Posted on 02/10/2018 7:58:49 PM PST by Innovative
A Colorado couple said they sold everything they owned to buy a sailboat and set out for the open seas together.
Within two days, their dream became a nautical nightmare. On their way to Key West, Tanner Broadwell and Nikki Walsh's voyage abruptly ended in John’s Pass off Madeira Beach, Fla., when their 28-foot sailboat struck something underwater Wednesday night.
(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...
Skipper: “No idea, it’s not important - let’s keep going....”
I love it when you swear in French!
When your *ass is in a sling and you’re lucky enough to have someone else aboard and are facing your imminent demise, you can’t afford to start politely asking about “untying” (uncleating) from that doodad protrusion (cleat) on the mast that (no, no, not that one - the other one!) vertical line (halyard) that hauls that really big white sail (#1/Genoa/Jenny) at the pointy end of the boat (bow) or cutting that little (stopper) knot you tied into the whatchamecallit rope (line, mainsheet) that prevents it from disappearing through that “pulley” (block) or risk losing your “other big jezus sail” (main) and letting a hunk of tubular aluminum (boom) thrash inches above your head, etc., etc.
OTOH, care to splice the mainbrace?
This from their personal statement at the gofundme site. Something doesn’t smell right...
“We finally got the boat ready for our trip to Key West from Tarpon Springs Florida after working in a boat yard & delivering boats for a few months we left with food and supplies.”
“....after working in a boat yard....”
After removing the keel bolts and setting up our GoFundMe page......
You must be a big hit on Talk Like A Pirate Day.
I’m a boater...and there’s no way I would have taken off for ‘the open seas’ in a 28 ft boat. Just too darn small.
He was pretty inept and had been relegated to squadron bicycle and MoGas monitors. His job was to keep the 2 Roll-fast bikes in working condition and keep a chart showing gas usage and how much was left. he failed to keep track of the gas and the bikes sucked but nobody used them much. he tried to retire but was told he still had another year - couldn't even keep track of how long he was in.
He was only responsible for the bikes for his last year and finally got to pursue his dream - a deep sea fishing boat owner/captain.
He put all his money into the boat and took out a sizeable loan.
When he was taking his test, he ran into a pier and sank the boat.....
“A Colorado couple said they sold everything they owned to buy a sailboat and set out for the open seas together.”
There’s the whole story in one sentence.
I sure wouldn’t do it in a derelict 1969 Columbia. A well serviced 70’s - 80’s 27’ or 30’ Erickson or a Catalina, no problem. Great single hand coastal cruisers.
I learned on a 27 Erickson. Great little boat.
And I tell all the newbies....they’re big and have no brakes. After that I watch them in our marina practicing getting in and out of their slip and around the harbor. That’s a good thing. I’ve seen too many newbies pull in and take out the side of their boat on the slip rails. I saw one actually back into the piling of their dock.
My feelings exactly.
Maybe the reason I say that is we have a 40 ft blue water cruiser. I just can’t take the bouncing from the smaller. lighter boats like Cats. And boy do they bounce to me.
As long as we are talking sail, not power, I actually preferred that old 27 Erickson. We had to move up when the kids came along, a 36 Hunter then a 40 Beneteau.
Yeah sail. Our 40 is tight if I have a few people on board. The grandkids love the boat and like to go with me. I have lots of sleeping room but nowhere to store luggage so sometimes the boat looks like a college dorm room. I had the teenage granddaughter and her friend on board for a weekend not long ago. When I got up I had a path from the master berth to the companion way. lol
I’ve been on some day sailors, which I consider a 28 to be, and just can’t imagine staying/living on one.
Pfft, gorillas are native to equatorial regions only...
Their go fund me goal of $10K should be enough to cover mandatory salvage ops for the sunken boat.
Yikes! Glad I stuck to Western Lake Erie!
Yep. 27/30 is great for day sails or weekend mooring. We were in LA and spent most of our time at Catalina Island. The bigger the boat got, the longer we stayed, the boat looked like the Grapes of Wrath when we pulled back into the slip after 2 or 3 weeks on the Island.
Up in Puget Sound now and sail doesn’t make sense with the currents so it’s twin engine Searay.
Pier pressure can get you killed!
Yeah, we’re docked in Ventura so the islands are the getaway. We’ve had our boat about 17 years now and I’m ready to move to a big azz motor yacht. With the grandkids all getting older and dragging their friends along with them I need the room. I really like the older Hatteras 41 or 43 double cabins. Lots of room in the aft berth and salon with a separate galley. I also like the aft cabin Carvers. I’ve been looking and if I run across a deal...BAM!
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