The never-ending project to fill my hole in the ocean while bailing it out

Season ‘06

- Page 33 -

Description

Tropical Storm Ernesto made its way up the New England coast over the weekend, forcing my friend Ted and me to put off taking Chip Ahoy out on Saturday, with its small craft advisory in effect.  (I took the launch out to the boat early that morning just to make sure everything was secure for the blow that had begun.)  Instead we waited until today, when wind and seas had died down.  Aboard, I noticed that the anchor was hanging strangely, cocked somewhat.  At the bow I noted the red on its tip and knew they'd be damage.  Leaning over the side, I discovered how much and how serious.  (Sep. 4, 2006)

One of the problems I've had with my anchor/roller setup is when I get to my mooring.  After bending two quick-release pins, I realized that in a breeze when Chip Ahoy swings on its mooring the tip of the anchor catches the taut mooring pennant as it crosses, putting considerable pressure on the anchor.  Thus, eventually the pin would bend.  My solution is to remove the pin then lift and tie the anchor higher with the line to the bow pulpit.  When I leave my mooring, I lower the anchor to the roller and reinsert the pin.  This method, though a bit of a nuisance, has worked well . . . until now.

In Ernesto's wind (taut pennant) and waves (energetic, constant rolling and swinging), the line from anchor to pulpit had loosened -- or to be more accurate, my knots loosened -- and the anchor gradually lowered and caught the pennant.  The pressure was so strong against the hull that the starboard fluke on the Delta anchor actually bent a bit.  The tip of the anchor chewed into the hull and caused this gouge.  Actually, I'm surprised the damage wasn't more extensive.  For now I've tied the anchor back up, even higher, and used two separate lines.

(Scroll down for more anchor damage)

Under its cover, Chip Mate the dinghy fared somewhat better at the dinghy dock; at least not filling up with rainwater.  It is the worse for damage nonetheless, at the crowded dock.  The outboard boat to its port has done some damage to its registration numbers, and the dinghy to its starboard is riding up over Chip Mate's covered gunwale, wearing on the new cover.

Chip Mate the dinghy is taking a beating at the dinghy dock; with it's cover at least it's not filling up with rainwater.  But at the crowded dock, the outboard boat to its port has done some damage to its registration numbers, and the dinghy to its starboard is riding up over Chip Mate's covered gunwale, wearing on the new cover.  The outboard dinghy on its porst side has a good rubber rubrail all around its gunwale -- except where it's been torn off, missing -- and that, of course, is precisely where it's rubbing against Chip Mate.  Now I know why I had to replace those damaged numbers last year.  I'll be replacing them again next season too.  It's definitely time to rig up some permanent fenders on Chip Mate -- past time.  Storms sure do expose any weaknesses!

I drilled a pair of holes in each gunwale and tied one fender to each side.  (Note the one space where the dinghy on the right of Chip Mate DOES NOT have a rubrail!)

When done I wasn't 100 percent satisfied -- I probably should have used a pair of larger fenders in this situation, but it's an improvement.  I'll know how much better this works after the next blow.  (More details)

Approaching Chip Ahoy by dinghy, I decided to take a closer look at the damage to the bow from beneath . . .

The damage as seen from the dinghy.

(Go on to next page for more anchor damage)