03-16-2010
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Long Island
Posts: 1,986
Rep Power: 4
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Storm Damage. Boat Saved by Police.
Monday morning the yard called to say my boom got loose. (?) I went down to find miscommunication. The mizzen boom was broken. The bow line and spring lines had parted in the storm. Apparently the Suffolk County Marine Police saw her trailing out by her stern line and brought her back alongside. The boom broke by coming down on a piling as the boat pitched. I'm told there were 3' waves in the harbor. I can fix the boom. I want to find those cops and thank them appropriately.
Lessons: The bow line was old, in good condition. It had chafing gear on it, though I previously noticed the chafing gear was chafing. I should have changed it. I should have renewed the bow line. I should have doubled up the lines before the storm. I might back up the lines with chain before the next storm. I'm going to grind a bigger radius onto the outer edge of the chock. I did replace the lines, and doubled them. I think I'll replace my anchor lines too (they look good, but old).
Had she broken free, at best she would have destroyed some nearby docks while chewing up her hull. At worst, she would have sailed onto the breakwaters right downwind and been pounded to splinters.
I try to make gear last as long as I can. No more with docklines.
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