Dinghy watch

[PBzeer]

Stepping out into the cockpit today to check on my dinghy (high winds today and tomorrow), I looked over at the boats next to me and saw that ones' dinghy was riding bow up. By the time I got over in my dink, they had come on deck to the same scene. Fortunately, after much effort and the use of the davits, we were able to get her back on top of the water.

Unsure how their dink got swamped, as it was riding on a painter from the bow and should have rode the chop here in the harbor. Best guess is a wave and wind gust caught the bow at the same time, and with the weight of the motor, the stern shipped enough water to go under.

He got his outboard running again, but it died later, so no telling what shape it's in, since there's no way to know how long it was underwater. Good chance he got some water in his fuel tank since it was floating cap side down with the vent open.

While this was probably a freak occurence, doesn't hurt to check on the dink every now and then, especially in bad weather.

[Stillraining]

idea of leaving the drain plug out on inflatables..while towing them or at night on a tether...A bucket full or water sloshing around is beter then a sunk motor..

[Freesail99]

John, are you still in the keys ?

[TrueBlue]

We were awoken at 2:00 am one morning by a sailor, while overnighting on True Blue in Cuttyhunk - a small remote island popular as a stopover for cruisers en-route to the Vineyard. This happened after a long night of good conversation and copious amounts of libations, on our friend's IP44.

He rapped on the hull yelling "Hey True Blue . . . hey True Blue". It seems as though I did a poor job of securing our dinghy upon returned to our boat - sometime after midnight. The very astute and courteous sailor returned it to us after it had drifted against his boat's hull.

After thanking him with a bottle of our finest wine, I asked how he knew the dinghy belonged to us. He said "It was easy, all I had to do was search the mooring field for the only boat without a dinghy tied to it's stern". Ever since, before turning in, I've made a point of double checking the painter with my wife reminding me as well.

[tdw]

Originally Posted by TrueBlue

We were awoken at 2:00 am one morning by a sailor, while overnighting on True Blue in Cuttyhunk - a small remote island popular as a stopover for cruisers en-route to the Vineyard. This happened after a long night of good conversation and copious amounts of libations, on our friend's IP44.

He rapped on the hull yelling "Hey True Blue . . . hey True Blue". It seems as though I did a poor job of securing our dinghy upon returned to our boat - sometime after midnight. The very astute and courteous sailor returned it to us after it had drifted against his boat's hull.

After thanking him with a bottle of our finest wine, I asked how he knew the dinghy belonged to us. He said "It was easy, all I had to do was search the mooring field for the only boat without a dinghy tied to it's stern". Ever since, before turning in, I've made a point of double checking the painter with my wife reminding me as well.

Personally I think you were way too trusting leaving the painter with your wife in the first place.

[TrueBlue]

Come to think of it tdw . . . the next morning I saw the boat that belonged to the guy who woke me up at 2:00, supposably retuning my "dinghy" - it was named, Painting Place.

Things that make you go Hmmmm.