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redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3476 Posts

Response Posted - 09/15/2008 : 13:41:37

Kemah Tx is apparently where his boat resides. Kemah Tx is right on Galveston Bay. He said he lives about 30 west of there.

Edited by - on

Don B
Captain

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USA
317 Posts

Response Posted - 09/15/2008 : 13:54:20

Didn't David (2far2drive)use to post here? Simply heartbreaking...

Link from Renegade Cruisers: http://renegade-cruisers.net/bb/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=13421&start=10

PostPosted: Mon Sep 15, 2008 5:25 am

Location: Kemah, TX
First Name: David
Im posting in from just north of Houston in Conroe.

Im at work right now watching our servers and offering any IT assistance to our city networks and our EOC.

I drove into clearlake area yesterday to check on the boat and all I can say is that it is devastated. The surge was not quite as high as they predicted.. i THINK... but it was quite high. I only saw the north side of the lake and from what I saw, its pretty bad. As soon as I came out onto NASA rd1 I saw a huge motor cruiser/ketch aground and on its side up against the road. Bal Harbour in front of the Hilton is pretty much gone and numerous boats upside down and sunk. Funny there was a small 20-22fter still floating, looked just find.

As I headed down the road into the El Lago area I saw a lot of damage to structures. The water was still very high as well...

When I got to my marina (which is inside of some condos, check the map to see where my boat is/was) I was devastated. I started getting very scared for her when I saw the entire front section of docks underwater/gone and the boats that were tied there were not in sight. I ran through the water to get access to the inner part where my boat was tied and thats when my heartbroke, she wasnt there. Someone yelled at me from the balcony that my boat was in the 3rd driveway.

I shot some pictures from the main drive and all the boats just floating, a sunken powerboat, and a dismasted sailboat. The condos are RUINED! Debris was everywhere! When I found my boat she was jammed against a tree on her stern, another sailboat on her starboard and the roof of a carport on her port. We dashed into the water to try and get her back over to deep water before the surge could drop more. We fought hard through the thick debris, lumber, dressers, propane, paint thinner, gas, fishing line... god you name it and it was in that water. I noticed we were dragging something so I checked my bow lines. I must tie some awsome bowlines because I found BOTH of my dock posts still attached! My boat in the surge and waves yanked them clean out of the bottom and ripped them off the dock! This probably was only possible due to the strong south wind which would give almost 1/2 a mile of fetch across the lake. I heard from people who rode it out that there were 6ft waves coming through the marina and hitting the buildings.

We worked hard and very very dangerously to get the boat free. we were in the water with the outboard running full out and pushing her from the back, at times steering by grabbing the lower unit with our hands. Stupid I know... but I was desperate. We moved her maybe 25ft... then we just couldnt make her budge. The ground in that parking lot was slowly sloping upward and she was aground hard with even skinnier water ahead of her. I gave up.....

I stood on nasa rd1 watching all of the people stop and take pictures, media crews taking pics of me, everything....

I felt sick to my stomach.

I dont know what to do. The water is receeding and she will rest on her side. If she falls to port, I might be safe.... if she falls to starboard... Ill loose the mast 100% certain on the side of a building.

I took my outboard and anything I wouldnt miss off of her and thats when I got my news shot.

http://www.chron.com/community/photogallery/bayarea_ike.html goto pictur 10, im the dark hairy guy behind the dinghy coming out of the water. Im david richey. The white boat just over the bow of the brown one is mine.

Ill post some better pictures later.

I dont know what to do... the parking lot is VERY complicated for bringing in a mobile sling crane of some type. Im basically probably looking at a price tag that is almost equal to her value just to get her back to the water... and then where do I go from there? many many marinas were destroyed... slips are scarce. Do I call insurance? Do I call FEMA to get my check? Haha. Im still sick to my stomach when I look at pictures of her.

In other news... a tree fell and tried to take me out in the storm. I was asleep when it nailed the roof above my window of my bedroom! Luckily the roof stopped it!

This thing was no joke. I still think that a good portion of the people who evacuated had no need to do so, but those that didnt leave galveston, west end, bolivar and surfside... I dont have much to say for them. Stupidity at its best

_________________
s/v 2Far 2Drive 83 Catalina 25 #3341
Kemah, tx

Edited by - on

piseas
Former Treasurer

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USA
2017 Posts

Response Posted - 09/16/2008 : 15:50:29

Don, my heart goes out to you and all who have suffered. The pictures you show and those I have seen on TV are gut wrenching. I would call your insurance company ASAP and FEMA second. I would not try to prop boat to make it fall away from the building as you might injure yourself. Please keep us posted. Let us know if we can assist in any way.
Steve A

Edited by - on

KiteKraemer
Navigator

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191 Posts

Response Posted - 09/16/2008 : 19:40:56

That Sucks Big-Time. I was hit by Hugo back in '89. It will take a year to get back to "normal". Good Luck Guys. How'd you fare Gary? (When you come up for air)

Edited by - on

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4303 Posts

Response Posted - 09/16/2008 : 21:47:59

I'm back!!! Finally got a good cell signal. Lost a small part of my roof and got a little water in one wall but overall not bad.

I haven't been down to the boat yet but I spoke with the people at South Shore Harbor yesterday morning and they said no boats had broken free. They hadn't had time to walk the docks yet but said they would call everyone that had damage. Despite calling numerous times over the past two days I haven't been able to get through again to see what they found on my dock. I also haven't heard from them so I'm praying that no news is good news.

The fixed dock where I uesed to be moored at Watergate before I moved to a floating dock in the inner harbor at Watergate was obliterated. Almost every boat was sunk or destroyed on my old dock.

My wife's niece lives about 10 minutes from South Shore Harbor and she just got back home today. I'm hoping she can go down and check on my boat tomorrow.

We really appreciate everyone's prayers and concern! It's nice to know there's such a nice group of people on this forum!

Edited by - on

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3439 Posts

Response Posted - 09/16/2008 : 22:55:43

Gary,

Great to hear from you !! We were concerned ! Your health and family well-being most important. Hopefully, your boat is okay as well....guess we will eventually hear the details. So....what's the electricity situation in your area ? Thought we would not hear from you for about a month from what the news stories seem to indicate.

Edited by - OLarryR on 09/16/2008 22:58:30

JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 09/17/2008 : 07:53:29

GaryB,
It's good to hear that you're safe.

There will likely be more big storms across the country in the next few years. We might all learn a lot from your experience, if you could somehow show us or tell us how docks and boats fared under the different conditions of construction and storm prep.

I guess floating docks may be important to keep boats from breaking free and destroying the pilings and then causing more damage.

The BoatUS advice about tying up your boat vs. anchoring vs. mooring does not explain fixed versus floating dock robustness in storm conditions.

Glad to hear from you again.

Edited by - JohnP on 09/17/2008 07:56:05

DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2015 Posts

Response Posted - 09/17/2008 : 11:48:34

Well how cool is that! Really glad to hear GaryB. The power of prayer! and a good move on your part to the better dock/Marina

After seeing pics of destroyed boats and the devistation in Kemah I feared the worst. It was already a good day, now it's even better! Please let us know the minute you get some kind of confirmation that the boat is good.

Edited by - on

piseas
Former Treasurer

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USA
2017 Posts

Response Posted - 09/17/2008 : 12:30:12

Gary, Someone WAS looking over you!
Steve A

Edited by - on

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 09/17/2008 : 22:03:11

So great to hear from you; and glad you and your family are safe, maybe your boat too.
Pics I've seen reminded me of coastal Mississippi after Camille in '69, and Katrina 3 years ago.

Edited by - on

joemireur
1st Mate

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USA
33 Posts

Response Posted - 09/17/2008 : 22:11:42

Floating docks are way better for surviving a hurricane:

Video taken at Watergate on Clear Lake http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yC1wtKg37Dk (where GaryB's boat used to be)

Advertising praising floating docks http://www.kemahboardwalkmarina.com/

Floating docks pictured at Seabrook Marina (across the channel from Kemah Boardwalk Marina) http://www.seabrookshipyard.com/

Joe Mireur

Edited by - on

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4303 Posts

Response Posted - 09/18/2008 : 08:01:46

Not a scratch!!! The only damage was the port side forward lower stay snapped right at the turnbuckle and that could be my fault. I tightened the rig up but I think I might not have tightened that stay up enough. I was in a hurry to get home before dark with the new trailer because the lights were not working properly.

According to the marina manager at South Shore Harbor, out of just over 800 boats only two had some minor dock rash because the owners hadn't tightened the lines tight enough and the boats rubbed against the dock. At that, she said the rub marks were very light and can be easily buffed out. One boat did sink but she said it was about to go anyway and she thought it was because an exhaust hose failed or came loose.

A mile and a quarter away where I normally keep my boat there are hundreds of boats that are badly damaged, sunk, or up on shore. Totally different outcome! What's interesting to me is about two weeks ago I was asking the marina manager and one of the assistant harbor masters about which type of dock was better during a storm. They both said that boats at a fixed dock would fair better than boats on a floating dock because the floating docks break up easier in high winds and waves. The harbor master and asst. harbor master both had their boats docked on my old fixed pier. I haven't seen my old pier yet but according to the videos I've seen on You Tube the piers on both sides of mine were almost totally destroyed and the boats were badly damaged, missing, or sunk.

In defense of my old marina, the fixed docks were more exposed to the main body of Clear Lake and only had a heavy wooden bulkhead to protect the boats. The water easily topped this bulkhead. Had the water not risen over the top these boats may have very well faired much better. From what I understand the inner harbor faired much better although I did see at least a couple of boats sitting on top of the fixed docks in the inner harbor. I haven't seen any pictures of the floating docks in the inner harbor but I was told by the manager that they did well.

I'll get pictures of both marinas this weekend and show you the difference having a floating dock has versus a fixed dock when you have a massive surge.

I'm just glad I made a good decision for once and moved the boat at the last minute. I'm pretty sure I would have had some damage to my boat from th eboat next to me if I hadn't momved. My normal slip is only 10' wide and there's nothing between me and the boat next to me that hasn't been sailed in a couple of years. His ropes were pretty loose and I wasn't confident in their integrity. That's the main reason I decided to move. The slip at South Shore Harbor is 12' wide by 35' long and has wide finger piers on each side.

Woo HOOOOO!

Edited by - on

Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts

Response Posted - 09/18/2008 : 08:12:13

Thats good news Gary.

"A mile and a quarter away where I normally keep my boat there are hundreds of boats that are badly damaged"

[url="http://www.byrneartandphoto.com/photo/events/2008_ike/index.html"]You mean like these.[/url]

Edited by - on

pastmember
Master Marine Consultant

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2402 Posts

Response Posted - 09/18/2008 : 09:29:47

There are going to be some interesting boats on eBay.

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 09/18/2008 : 10:10:49

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by pastmember
 There are going to be some interesting boats on eBay.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Along that line, boat insurance premiums must be astronomical in hurricane prone areas.

Edited by - on

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 09/18/2008 : 10:31:48

Amazing photos, even more amazing is how some boats came through unscathed, others look like a giant crushed them, and still others look like the giant just set them down wherever, after playing with them. I think my favorite is "no boats on the lawn...".

Perhaps this is just naivete, but I wonder if the boats with the shredded sails are ones with absentee owners? I can't imagine leaving sails on a boat in the path of a hurricane unless you simply had no choice. I've only been through one hurricane, Gloria, and that was frightening enough on a USN destroyer. We lost stuff off the ship that was welded to the deck.

Edited by - on

DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2015 Posts

Response Posted - 09/18/2008 : 10:36:15

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"> Along that line, boat insurance premiums must be astronomical in hurricane prone areas <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

In Daytona they want about $1000 a year. Needless to say I'm self insured

Edited by - on

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 09/18/2008 : 12:19:02

GaryB,
Congratulations on making a very wise decision! Glad to know that your boat is safe.

Edited by - on

smoken
1st Mate

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USA
67 Posts

Response Posted - 09/20/2008 : 23:04:03

Gary, so good to here you and your boat survived. The pictures I've seen of Watergate are really sad. They told me Watergate was a hurricane hole. Did you get the info I sent on the hatch cover? If not let me know and I'll send it again. Must be clean living or really prepared and lucky!!! Glad all is well

Edited by - on

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4303 Posts

Response Posted - 09/21/2008 : 06:23:15

Hi Terry,

I wouldn't necessarily chalk it up to clean living!

Although South Shore Harbor is farther from the bay I would have to recommend them highly for nice amenities, friendly staff, and really, really nice docks. They are truly a hurricane hole.

Watergate is a really nice facility also with better landscaping than SSH but the docks are old and technologically not as up to date. In there defense though, they took out some of the old fixed docks in the inner harbor this year and had just finished installing state of the art floating docks in there place. They also already had plans to replace more of the docks in the inner harbor later this year or early next year.

Both marinas are nice facilities but due to being farther from the bay and just the topography around the marina I would have to say that SSH would be the better hurricane hole than Watergate. The land is somewhat higher above sea level near SSH and they have much higher berms around the marina than Watergate.

I'm going down to both marinas today and will get some pictures of each if I'm allowed to take pictures.

Edited by - GaryB on 09/21/2008 06:25:18

viniciusbcarmo
Deckhand

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USA
18 Posts

Response Posted - 09/21/2008 : 12:15:51

Newbie here...
Just bought our first boat 3 weeks ago, beautiful C25, freshwater boat, all original... Transported her to Watergate Marina in Clear Lake, did bottom job, compounded waxed hull, major interior cleanup.... IKE came on the weekend we were going to sail for the first time!!!
We are devasted, lost mast, boom, all stantions, stern pulpit, outboard... and some cosmetics to hull from beating around... those are easy fix, but everything else is going to be expensive...
Any ideas on what we should do to buy all these lost parts? Catalina Direct? We are really lost but don't want to give up the sport because of f@#*&% IKE!!!
Thanks,

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 09/21/2008 : 13:07:08

Not the best way to get welcomed to the forum Vinicius (is that Vini?)

There might be quite a few c25's damaged in your area. Was your boat insured? Even so, consider contacting boatUS as they may be able help with some stuff from those damaged worse than yours.

Do you know the hull number of your boat? Or howabout the previous owner.

Is the boat old enough and damaged enough to warrant you using it as spares for another boat?

The thought of being in that situation sends shivers!

Wish you the best.

Paul

Edited by - on

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 09/21/2008 : 13:15:55

Wow Vinicius, what a rude way to be introduced to your boat. I hope you're able to fix her or had sufficient insurance to be able replace.

Welcome to the forum, you'll find lots of answers to most any and all questions related to our boats. Hopefully we can help get you out on the water instead of up to your elbows in repairs.

Edited by - on

ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 09/21/2008 : 14:09:48

"Any ideas on what we should do to buy all these lost parts? Catalina Direct? We are really lost but don't want to give up the sport because of f@#*&% IKE!!!"

For specialized items like the pushpit and stanchions watch ebay for boats being 'parted out'.
Replacement 'undressed' spars and boom sections are available from places like Ballinger Spars.

http://www.ballengerspars.com/

If you recover the fittings (spreader sockets, base, masthead fitting, boom end fittings etc)from your mast and boom you can refit without breaking the bank. It's not that hard to put this stuff together.

Edited by - on

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 09/21/2008 : 20:20:30

Tough break, for sure "Vini", but welcome to the Association and the forum. If it helps any, there's already one boat being parted out in the Swap Meet section of the forum. Check it out. He may have some parts that you'll need.

Edited by - on

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