I Like My Trawlers On The Rocks.
Kinda Captures the 4th doesn’t it?
It aint a boat trip until you get towed! Sweet Pea decided that she wanted to run up on some rocks. Not me, It’s Sweet Pea’s fault. Yup. ROCKS! WTF ROCKS, Like not marked, nothing ROCKS. Thanks Coast Guard who removed a light house, and then left no marker.
The old Great Wicomico Lighthouse HERE is some history on the Lighthouse
The Reedville light house was a fixture for decades, if not longer here, and about 4 years ago, was removed by the Coast Guard. We all thought. WRONG that they had marked it with a Marker, so we stay clear, But no. apparently it’s about 30 feet West of it. And I found the pile of rocks buried in 12 feet of water.
I guess I now know what that little cross means. WT HELL. And who reads charts in an area you have been boating for decades?
I can say that nothing prepares you for such a thing, and it can rattle your nerves for sure. But hey, it’s all part of the fun, and a testament to the builders of this tank. No holes. So she had that going for her, us. But she was not going to budge, and the tide was going out. Which would have had us on that rock for 12 hrs or so, since it was just past high tide. So Jimmy! And yes, The incredible Smith Point Sea Rescue. They all showed up in about 20 minutes and started working.
Lots of pulling
Good god, this wasn’t like running aground for sure, we were locked on the rocks. Was the transom gonna hold? And of course the Boatress telling me we are all gonna die didn’t help. HA. Actually she was more upset that her wine went overboard, and that really ticked her off.
You can see one of the many rocks
Ruby helped
They pulled and they pulled. NOTHING. So they twirled and pulled, creating a wake to help. Nothing. I threw it in reverse and floored it, and with the pulling, the twirling and throttling, SCCCRRRRAPE off she came. LOTS OF RED COPPER PAINT! Oh boy. Are we gonna sink?
HOLY COW! Kendra and Buddy working hard, Daniel on the boat helping
NOPE. So we motored outta there and headed home. The bilge did run a bit. But I am all set up at George Butler’s Reedville Railway here in Reedville for this morning. I can only wonder what we will see. And of course I will let you know.
if you look closely, Sweet Pea is above the water at the bow.
A little about Smith Point Sea Rescue. AMAZING, and FREE! Yes FREE. They are a special group here of volunteers and do amazing work. Its just for this area because back in the day there wasn’t anyone. So it was started, and they are busy busy on weekends like today. A special shout out to Captain Mike Romey and his crew Robert Gwaltney, Wolf Gholson, And on The small boat Capt Buddy Sylvia, Kendra Simpson and Chris McCalf, god I hope I didn’t butcher their names.
To the rescue
I am gonna need a drink… of my Ice Tea.
And they do take donations. We always contribute, and today we are gonna really throw a chunk to them. HERE IS THEIR WEBSITE if for some reason you live in the area and can help. They do, so should you. They may be free, but really they are Priceless.
Matt, what a shocker! Must have been terrible to hear that sound and feel her bucking under your feet. Thank goodness she held strong, another reason that tug was a great buy!
Gotta ask whether you were wearing your special sunglasses? If yes……
Good luck tomorrow!
Yes I was wearing my special sunglasses, and what a noise. my biggest fear was a huge hole. But she held. Her bottom has been maintained well and refastened. No soft spots. Just yesterday Jimmy hit it, and others around here as well. Not good. But such is life and these are the adventures that make this fun. As long as no one is hurt or dies.
WOW, If Jimmy hit the rocks with those triple 300’s OBs Id hate to see the damage/cost to that one!
And no Golden Pond references?
Good luck today when you pull the boat. Butlers is a true trip back to the past…. I could just sit in the shop and smell the old wood and sawdust and stare at the old machinery…Nothing like an old marine railway to pull an old boat.. Will look forward to the photos
Wow, quite a July 4th adventure. I’m glad it turned out OK and the damage appears to be minimal. You really appreciate good people when you need help on the water!
Lucky you didn’t crack a plank. Here on Long Island there’s rocks on the North Shore and sand on the South. I boat on the South Shore. Interested to see pictures of her bottom. In the mean time I’ll check out my wife’s. No pictures of that
Matt,
Yes, that’s an experience few can say they have had and only lost some wine overboard.
That lighthouse was a beautiful structure!
What about a woodyboater permanent marker bouy in that spot. I think you both deserve it if nothing else.
Matt this is a no brainer. You all should have gotten out onto the rocks and then the boat would have floated higher and they could have pulled it out with no damage.
After a couple hours they could come back for you.
Could have been worse.
You should erect a monument on the site to commemorate your stranding…and also mark it so you don’t do it again!
As for the wine, tell the Boatress that wine is definitely not the drink to have on the rocks!
Matt. Thank u for ur excellent write up about Smith Point Sea Rescue. Happy we were able to get u off the rocks with a falling tide. Buddy Sylvia Senior boat captain
A song for that occasion….hope everything turns out fine with the haul-out/inspection.
Hell of a way to generate website content! Glad everything apparently will be OK. Hopefully no one posted you on Qualified Captain.
You’ve made an excellent case for re-analyzing your situation when conditions change. Your boat got bigger and a familiar landmark disappeared.
I bet people who boat in Maine understand are very familiar with the plus sign on a charts.
Did Sweet Pea say “my bad”? Better make her take a sobriety test.
Matt,
What an excellent write up of what Smith Point Sea Rescue does! Thank you for taking the time to post it while you’re still worrying about Sweet Pea.
Sandie Doptis, SPSR #108
A couple months ago i tried outboard on the rocks after that i swore it off for Good I attend a few meetings a week It really helps
I tried outboard on the rocks a couple months ago after that i swore it off for good lets hope i can stay on the straight and deep to help i attend an occasional meeting or two
I tried outboard on the rocks about a month ago after that i swore it off for good I attend a few meetings a week to help with any relapses it really seems to help
What an idiot i was trying to add a picture and didn’t realize i was posting the comments i really need more help than i know
Think I remember reading or hearing somewhere something about “red right returning”. Glad no casualties beyond spilled spirits and hope minimal damage.
Ya.. me too. its 15 feet of water, and I kinda stere clear of that marker since it kinda would make sense that its where the light house would have been. A little to the right is normally Okay out in the bay. But lesson learned. I now know for SURE where it is. I am not alone aparently in my ignorance and confusion. But am blessed to be living with such a wonderful support system.
Dang!
Luckily the only rocks we landed on yesterday were for a picnic.
Glad all went as well given the circumstances.
Could have been much worse…you could have ended up on this dude’s YouTube channel….
NOT GOOD..if only we could invent something to prevent problems like this……..we could call it a chart or a chat plotter……hmmm thank god i’ve done something like this……….ok maybe i have an island named after me…………….
Matt Wiest family needed Smith Point Sea rescue after the fireworks. They were great! Gave us a jump and followed us up the Great Wicomico only to have our boat die again 100 yards from our dock.
Dang! We fell asleep at 8:30pm. I had been up the night before checking on the boat. They do an amazing job following you to your home.
Captain: I hope damage to your boat is slight.
if the coast guard wont mark it why not you or someone else. a long piece of rebar flag and solar light is cheap.