We almost bought it

[jahoward1]

Early this morning about 4am, myself along with two other friends loaded up my Aquasport and headed out to the Barnegat Bay.  Once in the inlet, we started drifting while throwing jigs and anything else we could think of that might attract a striper.  During my second drift, we noticed that we were getting close to the jetty rocks, so I attempted to start my motor but nothing happened.  I kept trying but soon I discovered that the boat was being pushed into the rocks and we were in trouble.  Now the panic starts as we're now throwing on life vests and unsuccessfully attempting to use the oar and during this, I'm still trying find out why the motor won't start.  

The real trouble starts as a large wave smashes my boat into the rocks,  I was prepared for that but not the boat being pushed up onto higher rocks then only to be pulled back down to water level all the while hearing those large rocks banging the outside of the boat,  next thing I see was foamy water running along the deck saturating everything in its path  when i saw that I really thought that that the boat was sinking.  The coast guard was not getting there fast enough. At some point, i unsnapped my life ring but I don't remember why. My young passenger was planning to jump off the boat onto the jetty but continually. asked him to stay.  I only saw disaster happening if we left the boat.

Another wave hits and the boat is now high up and the bow is tilted down. This is the point when I feel real fear as the boat threatens to roll over and fall from the top rocks where we were perched. This was the first time that death or severe injury looked like it might happen.  Out of desperation, I turned the key and the motor kicked over. My friend was screaming to me not to drop the motor due to a very large rock. The whole time I was asking God to start the motor.  Suddenly and I can't remember how the boat is floating in the water and when I turned the key she actually fired up and the next thing I knew we were free.  

The coast guard arrived and escorted us back to the dock,  A lot of water flowed out of my boat so I'm not sure if her hull was completely penetrated.  There's a lot damage to the hull some of the lower unit is bent but all in all I'm happy yo be alive and happy my friends are alive.  When I got home I called the insurance company.

Now my question. Anybody been through this know what's going to happen next?  My boat, engine and trailer are insured for 10k.  There are probably a dozen separate spots where the gelcoat has been ripped away down to the fiberglass. The fin on the bottom the motor is bent and the motor didn't run well.  The transducer and the swim ladder were also damaged. What can I expect and is there anything I should do or anybody I should call. Thanks you for reading this long statement.

See ya


James H

[RickK]

 Scary. How long did this go on for?
Glad you're ok.

[wingtime]

Glad to hear you are ok and no one was injured. Sounds like a scary ordeal but you handled it well and not waiting until it was to late to call the coasties was smart.

The bent skeg is a easy repair. They can just weld on a new one. The gel repair can add up fast but it will depend there is structural damage to the glass underneath. The insurance adjuster will send out an adjuster to survey the damage.

[jahoward1]

I'm not gonna keep going on about this but I made a lot of mistakes yesterday.  I was told (and I agree) that I should never turn my motor off drifting that close to the jetty. My noise making canned siren didn't work and I never once thought about sending up flares although we were trying to get another boats attention.  And I don't know if I'm going to require grown men wear PFDs but I'm going to make everybody take theirs out, fit it and know where it is. The incident seemed like it went on a long but it lasted about 6 minutes.

[jdupree]

Glad you and your crew are OK :!:   Sorry about the damage to your boat but it can be repaired.

I would not beat yourself up over the incident.  You must have done something right because your boat and crew are OK.

All of us have made mistakes running a boat.  The most important thing is to learn from these situations so you can apply what you have learned in case a situation like this happens again

[gran398]

Amen to that! No one is King Neptune.

Glad you all are safe, God Bless. The boat can be repaired.

[jahoward1]

Well I'd be remiss if I don't mention how proud I was of my 1997 Aquasport 200 Osprey! She took a real beating. The whole time I kept hearing those deep booms from those rocks hitting the hull and she kept up safe. The water that ran out of her might have been the water that ran over the transom that somehow ran into the anchor locker. So I'm unsure if there's structural damage but she got us out of there.  Whata boat!

[CTsalt12]

Very scary story.  Reminds us all to have your anchor ready and accessible while drift fishing.  Glad everyone made it out okay and doesn't sound like your hull is ruined.  Actually sounds like you got really lucky on all accounts

[Aswaff400]

glad everyone is ok.

got any pics of the damage to the hull?  sounds like its easily repairable...

[jahoward1]

glad everyone is ok.

got any pics of the damage to the hull?  sounds like its easily repairable...

A friend of mine, a long time boater looked at my boat and told me the damage is minor.  I'll post some pics soon.  Thanks

[flounderpounder225]

You all were very fortunate, and it sounds like you handled everything as well as you could have given the circumstances.  I have been in some pretty scary scenarios, but never up on jetty rocks, that would scare the *&%$ out of me, hearing the rocks crushing at the hull.  As JD and others have stated... the lessons you learn on the ocean you will never forget, you will always think way ahead in situations like this, and the "what if" question will always be more present in your thoughts... pass on your knowledge to others if your on other vessels, maybe help someone avoid your situation?  Take care and good luck on the repairs, hopefully superficial.  

[TheKid]

happens out there. I am glad you are safe as well.

I don't know if I'm going to require grown men wear PFDs but I'm going to make everybody take theirs out, fit it and know where it is..

This is an excellent idea. We always wear them. The new inflatables are quite comfortable.

You might also consider a safety speech prior to each outing. Even for the regular crew.Go over everything, how to contact the CG, where the safety equipment is and when to use it, MOB procedure, where the anchor is, how to start the boat, change batteries with switch, and anything else you can think of. After doing this a few times it just becomes part of the routine.

Again, glad you are safe at home.

[bondobill]

.

Now my question. Anybody been through this know what's going to happen next?  My boat, engine and trailer are insured for 10k.  There are probably a dozen separate spots where the gelcoat has been ripped away down to the fiberglass. The fin on the bottom the motor is bent and the motor didn't run well.  The transducer and the swim ladder were also damaged. What can I expect and is there anything I should do or anybody I should call. Thanks you for reading this long statement.

See ya


James H

Happy everyone got out in 1 piece

Now for your question about the insurance part.
You need to get your boat to a shop of your choice who you want to fix it. Have them run a  estimate on repairs to hull and engine. Never accept a estimate written from a insurance adjuster, without having a estimate from a shop.
Insurance adjusters are taught to write estimates.....in insurance company terminology, best case scenario....... in other words cheap.
If there is a large difference in the shop of your choice estimate and the estimate from the adjuster you are much better off having the shop argue your case for you.
You need no more than 1 estimate, the insurance co. will have to deal with the shop of you choice.

Dealing with some insurance adjusters is kinda like wrestling a hog in the mud...... after a while you realize they enjoy it.

Good Luck

Bill

[seabob4]

James, glad you guys are OK, and the Osprey will probably look better after the repairs are done!


Now, the real deal...what happened to the motor?  Given a decent tide and seas, I probably would have kept the motor running.  But that's your choice.  Sooooo, we have to figure out why she wouldn't fire off when you needed it!

[GoneFission]

You might also consider a safety speech prior to each outing. Even for the regular crew.Go over everything, how to contact the CG, where the safety equipment is and when to use it, MOB procedure, where the anchor is, how to start the boat, change batteries with switch, and anything else you can think of. After doing this a few times it just becomes part of the routine.
Again, glad you are safe at home.

USCG requires a safety briefing for commercial vessels (even uninspected ones!), and I usually do one each time I go out, especially with folks if it's their first time on the boat (some of you heard a version during Octoberfest).  I've got a plastic-laminated card I ask newbies to review that shows the locations of fire extinguishers, flares, and PFDs, as well as some basic safety rules/procedures.