Tow Boat US The Good And The Bad

natecert · #1 10-24-2016, 02:40 AM

Went on a ride to Sarasota to have lunch and a few cool ones. One and a half miles from the launch stopped so the Admral could pee and the starter would not even make a sound. Could have tried to trace down but instead called Tow Boat Us.

The tow showed up w/in 30 minutes and hooked me up with about 25 foot of rode to his stern, I though it a bit short. Instructed the tow to bring me to the right side finger dock at Indian Mound Park.

Well he did but at 3 statute mph heading directly at the dock. By the time I realized what was going on it was too late to do any thing. That will be the last time I put 100% confidence in any one regarding the handling of my vessel.
Good news, I called the owner and came to an agreement of compensation and have received the check as promised.

Made a temp. repair so the boat could be used and will do the final repair w/coosa when I have the time.

Islandtrader · #2 10-24-2016, 07:54 AM

Not all experts...are experts!

TPG · #3 10-24-2016, 06:33 PM

Time for them to pony up on the repair. That was straight up negligence.

Capt Chuck · #4 10-24-2016, 07:11 PM

Tow BOAT US could have gently placed you Strbd Side into the finger pier ready to be loaded onto the trailer. WHOOPS !
Solution :

77SceptreOB · #5 10-24-2016, 08:04 PM

What's up with that crazy trailer hitch in the background? Is it used to tow mobile homes with the F150...LOL!

natecert · #6 10-25-2016, 03:20 AM

Since the owner agreed to pay and send a check asap I'm good now. The repair will take more time to remove the old pulpit than any thing else. As soon as I have replaced the transom on the 23 SC I will make the repair.

Yea the hitch looks a bit odd, that's an extension to a adjustable height receiver. The extension keeps my feet dry at the ramp.

Fr. Frank · #7 10-25-2016, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Capt Chuck

Tow BOAT US could have gently placed you Strbd Side into the finger pier ready to be loaded onto the trailer. WHOOPS !
Solution :

Exactly the way it should have been done.

Billybob · #8 10-25-2016, 07:07 AM

Should have come alongside you once you got near the ramp.

Bushwacker · #9 10-28-2016, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by natecert

. . . Made a temp. repair so the boat could be used and will do the final repair w/coosa when I have the time.

If those planks are cross bolted, your temp repair should stiffen it quite a bit. Looks like the roller is about 1' forward of the max stress area, which is where it broke. A 1' lever arm will allow the anchor rode to put some significant vertical dynamic loads into that bow pulpit/plank! If you were to anchor offshore in any kind of a sea, I don't think that teak planking, which appears to be maybe 1/2"-3/4" thick, is nearly thick enough, unless the anchor is just a lunch hook that's only used in calm water! Doesn't look like a SeaCraft so I have no idea how thick the deck is, but if it was mine, I'd want something about 1.5"-2" thick, through bolted to the deck with 5/16" or 3/8" bolts, and some sort of backing plate and fender washers under the deck. Moving the anchor roller closer to the bow would also shorten the lever arm and reduce the bending loads at the max stress area. I installed a similar but shorter bracket on my boat over 5 years ago that I've anchored with in short 2-3' seas while diving, and it's held up fine. If you do a search of my posts for "Anchor Bracket", it should bring up a post I did with a bunch of pictures of the deck reinforcement I installed.

77SceptreOB · #10 10-28-2016, 07:45 PM

Great points Denny! I've built several Teak pulpits and was thinking the same thing.