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Almost lost my boat today

14K views 64 replies 32 participants last post by  jpl4nscale 
#1 ·
Yep thats right, the one I just bought 5 days ago, the nice little CAL 25 I been talking about in these forums and posted pics of. Get this, I am at work today and get a call from the guy who sold me the boat, he tells me the police department just called him. He tolded me the police said the boat came unmoored and was up against the causeway bridge, about 6 miles out in the lake and at least 8 or 9 miles from where it was moored. At this point I thought no way! I know thats not my boat, I was just there on Tuesday, all day and evening cleaning and straightening it up. I made double sure she was tied up well, I mean I made DOUBLE sure! The tow boat operator said that all of my ropes were on the boat so it looked as if someone took the dock ropes off the pier and it was done purposely. So, as I thought, someone had deliberately took my dock ropes off the pier and thrown it on the boat. The tow boat operator also told me I was lucky, the boat was all intact and everything appeared to be ok the bridge never did it anything and even my tolling motor was still on back.

The police called me this evening to file a report. The officer on the phone told me they have had problems in the past with boats moored there. Hoodlums would walk up and down the side of the pier, so he thinks they may have done it. I was thinking it was possible the guy I bought it from may have had an ex-wife or girlfriend mad at him and never knew he sold it and wanted to get back at him by un-mooring his boat.I don't know about this though, its just a thought.

Is this something that happens? Why would someone do this? Do I need to put chains on my boat, has it gotten this bad? People this happened in Mandeville, LA! I would have never thought! Its not like my boat was abandoned for days upon end, I was only gone from it a total of 2 days since I bought it. Its only there temporary just until I get my slip, I need to get the registration transferred in my name before I get insurance and finally the slip.
 
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#29 ·
I just found this thread, Sailguy40, and you have my extreme sympathies. :( What you said about not messing with a person's boat is right on.

So, it was a crappy way to start out for sure, but luckily you've got some great advice from the many capable Sailnetters here. You take care of this problem, and you'll really be bonded with your Cal 25.

I hope you'll keep us in the loop as your fix progresses!
 
#33 · (Edited)
Thanks but I think I must of already been bonded with my boat. I guess the bonding must of happened within the first 2 days :laugher It sure is weird because normally yes I would be mad but with this try mad x10 :hothead Yeah I got some really good advice thats for sure. From what I am seeing, it seems if I can just get the mast down (which I am going to try) I might can fix it for a couple hundred dollars. I actually do have the spreader that came off. Just both end peices are gone, the mounting piece and the rubber fitting that the shroud fits in, but its just old and shot, probably needed to be replaced anyway. West Marine has a lot of this stuff. Not sure about the rubrail but I think they had those too. I just have to get the darn mast down. I even thought about renting a lift truck (actually was pretty reasonably priced) and just working on the mast like that. This way I would not even have to take it down. I am going to put it in a marina where it is at, I am cancelling the southshore deal. I don't have a choice because it can't be sailed or even motored with the mast as it is now. If that aft shroud breaks, and its weak too, that mast is going to come crashing down. I am also wondering if I have a small leak in the front of the keel. I had some water collect there but its probably from a deck leak elsewhere, had some rain that day. It had a couple minor deck leaks the seller had told me about. I bilged the water out and mopped it all up. So now if it don't rain in a few days and it has water down there when I go back, it must have a very slow leak and I will have to fix it.
 
#31 ·
Here's an idea.

Take a trail camera with an infrared flash, hitch it somewhere inconspicuous with a field of vision on the approach to the boat. Could be an outward piling, dress it up like a hunk of old tire, somewhere hard to see and hard to get to, because if they see it after they do their crime, they have to try to steal it or break it.

This way at least you get a shot at knowing the next time (hopefully there won't be) that someone F's with your territory.

Here's one
Amazon.com: Wildview Infrared Digital Video Recorder with 24 IR Emitters, 32 MB Memory: Sports & Outdoors
 
#32 ·
Practical things you can do:
1- Change the name on the transom, and change the colors fo some trim and the sail cover.
If someone has a grudsge against the past owner, this may give them a hint "It ain't his boat any more!". Changing marinas would also help that.

2- Spend some money on security. Put in a cheap car alarm with a trigger switch tied ot the dock, so if it is cut free an alarm will go off. You can add a pressure mat in the cockpit or other sensors to go off if someone boards, this ain't rocket science.

3- Add a GPS tracker, like a Zoombak or Blackstone Harpoon or Entourage (aka Passport) or similar. Available from Escort (Cincinatti Microwave) and Radio Shack or directly online. Not cheap, about $150 plus that much again annually but it will track your boat and can alert you if the boat leaves the dock without you.
 
#35 ·
Sailguy,

The mast is aluminum, and if your dimensions are similar to mine, the mast will weight between 70-90 lbs.

Look at the base of the mast. It should have a pivot bolts. Some masts have a rounded foot that will allow them to be lowered either forward or aft, my mast can only be lowered aftwards.

The trick to lowering the mast is that as the mast gets lower, you need a greater mechanical advantage to keep it from dropping (until someone can finally reach it, and hold it up).

Two good methods are to use a gin pole, or to get some lumber and put together an A-frame. Google for "unstepping a mast". Several youtube videos and links pop up.

You're right- if you can get the mast down, you can easily make the repairs. This weekend I was shown a nifty tool for measuring shroud tension. It's like a scale, and it's used for tuning your rig. At the very least, you could make sure they're all set to the same tension when you're done. I don't think the tool was expensive.

I do believe that these repairs could be made aloft if you had to, it would just be a hassle. For that, you'd buy a leg harness or a bosun's chair and have a buddy grind you to up the mast using the winch on the side of the mast, or one of the larger jib sheet winches in the cockpit.

Take a line up with you, tied to a bucket and have your buddy on hand to load it up with whatever tools and parts you need to make the repairs.

Take some pictures of the broken parts and the base of your mast so we can help you better.
 
#36 ·
With all due respect, I see that you are new and lost.
Go to on line for used books and get a copy of:
"The Sailor's Sketchbook" by Bruce Bingham.
There you will find out how to single hand raise and lower your mast.
With respect to Outboard hp, 8-10 is nuts!!!
4 ideal, 6 plenty, for that boat.
Respectfully,
Dick
 
#37 ·
I wouldn't try to make any repairs by going aloft on a Cal 25 that has a broken spreader and damaged shroud. That's just foolish IMHO, since the mast isn't all that robust to begin with. It also is easy enough to unstep the mast using an a-frame or gin pole setup, so there's really no reason to go aloft.
 
#38 · (Edited)
Referances and information regarding your boat are available at Cal 25 Class Association . Given that there is an abundance of Cal 25's and a very active Owners' Association, it would be wise to correspond with a few of the other owners that have delt with the boat. And, as previously noted, attempting to go aloft on a Cal 25 would be very foolish.

FWIW...

OOP'S----FIRST LISTED WRONG YACHT--THE ABOVE HAS BEEN CORRECTED!
 
#41 · (Edited)
Oopsie--You're right. I was reading a different thread then flipped over to this and lost track of which was which. It's a problem of old age! I have made the correction. Thanks for the head's up!
 
#42 · (Edited)
On my Victory 22, I had a slip right next to a boat house. I actually got the boat to heel (tilt) to the point where I could used a step ladder on top of the boat house to reach the top of the mast, which was now over the boat house roof/sun deck.

I got it to heel (tilt) by running one of the lines (ropes) that go to the top over to a firm attachement point on the far side og th boathouse. Then I used the winch at the base of the mast and cranked.

Note that I attached the dock lines to the dock on the side of the boat away from the boat house, then under the boat and onto the cleats on the side of the boat closest to the boat house. That way the dock lines helped heel (tilt) the boat too.

Anyway, that method worked for me. It might work for you on a day when it is not a full or new moon (which have big tidal changes typically).

You would have to have the broked spreader (horizontal bar with the lights on it) on the side closest to the boat house. Otherwise you'd break the mast for sure. And your boat is bigger than mine was. You might break something anyway.

While this may be an option, I think you are much better off lowering the mast. Good advice to read up on how to do it. Unsupported, the mast could fall like a tree and there's a reason people run when someone yells "Timber!"

Regards,
Brad

My lawyer just called... Don't actually do any of this.
 
#44 ·
Sailguy40

I'm guessing that you have your boat tied to a public pier.

I know that you are trying to get your sailboat to the big easy (N.O.)
But maybe you should find a marina in Mandeville to put your boat till you can make the repairs. You can easly find a slip to rent for a month. The Landing Marina is very close. I know that if you talked to the owner he may cut you a good deal. Get your boat in a safe place where you can make the repairs need.
 
#45 ·
You have hit it to the exact buddy. This is exactly what I had decided to do today. I am planning on calling the Prieto Marina tomorrow, seeing if they have any vacant slips. When I get it in the marina, I will probably sleep on the boat a couple nights out of the week while I work on it some in the evenings. I can probably start getting a lot done then. I hope to have it in pretty nice shape in a couple of months.
 
#46 ·
Hopefully I can get some help soon to unstep my mast. Was going to give it a shot today alone but its just too tall. I am 5'11 240lbs and I was still intimidated by it, just did not seem like a good idea at least the first time to do it alone. I noticed there are only 4 bolts holding it to the plate. So when I get some help, I hope we can bring her on down.
 
#47 ·
I totally understand the frustration of knowing you can get some work done if only you had an extra hand. I was fortunate enough to be paid a visit by an experienced sailor this past weekend to get some work done on my rigging.

Hang in there, bribe your buddies if you have to. ;)
 
#49 ·
Well, finally got her safe and sound in a marina this afternoon. Brought the tiller home today, going to re-stain it in a darker color. If it comes out good, I am going to do the rest of the wood on the cabin in the same color. I was going to do a lot of cosmetic stuff on it anyway, may as well do it now while I wait to try to get some help to bring the mast down.
 
#51 ·
I hope you've at least tied a halyard to the chainplates or toerail to support the mast where the spreader is missing...
 
#50 ·
Sailguy,

Congratulations on getting her to a safe place.

Regards,
Brad
 
#52 ·
Had some guys out at the marina today who were very helpful and gave me a hand at securing my mast (and boat) better. So at least it will be ok for the time being. They had also gave me some contact info of someone who can help me out with mast repair, hopefully this will be the solution. On top of this, I just happen to run into a guy in homedepot who just so happen to be buying stuff for his sailboat. He had a big 38 footer. He also just so happen to have his boat in a marina right next to mine. Lucky I know :laugher So he gave me a hand with the drains in the cockpit. Still not functional though, have to get new hose fittings and maybe a couple new hoses, not a big deal.
 
#54 ·
#55 ·
Hi all, I had sold my boat, signed and done as of yesterday. The guy who had bought it was very familiar with the Cal 25s and was looking for one. He has big plans for it and said me he is going to get it all painted and ready for the summer. He is going to send me some pics when he is done, can't wait to see it. I know he is happy with it I can say that much.

Currently I am boatless but I doubt for long. I am going to be looking at a Catalina 25 tomorrow and I am most likely going to get it. There are a few others at the marina I am going to look at too but so far I am leaning on the Catalina. Hopefully I will have better luck with this one, it is a nice boat I can say that much and looks like a good step up from the Cal. There is also a Hunter 22 that looks to be in solid shape but I want to try and stay with at least a 25ft. From what I have read, these are two strong names for sailboat manufacturers and I doubt I could go wrong with either one of them.

All of this said, what the heck is it with the attachment to these things?? I think it is funny and also kind of strange. I feel like I broke up with a girlfriend or lost a dog. Unbelieveable, especially considering I only had the boat for about a month. I even had my friend who was helping me with it off and on say he was getting attached to it. Not sure if I got issues or this is normal, perhaps since it was my first boat that could be the reason? Darn, no wonder some guys name their boats after a wife or girlfriend. I once seen a big sailboat named "significant other", I bet it really WAS his significant other... :laugher No wonder captains choose to go down with their ship, I guess boat love is a real thing. I wonder if its legal to marry your boat? Any of you guys married your boats? :laugher Not sure what kind of engagement ring to get for my next one. Sure hope she is not high maintenance. I better not tell my girlfriend, she will think I am cheating on her. Ok now I think this is going too far. Next thing I know, I will be on some talk show trying to explain why I was seeing a boat behind my girlfriends back :laugher
 
#56 ·
Wow, that was fast! I hope you keep your girlfriends longer than that. Otherwise you're gonna buy a lot of "engagement rings" for these things!

I closed on a Catalina 250 yesterday - bringing her to the new marina today. If it's a production boat you want, I'd go with Catalina over Hunter every time, but I am biased.
 
#58 ·
Well guys, good news for me, i'm finally "back in the club" ;) I had bought another boat yesterday, and she is absolutely beautiful! I am talking a huge step up from what I had. Put it this way the only thing I need to do to this boat is start the motor, un-moor it and head out. I will post some pics up here when I can. At last, that was a miserable experience I went through and I know I will have much better luck with this boat. I thank many here for the support and I knew this would not keep me from sailing again. I guess other then having empty pockets, I can say this is a happy ending to a sad story. Also, i'm glad my first boat found a new home to someone who is going to fix her up good.
 
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