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Hurricane Sandy - Sinking!

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joesoboti
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Hurricane Sandy - Sinking!

Post by joesoboti » Sat Nov 03, 2012 7:24 am

Help!
Poor 'Oh Baby' is sitting on the bottom in a few feet of water at the dock. A victim of Sandy, she ran out dock line when the tide increased 10 feet over normal high tide.

Any advice on raising her? Nuggets, words of wisdom, things to not do, things I should do. David Van Ness will be handling the engine.

Thanks in advance!

-Joe Soboti
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Mark Christensen
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Post by Mark Christensen » Sat Nov 03, 2012 8:44 am

What year is the boat? Model? Length?
1961 24' Chris Craft Sportsman - CUA-24-0007C
1940's Homebuilt 14' Racing Hydroplane
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joesoboti
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Hurricane Sandy -

Post by joesoboti » Sat Nov 03, 2012 8:55 am

1956 Continental 23'

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Mark Christensen
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Post by Mark Christensen » Sat Nov 03, 2012 9:04 am

Hw deep of water is she in? The way I've seen it done is with 2 pontoon boats and lots of straps. Then slowly slowly bring her out of the water. I'm in NYC. Would love to lend a hand if you need it before the freeze.
1961 24' Chris Craft Sportsman - CUA-24-0007C
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Post by Mark Christensen » Sat Nov 03, 2012 9:05 am

Post pics of the situation if you can.
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Post by mfine » Sat Nov 03, 2012 9:42 am

If you have lifting rings, get some winches or chain falls and jack it up just to the surface. Use a gas powered pump or a bunch of people with buckets to bail it out, slowly lifting inch by inch until she will float enough on her own to keep new water from coming in. Keep bailing but stop winching (let her float up) until the bilge is mostly dry.

Disconnect the battery and resist all temptation to use anything electric on the boat. ASAP, get the engine dried out by Dave, and get all electrical switches dry and cleaned with a contact cleaner before anything corrodes. Also any relays that are serviceable or salvageable. Not sure about gauges but I would ask Kocian or someone in the business about drying and corrosion protection.

Try to squeeze out water from any upholstery or carpet and get a fan on it to dry it out quickly before mildew sets in.

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joesoboti
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Post by joesoboti » Sat Nov 03, 2012 9:52 am

She is sitting in about 4' of water at low tide so it may be possible to pump her out with a 'Mud Hog' water pump.

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Post by joesoboti » Sat Nov 03, 2012 9:57 am

BTW, the bow lifting ring is gone! The 3/4 inch tthreaded rod snapped right off in the force of the tide and wind!

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Mark Christensen
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Post by Mark Christensen » Sat Nov 03, 2012 11:10 am

Joe this could be a pretty easy project. We need to get a canoe or small boat on the port side with a 4x4 spanned across to the dock with straps. Get the boat so the rails are just creating the surface. Then we'll use a trash pump to pump the boat out. Now I'm excited.
1961 24' Chris Craft Sportsman - CUA-24-0007C
1940's Homebuilt 14' Racing Hydroplane
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joesoboti
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Post by joesoboti » Sat Nov 03, 2012 11:42 am

Mark,
Thanks, that's a great idea and we may use. I just got a call from a neighboring marina, a guy over there is experienced at doing this and has the trash pump and other tools needed. We are going to try on Tuesday at 9am. I like the idea of the straps and 2x4, but am thinking 2x6.

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Post by Mark Christensen » Sat Nov 03, 2012 12:08 pm

4x4 minimum. 2x6 would be good but too hard to keep vertical. Get pics and video and post them.
1961 24' Chris Craft Sportsman - CUA-24-0007C
1940's Homebuilt 14' Racing Hydroplane
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Oberon01
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Post by Oberon01 » Mon Nov 05, 2012 6:03 pm

I had a similar issue with my BB sinking in shallow water at my dock this spring (see recent Brass Bell). My wife and I recovered the boat by ourselves in about 75 minutes with winches and a submersible pump. We simply winched it slowly and carefully forward towards the shore and kept pumping, and bit by bit the water was evacuated, lake inflow decreased, outflow rate increased and it was floating soon after.

The hull was intact with no breaches, so this system worked. I have a side by side ATV with winch that work too start with, but as the load got heavier I used a heavier, 8000lb. winch to complete the process. I don't know how much space you have to get equipment in there, but I would think that this method may work here. The lake shore had a gentle incline and I suppose if there is a barrier at your place a ramp may have to be fashioned.

Be prepared for lots of damage - gauges as a prior poster mentioned will be shot, upholstery likely contaminated by oil and fuel and unusable, bungs swollen - and who knows, yours may have a lot of mud in it. Recovery of the boat is the easy part.

Honestly, when we awoke to see our boat sunk on her lines, I thought I was being confronted with a terribly complicated and expensive situation. But, it was not that difficult to do and aside from a winch and pump, there were no special tools or equipment needed. Good luck with this.
1926 Mullins 16' Outboard Special
1940 CC 19'Custom
1946 Gar Wood 22' 6" Sedan
1946 16' Peterbrough Falcon
1947 CC 16' Special Runabout
1947 Chris Craft 22' Sportsman
1948 CC 25' Sportsman Sedan
1959 Feather Craft Islander Express Cruiser
1961 CC 21' Continental
1965 Glastron Futura 500 V -164
1965 CC Sea Skiff 24'

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joesoboti
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Post by joesoboti » Thu Nov 08, 2012 3:34 pm

Oh Baby is on the hard, engine is in the good hands of David Van Ness.
I am looking for replacement plate glass for the cracked windshield,and replacement top cross piece for the frame which was bent as well, any ideas?

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Mark Christensen
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Post by Mark Christensen » Thu Nov 08, 2012 3:37 pm

Joe!


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1961 24' Chris Craft Sportsman - CUA-24-0007C
1940's Homebuilt 14' Racing Hydroplane
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