Well ... close anyway. It did make the front page of the local Belfast, Maine newspaper. I took on 650 gallons while the tide was going down ... We started fueling at 8:30am and by 9:45am we were stuck. As soon as I realized it was stuck, we set lines and called my contact at Front Street Shipyard, Belfast Maine for help. They were there in 7 minutes with a diver from the local mooring servicer, cribbing and stands. Support was setup for the boat and long story short, there is virtually no damage. Minor propeller dings that can be worked out. This happened a few days ago. I was very lucky. This could have been bad.
Glad to hear it all worked out ok. However, I wouldn't post that on an internet forum if I did it.....LOL....
Sometimes it's just better to be lucky than good. Bet you'll watch that depth-finder from now on. They're having that happen a lot out on Lk. Michigan, and I've seen it down on Jeckell Island. So you're not the first one it's happened to. Sometimes it happens out of sheer stupidity:
You can not hurt an old Bertram. Picture copied from an interesting Bertram history web page; Tapped out the wheels and back in.
There was another guy on the port side pushing on the stern inches from the props. That's on rocks half-way to the bow, and the skipper has the motors wide open. I was expecting a Vietnam replay. Once again better lucky than good. He finally got dragged off the rocks rather than just wait for the tide to come in. That'll keep the fiberglass guys busy.
When one plays with big toys, big stuff can happen. I realize that I spend virtually no time in danger of a tidal grounding. So, when fueling in an area where tidal grounding could occur (if I EVER do that again), much more precaution would be in order. One of the guys on the scene during the event recommended some AC powered pumps once the tide started coming in. I replied "it's a Bertram ... I really don't expect there to be much if any damage at all". It was amusing at the time but really, it was setting the supports that saved the day for my beloved boat. The Front Street Shipyard has offered that I can fuel off the truck at their deep water dock .. no charge. So ... I won't be trying that maneuver again.
Glad it turned out ok... I always check the depth and tide state when coming at a dock, you d be surprised what some marinas claim to have. Problem is that sometimes the xducer is on the outside and may show more water than you have on the other side, close to the dock. Almost every week end here at the Key Biscayne Sandbar you will see a boat left high and dry after the tide comes down... And it s only 2' here! Theses guys wouldn't survive in Georgia... The worst I ve seen, was a 30 something CC, tender to a BIG yacht, left high and dry on the smaller beach at Big Majors... After trying to back off the beach with power, they gave up and brought the smaller tender to take the guests back to the boat... They all looked very pissed! Boat stayed on beach for about 6 hours... That will screw up your schedule!
Is that the Belfast town dock by the Weather Vane Restaurant? Its been a while, but I have fueled up there, on their float if I remember correctly. You are very lucky, that could have been a very bad day. Good call getting a diver in there asap.
The longer I have been a boater, the more respect I gain for just how difficult it is Yes ... tides are one thing I have become better at monitoring.
I agree, but then you might be stuck in the fuel dock that's dredged and not be able to get out of it to get back to deep water to leave. I've seen that before. They get 30' tides up there in Maine.