This is a tale of woe and bad management...
First of August we bought our '76 H16 and on 9/11 - of all dates - on Lake Cascade, Idaho, we had a calamity.
We're hauling along when the wind really kicks up and a huge gust puts the lee hull tip under and we pitchpole in the blink of an eye.
Nobody was hurt thank the stars.
I reached down to the blocks and uncleated the main sheet and traveler - so I thought.
Tried like hell to right it but it wouldn't budge.
After most of an hour in the water a good samaratin came along and pulled us out of the drink. They call for the sherif's boat to try to get the boat upright and we head back to the dock. Half way back the samaratin's boat runs out of gas! They call the sherif to get some gas... Two hours later we are back at the dock. Someone called the paramedics because I have a heart problem history. They decided I needed to be "checked out" and hauled me to the local clinic where am pronounced OK.
The sherif calls to tell me he can't get the boat up. "Every time it comes upright, it sinks." I have to call the local marine recovery service (Big $$$). Next day they have the boat at the dock. The mast is snapped at the comptip retrofit weld, there are holes in the hulls - fixable - and the entire rudder/helm assembly is gone.
The holes in the hulls arent through. I later find breaks in the deck/hull joints on both hulls. Whatever sealant/adhesive used has cracked and fallen away for around 2 feet on bothe outer edges.
"Like a good neighbor," State Farm won't do anything under the homeowners coverage.
Lessons:
1. Make sure you have uncleated the main sheet and traveler.
2. Check the main sheet and traveler again.
3. If it still won't budge, repeat number 1 and 2.
4. Make a better righting lne system. Only had a single long line tied to the dolphin raker upright.
5. If it happens again I am going to release the shrouds, right the boat, haul everything on board and wait for help.
Looks like I can get the mast fixed up OK.
Anybody have a set of used rudders and helm to sell?
Wife refuses to ride that damn boat again because "they are notorious for pitchpoling."