Just Rolled... err, Sank - Into the Shop

"functionoverfashion" (functionoverfashion) 08/07/2015 at 08:42 • Filed to: boatlopnik, justrolled, justsank, estimates

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So, I got a phone call yesterday from my father in law. He got a call from a neighbor that his boat was “on the bottom.” Usually people like to be dramatic about “sunk” boats that are really just swamped. But “on the bottom” doesn’t leave a lot of room for interpretation. We found this:

So, the marina came down and lifted it, then towed it back and hauled it out. No major obvious leaks. We think the cover blew partly off in a bad storm earlier this week, thus allowing rain to go straight into the boat. We’ve had some crazy localized storms this week, and maybe the batteries just couldn’t keep up with the water.

Bummer, because it has been recently totally restored, and the engine was running perfectly. But being fairly mechanically simple, it might be fine. They are going to get it running today and see what they can find.

When I worked at the marina, we could sometimes return sunken boats to a customer on the same day. Depends on the electrical stuff more than anything. A simple enough engine can just be “pickled” aka run diesel fuel in with the oil, then run a few fresh oil changes through, let it warm up and dry out... it’s just not as bad as you would think. But we’re mostly worried about the wood finish. The motor box got bounced around in the boat with the incoming waves, too. But that’s easy to replace, compared to refinishing the entire hull above waterline. We’ll see...

To throw some humor in this, I thought of these clips immediately:

THShorn92 - Left his car in America > functionoverfashion 08/07/2015 at 08:47

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Wow, That makes me incredibly sad. I love wooden boats like that. Growing up on the ocean nobody ever really had them because, well the salt does bad things to boats like that.

functionoverfashion > THShorn92 - Left his car in America 08/07/2015 at 09:15

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Well, we are hopeful that it will be running again - probably later today actually - and most importantly, hopeful that the finish isn’t ruined. It was only down maybe 12-18 hours? It was floating Wednesday afternoon, and out of the water Thursday by 5:00pm.

punkgoose17 > functionoverfashion 08/07/2015 at 09:35

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Thank you for the ATHF.

functionoverfashion > punkgoose17 08/07/2015 at 09:49

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Dude, the clip with the “Did you get any estimates?” was probably the single-most uttered line from any media for years, among a few of us at the marina. Every time one of us had anything go wrong with a vehicle, first question. hahaha.
“Oh for friggin. I JUST. WALKED OUT HERE. I JUST. FOUND IT THIS WAY!!”

It makes me smile, every time. That and the Christmas Special where Carl has to eat carpet. “Don’t get too attached there, Alladin, it’s about to be Magic Flyin’ Dinner!” Lol.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > functionoverfashion 08/07/2015 at 10:26

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Oh man, those boats are so beautiful, hopefully they get it nice again for you guys.

You’ll have to keep us updated!

functionoverfashion > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 08/07/2015 at 10:45

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Will do. I’m sure it’s being cleaned thoroughly right now, it was covered in gas and oil, predictably. I’ll reply to my original post with another pic of the boat... above water, before all this.

functionoverfashion > functionoverfashion 08/07/2015 at 10:46

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A little “before” shot. I have more pics I’m sure, but not on my work computer. This is from two summers ago, just after the boat was restored.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > functionoverfashion 08/07/2015 at 10:47

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Damn fine looking boat

WiscoProud > functionoverfashion 08/07/2015 at 11:03

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I love ATHF. I've been recording the reruns and rewatching them. Even my wife likes the show AND the movie. I am certain we are the only people we know who own the movie.

functionoverfashion > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 08/07/2015 at 11:16

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Yeah, I love that thing. I totally left out that it’s a 1956 Shepherd, 18 foot. Funny/not funny, if you GIS “Shepherd Boats” the second image is one that’s sinking.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > functionoverfashion 08/07/2015 at 11:28

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...damn

functionoverfashion > functionoverfashion 08/07/2015 at 13:36

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Another shot, it in its full glory...

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > functionoverfashion 08/17/2015 at 15:53

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I love the credit quote. My brother used to recite it all the time.

It was true about him, too.

functionoverfashion > functionoverfashion 08/17/2015 at 15:57

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UPDATE! The boat is alive and... okay. It was running the next day, though not in the water. We think the forward bilge pump got stuck on (it has a float switch) and killed the batteries, thus allowing the continued incoming water to sink it.

Overall damage is pretty minimal, the wood finish looks to be okay and the mechanicals are okay too. It needs a starter and a generator, and the gauges are questionable but might be ok. The interior parts (seat cushions) may take a month to dry out. The engine cover took a beating, needs some repairs. That’s about it!