RAINMAKER DISMASTED OFF HATTERAS IN GALE

[TwoLegged]

Gunboat is making a classic crisis management mistake. They are letting others frame the story.

+++++++1

 

[βhyde]

B, don't get shocked if you and I get the flick for telling it like it is.

Not too worried about it. We haven't been all that hard on Clean. But sometimes you have to wonder if they (web sites like this in general) understand that the reason they get advertising income is because the advertisers want our eyes, not because they are publishing some brilliant, Pulitzer Prize winning content. Far from it. Does anyone really give a crap about what is on the Front Page? I know I don't. This site has always been forum driven, not content driven. I trust the opinions and depth of knowledge of the people in the forums, and their ability to dig up facts and find different angles on any topic, more than the quasi-journalistic BS that gets tossed on the Front Page. The forums are the only reason I'm here, just like everyone else.

 

[phillysailor]

Clean has been playing fast and loose with being a "journalist" for awhile, and this time it bit him in the butt. Not only did he mix it up on the forums, trying to play one of the cool ones "in the know," he also wanted to steer the discussion. He set up expectations regarding a story from almost day one, and now his failure to deliver has become part of the story. Look for his postings to change; he's probably coming to a sock puppet near you!

Good discussion going on Cruiser's Forum on the mast pumping, CF and shock loads. Too bad SA is falling behind the curve on leading edge discussions, but that can happen when melodrama becomes more important than getting the news out.

 

[sunseeker]

Is it true that the engine access hatches are back near the transoms. If so how the heck does one attend to engine matters in shitty conditions without a/ getting swept off the stern, or b/ drowned in the engine room?

There's some disruptive technology involved if a problem arises.

A helicopter.

Don't leave home without it.

 

[βhyde]

Is it true that the engine access hatches are back near the transoms. If so how the heck does one attend to engine matters in shitty conditions without a/ getting swept off the stern, or b/ drowned in the engine room?

There's some disruptive technology involved if a problem arises.

A helicopter.

Don't leave home without it.

Maybe the new GB 65 should come with a helo pad option. Might make it easier to deal with any disruptive storms.

 

[SCANAS]

Gunboat is making a classic crisis management mistake. They are letting others frame the story.

+++++++1

Not only that, but how many people have checked out of the thread & won't be back to hear the true / clean's polished, cleansed & GB friendly story

 

[TwoLegged]

Gunboat is making a classic crisis management mistake. They are letting others frame the story.

+++++++1

Not only that, but how many people have checked out of the thread & won't be back to hear the true / clean's polished, cleansed & GB friendly story

The longer they leave it, the harder it gets.

By comparison, I thought that Chris White handled the capsize of Anna v well

 

[jzk]

The aft windows are "isen" glass.

I think that "glass" was never intended to function like pilot house glass in a storm. Think of it as a giant hard top dodger.

How did the props get fouled if they operated under power briefly after the rig was cleared? We'd know if the story was told. Lacking that, all we can do is speculate that the very experienced captain didn't check for lines over the side before chucking it in gear.

Spinning plates colliding...

To change the topic just a little . . . I am curious how thick the glass is on this GB . . . Anyone know?

Dashew's structural engineer required 25mm glass for offshore, for windows that look to have a shorter span than the GB's. But that is very heavy, and I suspect the GB had nowhere near that. I am guessing it is in the 6-10mm range, but curious to know.

Back in the day, one put storm covers on much smaller windows before going offshore.

 

[Rantifarian]

Is it true that the engine access hatches are back near the transoms. If so how the heck does one attend to engine matters in shitty conditions without a/ getting swept off the stern, or b/ drowned in the engine room?

Common on a lot of cats. A shithouse idea IMO.

 

[SCANAS]

Is it true that the engine access hatches are back near the transoms. If so how the heck does one attend to engine matters in shitty conditions without a/ getting swept off the stern, or b/ drowned in the engine room?

Common on a lot of cats. A shithouse idea IMO.

Its not like you'd be bleeding the injectors or clearing the strainer in a mono in the sane conditions that would forbid you to open the hatch on a GB.
& they have two engines, so you're unlikely to have to tend to a broken one to keep pumps / comms going in a storm.

 

[Jim Caldwell]

NO ONE on board is going to say ANYTHING until the insurance claim is paid unless they want to spend the next 5 to 10 years in court with suits and counter suits!

 

[Snore]

Like others I agree that a proper investigation will help identify and improve rig design, enhance on board damage control and understand how the prop(s?) got fouled. Perhaps it was the way the vessel was being moved by the waves that caused the fouling- but without a report we will never know.

The crew and builder need not subject themselves to the BS of SA or other forums. A simple press release that they have engaged the firm of Hazelwood and Wooter to investigate and deliver a report by ___. And then when the report is done post it.

But in a 21st century litigious world where a multi-million insurance claim is pending, unless an objective third party does the investigation Caldwell is right.

NO ONE on board is going to say ANYTHING until the insurance claim is paid unless they want to spend the next 5 to 10 years in court with suits and counter suits!

 

[Clove Hitch]

I don't know about anybody else, but I'm going to hold off buying a GB 55 until this gets sorted out.

 

[joneisberg]

Is it true that the engine access hatches are back near the transoms. If so how the heck does one attend to engine matters in shitty conditions without a/ getting swept off the stern, or b/ drowned in the engine room?

Common on a lot of cats. A shithouse idea IMO.

Its not like you'd be bleeding the injectors or clearing the strainer in a mono in the sane conditions that would forbid you to open the hatch on a GB.
& they have two engines, so you're unlikely to have to tend to a broken one to keep pumps / comms going in a storm.

Yeah, having that 'spare engine' sure worked out well for the guys on the Alpha 42, huh?

 

[kent_island_sailor]

I *have* done engine work in total shit weather, so I call BS on this idea. I have been on trips where the weather would be too bad to work on an engine with an open stern hatch for days and days on end. This is - IMHO - a very bad idea on an offshore boat.

BTW - most cats are wide enough to handle very poorly on one engine. This is the boat version of Vmc being too high.

Is it true that the engine access hatches are back near the transoms. If so how the heck does one attend to engine matters in shitty conditions without a/ getting swept off the stern, or b/ drowned in the engine room?

Common on a lot of cats. A shithouse idea IMO.

Its not like you'd be bleeding the injectors or clearing the strainer in a mono in the sane conditions that would forbid you to open the hatch on a GB.

& they have two engines, so you're unlikely to have to tend to a broken one to keep pumps / comms going in a storm.

 

[kent_island_sailor]

I am sure the insurance adjuster is quite interested in why they didn't take a few minutes to make sure the $2,000,000 boat could be found again

NO ONE on board is going to say ANYTHING until the insurance claim is paid unless they want to spend the next 5 to 10 years in court with suits and counter suits!

 

[RKoch]

I am sure the insurance adjuster is quite interested in why they didn't take a few minutes to make sure the $2,000,000 boat could be found again

NO ONE on board is going to say ANYTHING until the insurance claim is paid unless they want to spend the next 5 to 10 years in court with suits and counter suits!

An earlier report said the CG put a 30 day beacon on the boat. IDK if that was accurate or not.

 

[Bryanjb]

The rib was there, it could have been lashed to the side of the disabled engine. We can easily make 8 knots with our rib tethered to the side of our 65,000 lb boat. Granted the sea state is an unknown in this situation but the option may have been viable? But since no one is talking this is only conjecture.

I *have* done engine work in total shit weather, so I call BS on this idea. I have been on trips where the weather would be too bad to work on an engine with an open stern hatch for days and days on end. This is - IMHO - a very bad idea on an offshore boat.

BTW - most cats are wide enough to handle very poorly on one engine. This is the boat version of Vmc being too high.

Is it true that the engine access hatches are back near the transoms. If so how the heck does one attend to engine matters in shitty conditions without a/ getting swept off the stern, or b/ drowned in the engine room?

Common on a lot of cats. A shithouse idea IMO.

Its not like you'd be bleeding the injectors or clearing the strainer in a mono in the sane conditions that would forbid you to open the hatch on a GB.& they have two engines, so you're unlikely to have to tend to a broken one to keep pumps / comms going in a storm.

 

[StumbleNola]

I am sure the insurance adjuster is quite interested in why they didn't take a few minutes to make sure the $2,000,000 boat could be found again

NO ONE on board is going to say ANYTHING until the insurance claim is paid unless they want to spend the next 5 to 10 years in court with suits and counter suits!

An earlier report said the CG put a 30 day beacon on the boat. IDK if that was accurate or not.

No such beacon is used by the USCG. My best guess is that this was from a local news reporter who misunderstood what an EPIRB is. However is does beg the question why trackers aren't standard on new boats. A salvage vessel did go out, (with a GB rep aboard), but they couldn't find Rainmaker.

 

[spike]

The rib was there, it could have been lashed to the side of the disabled engine. We can easily make 8 knots with our rib tethered to the side of our 65,000 lb boat. Granted the sea state is an unknown in this situation but the option may have been viable? But since no one is talking this is only conjecture.

Okay.....and then what?