49-foot boat sinks in Constitution Marina in Charlestown

[agallant80]

Sucks... I wonder what went wrong?


A 49-foot boat docked at the Constitution Marina in Charlestown, Massachusetts sank today, forcing members of Clean Harbors to drain diesel fuel from the boat.

The owners, Walter Hope and his partner Jeff Doretti, had just returned from a vacation trip in Brazil. They had lived on the boat for the past seven years.

49-foot boat sinks in Constitution Marina in Charlestown - The Source - Latest news and updates from Boston.com

 

[QC]

Re: 49-foot boat sinks in Constitution Marina in Charlestown

Moved to Boating section.

 

[dingbat]

Re: 49-foot boat sinks in Constitution Marina in Charlestown

My first question is how did the bow pulpit broken off? Get caught under the dock?

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: 49-foot boat sinks in Constitution Marina in Charlestown

a comment from the owner:

bostonseal02/17/14 11:12 PM
@ MITFan, it was not a thru-hull fitting, but the exhaust run on the port side... the ice apparently came into the exhaust from the harbor and froze, either breaking the exhaust (frp) or forcing it off the muffler... either way, letting in water via a 4" passageway. Thank you to the USCG, Boat US Rescue, Boston Fire, Clean Harbors and other professionals who have efficently and with concern worked quickly to deal with the fuel and raising our home.

 

[gtochris]

Re: 49-foot boat sinks in Constitution Marina in Charlestown

Living on a boat in Boston during this winter is hard living!
Just last week a Fashion designer in NY living on his boat in the Hudson died when he apparently slipped off. Hard winters dealing with ice/ wind/ cold. Be safe people.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: 49-foot boat sinks in Constitution Marina in Charlestown

We have a lot of live-aboard people around here and some of them are practically homeless; a moored boat is cheap rent (when the boat is junk--some never leave the slip). And thus we have accidents; a girl I know from highschool who ended up on the skids died that way last winter.

But these boaters in the story were travelling and I got the impression they had recently arrived. Perhaps they hadn't thought about the ice issue.

 

[Slip Away]

Re: 49-foot boat sinks in Constitution Marina in Charlestown

How could salt water enter the boat and freeze. Something not right about owner's explanation. [Unnecessary]

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: 49-foot boat sinks in Constitution Marina in Charlestown

salt water freezes, don't kid yourself.

 

[dingbat]

Re: 49-foot boat sinks in Constitution Marina in Charlestown

How could salt water enter the boat and freeze.

The same way freshwater gets into a boat and freezes

FWIW: Sea water freezes at roughly 28 degree F

Chesapeake Bay - Winter of 1976-77

 

[Slip Away]

Re: 49-foot boat sinks in Constitution Marina in Charlestown

How did freshwater get into the exhaust of a boat sitting in unfrozen salt water?

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: 49-foot boat sinks in Constitution Marina in Charlestown

How did freshwater get into the exhaust of a boat sitting in unfrozen salt water?

Who said it was freshwater? I don't think you are understanding what happened. The exhaust on this boat is underwater, and is likely connected by the std 4" rubber exhaust tubing a few feet long to the inboard engine(s) exhaust manifolds. Sea water is ALWAYS present in the exhaust tubes, even at rest without the engine running. If the seawater reached freezing temps for long enough, it could have expanded enough to rupture the 4" rubber exhaust hose, or cause the hose to slip off of the exhaust outlet fitting. Lesson is: always use double clamps for connections below water level, and make sure to maintain those crucial failure points (like rubber hoses).

 

[Greg Mrozinski]

Re: 49-foot boat sinks in Constitution Marina in Charlestown

Great photo Dingbat. That was a seriously cold year on the Chesapeake Bay.

 

[imagine]

Re: 49-foot boat sinks in Constitution Marina in Charlestown

Hello, one of the owners here... the boat sank as described due to the ice in the exhaust hose (which is under the waterline)... ice crept to the muffler (which is not accessible without demolishing the interior of the mid-state room). Either broke the clamp, fitting, muffler or a combination of all. Muffler hose is 4". Boat sank quickly we're told. Boat is a total loss, most personal belongings lost due to salt water (electronics shot & took 2 days to refloat), or diesel fuel contamination (we carried 700 gallons). There are 80-90 others living in our marina, so for those who say "haul" in the winter don't understand. Boston Harbor even away from the fresh-ish water of the Charles River can & does freeze up in the very cold which we have been having this year.

In the future - I'd recommend winterizing the engines AND inserting a nerf football in the exhaust in the Fall.

Also, the boat was far from JUNK, she had 5 year old Yanmark 375's on board with just 500 hours, most of our neighbors are professionals with jobs - the ignorance of some of the posters here is rather amazing. And... to the person who's 1st question ?! is how did the bow break off? The bow broke off because we have a 12 foot tide in Boston Harbor, and the bow was at one point under the dock which floats. When the boat rose after it was under the dock, the bowsprit broke off.

Sucks... I wonder what went wrong?


A 49-foot boat docked at the Constitution Marina in Charlestown, Massachusetts sank today, forcing members of Clean Harbors to drain diesel fuel from the boat.

The owners, Walter Hope and his partner Jeff Doretti, had just returned from a vacation trip in Brazil. They had lived on the boat for the past seven years.

49-foot boat sinks in Constitution Marina in Charlestown - The Source - Latest news and updates from Boston.com

 

[gtochris]

Re: 49-foot boat sinks in Constitution Marina in Charlestown

Hello, one of the owners here...

Also, the boat was far from JUNK, she had 5 year old Yanmark 375's on board with just 500 hours, most of our neighbors are professionals with jobs - the ignorance of some of the posters here is rather amazing. And... to the person who's 1st question ?! is how did the bow break off? The bow broke off because we have a 12 foot tide in Boston Harbor, and the bow was at one point under the dock which floats. When the boat rose after it was under the dock, the bowsprit broke off.

View attachment 223906

Sorry for your loss, best of luck getting back on your feet!

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: 49-foot boat sinks in Constitution Marina in Charlestown

Hello, one of the owners here... the boat sank as described due to the ice in the exhaust hose (which is under the waterline)... ice crept to the muffler (which is not accessible without demolishing the interior of the mid-state room). Either broke the clamp, fitting, muffler or a combination of all. Muffler hose is 4".

Imagine - Welcome to iboats, although not in the best of circumstances. Thanks for the explanation and hope you get back on the water soon.

 

[tomdinwv]

Re: 49-foot boat sinks in Constitution Marina in Charlestown

@ Imagine: Sorry for the loss of your boat/home. I hope she can be repaired and you can get her back on the water soon. Good luck.

 

[Captain Caveman]

Re: 49-foot boat sinks in Constitution Marina in Charlestown

99% of us are here because we are ignorant in aspects of boating! Surely there is a 1% somewhere that knows everything but 50% may act like it.

Sorry to hear about your home sinking. At least it sounds like you got some good life out of it...and thank goodness for insurance. It doesn't replace everything but it certainly helps.

Welcome aboard

 

[V153]

Re: 49-foot boat sinks in Constitution Marina in Charlestown

the ignorance of some of the posters here is rather amazing.

Really? I read the posts & it appears most felt sorry for your loss, and wondered what was the cause?

I'd say a pretty good example of ignorance is someone allowing his or his boat to sink next to the dock. Had you taken the proper precautions, done the proper maintenence, and/or kept a closer eye on your vessel, we wouldn't be having this conversation.

Odd how none of your 80-90 neighbors, or marina staff, noticed the boat sinking. Hmm.

Lighten up. Nobody here sank your boat. It was you & mother nature.

That said I do hope you get it all sorted out and are back on the water again. Brazil sounds like a purty cool cruise ...

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: 49-foot boat sinks in Constitution Marina in Charlestown

Welcome aboard and sorry it' s under these circumstances.

Most of the posters here have boats under 24' and many are day-trailer boaters. Most seem to be on fresh water. There are a few with smaller cruisers, fresh and salt, and some of those are trailered. So the questions come largely from those perspectives.

I don't know your boat's make but I had several enjoyable cruises on a friend's Krogan about that size; it was outfitted for Alaska but ended up in Virginia. I can picture what you lost there.

 

[agallant80]

Re: 49-foot boat sinks in Constitution Marina in Charlestown

the ignorance of some of the posters here is rather amazing.
View attachment 223906

All though ignorance has a bit of a condescending undertone I would classify it as unaware. I grew up around large boats, they are very different than the small pocket cruisers, bow riders and john boats most people on this site have. I know many people that leave their big boat in the water year round. Its like parking your car on the street. It will be fine but someone will get hit in the middle of the night but its so rare that you don't worry about it. Sorry for your loss. I feel even worse for you after hearing that she had a recent re-power.