The Windy city lives up to its name - boats damaged

[Dawghouseagain]

We had a real gem of a storm here last night. High winds and waves of 25 feet in Lake Michigan. Several boats broke free of their moorings and were bashed against the stone walls that surround the museum campus. I keep my boat in this harbor, luckily I had her hauled out for the winter this weekend. Check out the story at:

Boats Knocked Off Moorings Near Museum Campus « CBS Chicago

There is video of the boats loose against the wall. Hurts to look at.

[mbetter]

I hauled a couple of weeks ago, pretty glad I did.

Looks like the wind was out of the north, which means that the south harbor would have been hit the worst.

[Dawghouseagain]

You are right about that south end. The debree seems to have all accumulated at that southwest corner of the harbor. I am at SS16, on the south end right off the east wall. I recognize a couple of the boats in the footage from the harbor. I can't imagine what it would be like to watch the news and see the boat crashing into the wall or sunk. Ouch.

[zaldog]

I shot this on my way to work. Glad I moved my boat 2 weeks ago.

Most harbors where affected by wicked 50 knot winds. This video is the aftermath of a very windy night 15 boats where blown of there moorings and around 8 of those sank. This videos shows boats in the early morning still floating a few where moved away from the wall the rest are now at the bottom. The big issue is that more than half of the boats mooring cans broke from the cement base on the floor of the harbor not at the mooring harness or boat cleats. Westec Marine will have a lot of explaining to do.

Monroe Harbor Chicago storm aftermath Part 1 - YouTube

[CarbonSink62]

OMG That is more depressing than a pit bull mauling a kitten.

Thanks for posting!

[Dawghouseagain]

I dont even want to think about what the damage would have been like if this had occured a couple weeks ago before most people had hauled their boats. That south end gets pretty crowded with all of the 25 foot moorings and it would have looked like bumper-boats as those loose boats made their way south through the mooring field. Thanks for sharing that video.

[Dawghouseagain]

...More footage for those who are interested.....

Monroe Harbor Disaster - YouTube

Monroe Harbor storm of the decade - YouTube

Monroe Harbor disaster aftermath 10.20.2011 - YouTube

[smallboatlover]

does that mean you could take any of those boat just floating there? salavage law?

[johnnyandjebus]

Originally Posted by smallboatlover

does that mean you could take any of those boat just floating there? salavage law?

I doubt it, doesn't the boat have to be abandoned by it's owner first? These were clearly not.

The eastern end of lake Ontario has had about 6 days of solid wind, the worst being last Saturday. 50 plus knots and heavy rains. I spent the day, off and on, at the marina keeping an eye on things. It was amazing to me how few boat owners were down doing the same thing. No serious damage but a slip next to mine did break away from the pier with a 36-40 ft Hunter attached. It was anchored at the rear end so it didn't go anywhere and fortunately, for me at least, it was down wind of my slip.

Haul out is Sunday

John

[sailortjk1]

Originally Posted by zaldog

The big issue is that more thp0an half of the boats mooring cans broke from the cement base on the floor of the harbor not at the mooring harness or boat cleats. Westec Marine will have a lot of explaining to do.

Where did you hear this?
Do you have first hand knowlege or is this hearsay?
I have not heard this and I have been closely following the situation all day.
I am personally connected with 3 boats that broke loose.
I would be very interested in hearing where you got this information as I am sure the owners of the damaged boats will be as well.
Do you have evidence to back this up?