom coming up and one of my prop bites in the mud, it's time to put an anchor and wait for the tide.

I guess if you don't do damage and don't have to call for a tow it's called bumping ? not that it matters...

certainly no damage in this case, I still top out at 29kts and change, vibration free.

Anyone having done the run in the ICW knows that what matters is NOW... 25, 15 or even a year ago is totally irrelevant because it changes almost monthly. Shoals builds up, especially near inlets, and are not always dredged, expecially in the past couple of years with very little funding.

also, the decline of commercial traffic is only making things worst... so today's ICW is not what it was in the past. Altogether, i probably saw 5 or 6 barges/tows on this trip...

unfortunately, some boats draw a more than others... up to 5' the ICW is a piece of cake... at a little over 6' (the boat has no prop pockets) it's a little challenging in a few spots.

Since i often drive Sanctuary, I'm sure Angela thanks you for your prayers Brian

BTW Randy, what are you doing on boaterEd? they kicked you out too (after a day or so...).

 

[captddis]

it's about 1750 miles each way from Miami to Nantucket... so 3500 miles round trip. not that it matters...

"Bumped a couple times but never aground."

Sounds like Bill Clinton's famous "define sex"!!! i'm not sure how you define aground or bumping... I know that when i see the bottom coming up and one of my prop bites in the mud, it's time to put an anchor and wait for the tide.

I guess if you don't do damage and don't have to call for a tow it's called bumping ? not that it matters...

certainly no damage in this case, I still top out at 29kts and change, vibration free.

Anyone having done the run in the ICW knows that what matters is NOW... 25, 15 or even a year ago is totally irrelevant because it changes almost monthly. Shoals builds up, especially near inlets, and are not always dredged, expecially in the past couple of years with very little funding.

also, the decline of commercial traffic is only making things worst... so today's ICW is not what it was in the past. Altogether, i probably saw 5 or 6 barges/tows on this trip...

unfortunately, some boats draw a more than others... up to 5' the ICW is a piece of cake... at a little over 6' (the boat has no prop pockets) it's a little challenging in a few spots.

Since i often drive Sanctuary, I'm sure Angela thanks you for your prayers Brian

BTW Randy, what are you doing on boaterEd? they kicked you out too (after a day or so...).

Well Pascal seeing as you have made only 2 trips up the coast I guess that makes you an expert. Maybe after another 50 you will learn the difference between a bump in mud and having to put the tender down and wait for the tide! The latter is aground. I believe it happened on the trip up as well so you are 2 for 2.

Doing new boat deliveries all they had was a compass. I did the trips without a depthsounder and only a handheld VHF.
I also run 200 mi a day, I made 100+ mi a day on my boat on 1 engine!

You went on a sight seeing trip, which is fine. Hovever arrogant know it alls always crash and burn as their cockyness gets them in trouble.

I believe Randy made more miles and locks and never had a grounding on his trip to TN and he ran night and day.