I hit a tree with my boat.

[Dug]

Yup, that is right. I think the NE season is over for me.

Running at cruise through the race at the end of Fishers Island, I hit a submerged tree. Broke the tree in half. I don't yet know the extent of the damage to Alchemy.

At this point she will be hauled in the am, and I have touched base with my insurance co.

I was hoping for more tuna this year. Damn it.

Dug

[In Memory Walter K]

Damn Dug- So sorry to hear that. Did you take on water and/or damage your running gear? Walter

[Brewster Minton]

Make sure you check the struts and where they attach to the hull for cracks. Sorry you hit the tree. Ihit a whale shark 2 years ago and almost sank

[Dug]

Walter,

I did not take on any water. The Bertram is built like a brick as you know. But I do have cracks around my struts that I can see from inside the boat, and a good solid shimmy.

I will know more in the am when she comes out of the water...

Damned tree was about a foot thick...

[randall]

dug....sorry to hear that......they appear after every big storm....last time i went to fishers island they were like a weed line....cept you couldnt run across it....hope the damage is minimal

[Dave Kosh R.I.P.]

That's a bummer Dug. Hope it's not too much damage. Dave K

[Davidr0007]

Hi Dug,
Sorry to hear that, Hope the damage is kept to a minumum and it doesn't cut the season short..
DavidR

[neil]

We hit a log coming home from ob and there was no damage good luck neil and neil

[jimmy d]

sorry to hear of your bad news

as a side note the fellow i purchased my Blackfin from ran aground on a sandbar...

while there was no apparent visible damage I found that the glass under the strut area delaminated yet was still quite rigid and sturdy

i only found it after having disassembled everything during my diesel repower...

best of luck with everything

jim d

[Mitch]

Damn dug that sucks. Nobody hurt though that's huge, boat can be fixed. Alot to be said for going fishing with friends on their boat. Good luck.

[In Memory of Vicroy]

Dug - glad no sinking. I did that once off Port Eads, a huge tree in a little grass line. Stripped about 50 feet of bark and balled it on both wheels. Took some diving to cut it off. Two slightly bent wheels and nothing else.

UV

[Carl]

Been there, done that, sorry to hear.

Hopefully some shafts, wheels and you will be back to fishing.

Carl

[CaptPatrick]

But I do have cracks around my struts that I can see from inside the boat

Dug,

If you're still wearing the factory strut pads, you need to relace them with over-built and thicker new ones while you are at the rest of your repairs. Be sure to sound out all the fiberglass with a plastic faced hammer. If you can see cracking, believe me, it's more extensive than what the eye will detect. If you don't do it now & there is an next time, the strut(s) are going to be inside the boat...

Classic Bertram Strut Problem

Br,

Patrick

[Dug]

Patrick,

Yup, yup, and yup.

There is cracking evident on the inside of the hull.

No one was hurt, and that is the key.

I will give a run down when all is clear. Boat is out, and in the shed at the yard. I was relieved when I killed the power switch, knowing she would be safe on the hard. In the meantime, I will work to keep my arms around the scope of repairs, and try to make sure it is done right. Fortunately the guys who will be doing it are quite good, and see a lot of this type of thing due to our area, and copious amounts of rocks...particularly Watch Hill Reef which claims about 12 boats a year.

Thanks guys for the thoughts, I think she is done for the year. By the time it is all set, I don't see much point in going back in for anything but a test run.

Dug

Dug