Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 09-04-2014, 04:40 PM   #1
Dauntless Award
 
Wxx3's Avatar
 
City: Wrangell, Alaska
Vessel Name: Dauntless
Vessel Model: Kadey Krogen 42 - 148
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 2,820
I almost died today

Well, almost.
Simple little thing.
No Atlantic crossing.
No bad weather.
No nothing

I was moving the boat to a Marina for the week.

Only 5 miles, going only 4.5 kts, feeling good, I had cleaned my bad tank last night.
If you don't have a "Bucket Head", don't even read the rest of this but get down to HD and get one.

Ok. I digress. Maybe from giddiness in being alive.

So, about a mile from the Marina, I go to grab a fender that is hanging just aft of the PH.

I usually wear those cheap Chinese gloves, with rubber on one side. I do want to keep me hands baby soft!

The KK has a handrail with an opening that folds up.
I ALWAYS travel with the handrail down, in place. Certainly a good habit.

Maybe too good.

Today, the whole 45 min,I never noticed it was up. Had I, even just pulling into the Marina, I would have lowered it.

So, that's the only reason I can think of that as I went to grab the line on the fender with my right hand, I grabbed the rail that wasn't there in my left hand.

There is a plastic bracket on the vertical pole, just below the hand rail for my electric shore power cables.

As my hand grabbed air, two fingers got caught, between the rubber on the glove and my twisting motion.

The glove is still there. I couldn't get it out. I will probably leave it there forever to remind me.

So, I'm like an Indian riding on the side of the horse. My right hand held the line to the fender. My left is stuck in the rail, my feet are treading air and I'm facing aft.

My first thought, if I fall off, I'll never get back on.

I got a foot on the rub rail and then felt the pain from my hand, which seemed stuck.

A half hour later, after I got the boat tied up, as I'm washing up, my fingers are just starting to feel pain.

I'd scraped a bunch of skin of my forearm and had a gouge in two fingers.

Complacency. That's the real killer.

In my fast car days, I still hold the record for fastest drive between Munich and Venice. Never had a high speed incident. But the few accidents I have had, were always at least than 15mph.

I just have to keep alive till the next challenge.

And any day that ends where you wanted, is a good day, no matter the path.
__________________
Richard on Dauntless,
New York

a Kadey Krogen 42 currently: https://share.garmin.com/dauntless
Blog:
https://dauntlessatsea.com
Wxx3 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-04-2014, 04:48 PM   #2
Guru
 
psneeld's Avatar
 
City: Ft Pierce
Vessel Name: Sold
Vessel Model: Was an Albin/PSN 40
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 28,147
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wxx3 View Post
Well, almost.
Simple little thing.
No Atlantic crossing.
No bad weather.
No nothing

I was moving the boat to a Marina for the week.

.......edited for space.....

I'd scraped a bunch of skin of my forearm and had a gouge in two fingers.

Complacency. That's the real killer.

In my fast car days, I still hold the record for fastest drive between Munich and Venice. Never had a high speed incident. But the few accidents I have had, were always at least than 15mph.

I just have to keep alive till the next challenge.

And any day that ends where you wanted, is a good day, no matter the path.
A lot of people will argue inexperience, alcohol, ego, over-reliance on electronics, etc..etc...but complacency is the real killer of those that do something a lot.
psneeld is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 09-04-2014, 04:58 PM   #3
Guru
 
Edelweiss's Avatar
 
City: PNW
Vessel Model: 1976 Californian Tricabin LRC
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 1,860
I've had a couple of close calls with the open rail gate trap too. Fortunately, not while underway.

My son fell through, but was able to grab the rail stanchion with both hands, twisted around and clumsily landed on the dock on his feet. And I grabbed the mysteriously open rail gate while lifting a 5 gallon bucket of salt water over the rail while crabbing and did a back flop on the deck!!

No serious injuries other than our pride!!
__________________
Larry B
Careful . . .I Have a Generator and I'm not afraid to use it !
Edelweiss is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-04-2014, 05:26 PM   #4
Art
Guru
 
Art's Avatar
 
City: SF Bay Area
Vessel Model: Tollycraft 34' Tri Cabin
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 12,569
Careful Richard... You're too important to pass-away from a simple error such as that! Heal fast!!
Art is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-04-2014, 05:35 PM   #5
Guru
 
City: Satsuma FL
Vessel Name: No Mo Trawla
Vessel Model: Hurricane SS188
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 2,300
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wxx3 View Post
I had cleaned my bad tank last night.
If you don't have a "Bucket Head", don't even read the rest of this but get down to HD and get one.
Could you expand a little on how you were able to use the Bucket Head to clean your tank? I am puzzled how you got the hose to the bottom of the tank.
Donsan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-04-2014, 07:42 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 278
Richard,

Very glad we still have you with us.

Complacency.

Immediately reminds me of not remembering one left the hatch to the ER off while running around the boat doing odd jobs.
Eventually one learns your lesson WELL and do not forget again!

Too bad we often have to learn lessons the Hard way.
Delta_JimS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-04-2014, 07:45 PM   #7
Guru
 
Tidahapah's Avatar
 
City: Mooloolaba
Vessel Name: Flora
Vessel Model: Timber southern cray boat
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,859
What's a bucket head other than a head that doesn't work and has a small bucket in it for bucket and chuck it.
Cheers
Benn
__________________
"When I die I hope my wife doesn't sell my toys for what I told her I paid for them"
Money: It's made round to go round , not flat to stack.
"Get out and do it"
Tidahapah is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-04-2014, 08:23 PM   #8
Guru
 
healhustler's Avatar
 
City: Longboat Key, FL
Vessel Name: Bucky
Vessel Model: Krogen Manatee 36 North Sea
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 5,196
Geeze, Richard. I could just read the headlines on that one. "Ocean-Crossing Mariner dies on Puddle Jump"! Glad you're OK.
__________________
Larry

"When life gets hard, eat marshmallows”.
healhustler is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-04-2014, 10:13 PM   #9
Guru
 
ben2go's Avatar
 
City: Upstate,SC
Vessel Name: Shipoopi
Vessel Model: derilic sailboat
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 2,884
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tidahapah View Post
What's a bucket head other than a head that doesn't work and has a small bucket in it for bucket and chuck it.
Cheers
Benn
Home Depot bucket toilet.

__________________
This is my signature line. There are many like it but this one is mine.

What a pain in the transom.

ben2go is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-04-2014, 11:09 PM   #10
Master and Commander
 
markpierce's Avatar
 
City: Vallejo CA
Vessel Name: Carquinez Coot
Vessel Model: penultimate Seahorse Marine Coot hull #6
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 12,559
A bucket toilet needs a lid!
__________________
Kar-KEEN-ez Koot
markpierce is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-04-2014, 11:17 PM   #11
Senior Member
 
shufti's Avatar
 
City: Brisbane
Vessel Name: Wine Down
Vessel Model: Riviera 35' FB
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 199
Wow - the bucket-for-a-toilet is a no-brainer... the pool noodle for a 'seat' - now that is inspired. Noted for next camping trip.
shufti is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-04-2014, 11:27 PM   #12
Guru
 
MurrayM's Avatar
 
City: Kitimat, North Coast BC
Vessel Name: Badger
Vessel Model: 30' Sundowner Tug
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 5,946
My wife and daughter were out of town last week, so I thought it was time to jump the solo docking hurdle. I got spooked pulling up and dropping the fenders in slow forward, so put it in neutral after that. The thought of falling overboard and watching Badger steam away all alone was too much to bear!

Can't imagine how your heart must have skipped a couple beats, your stomach dropped out, and how your brain must have been instantly bathed in buckets of fight/flight chemicals!!
__________________
"The most interesting path between two points is not a straight line" MurrayM
MurrayM is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-04-2014, 11:41 PM   #13
Guru
 
City: Anacortes
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 1,189
Yup, complacency.
ghost is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-04-2014, 11:53 PM   #14
Guru
 
MurrayM's Avatar
 
City: Kitimat, North Coast BC
Vessel Name: Badger
Vessel Model: 30' Sundowner Tug
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 5,946
Those who are complacent about complacency are doomed
__________________
"The most interesting path between two points is not a straight line" MurrayM
MurrayM is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-05-2014, 12:00 AM   #15
TF Site Team
 
FlyWright's Avatar
 
City: California Delta
Vessel Name: FlyWright
Vessel Model: 1977 Marshall Californian 34 LRC
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 13,728
Holy crap, Richard! We worry about you for weeks, crossing the Atlantic, alone in perilous conditions and then you go and almost lose it on a milk run? Wait until the Admiral hears about this!!
__________________
My boat is my ark. It's my mobile treehouse and my floating fishing cabin. It's my retreat and my respite. Everyday I thank God I have a boat! -Al FJB

@DeltaBridges - 25 Delta Bridges in 25 Days
FlyWright is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-05-2014, 12:42 AM   #16
Guru
 
Capt.Bill11's Avatar
 
City: Sarasota/Ft. Lauderdale
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 5,438
Bucket Head, 5-gal. Wet/Dry Vacuum, BH0100 at The Home Depot - Mobile
Capt.Bill11 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-05-2014, 01:46 AM   #17
Dauntless Award
 
Wxx3's Avatar
 
City: Wrangell, Alaska
Vessel Name: Dauntless
Vessel Model: Kadey Krogen 42 - 148
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 2,820
That's it.

I opened the inspection port.
I use bucket head for the boats messy jobs.
We also have a bigger shop vac for normal cleaning, with the idea that if we ever needed an extra dewatering device, we have two.

In the starboard tank, below the feed, I sucked out about 3 gal water, 1 fuel, 1 black liquid, (dead organic that biocide produces) that was below the other stuff.
__________________
Richard on Dauntless,
New York

a Kadey Krogen 42 currently: https://share.garmin.com/dauntless
Blog:
https://dauntlessatsea.com
Wxx3 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-05-2014, 01:59 AM   #18
Guru
 
BruceK's Avatar
 
City: Sydney
Vessel Name: Sojourn
Vessel Model: Integrity 386
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 13,329
I`ve done a similar tank clean with a hand pump,zip tied the plastic tube to a wooden dowel to keep it straight. Yours is better, faster, more volume extracted.
It is so easy to lower your guard after entering port from the open sea, there is sense of "job done" and maybe some euphoria( well deserved in your case)but, there are still hazards, just different ones.
__________________
BruceK
2005 Integrity 386 "Sojourn"
Sydney Australia
BruceK is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-05-2014, 03:02 AM   #19
Master and Commander
 
markpierce's Avatar
 
City: Vallejo CA
Vessel Name: Carquinez Coot
Vessel Model: penultimate Seahorse Marine Coot hull #6
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 12,559
Please, not during mealtime.
__________________
Kar-KEEN-ez Koot
markpierce is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-05-2014, 07:49 AM   #20
Senior Member
 
Pura Vida's Avatar
 
City: Knoxville
Vessel Name: Pura Vida
Vessel Model: 08 Meridian 490 Pilothouse
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 316
Thanks for sharing! I have had several close calls and have been lucky, after a close call I always think: “For the Grace of God go I”
Pura Vida is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Trawler Port Captains
Port Captains are TF volunteers who can serve as local guides or assist with local arrangements and information. Search below to locate Port Captains near your destination. To learn more about this program read here: TF Port Captain Program





All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:27 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2006 - 2012