Well, I hate to make this post....
Let me also caveat by saying this sad story was relayed to me secondhand, but I did meet the folks and boat involved prior to the event.
One of our fellow Vikes from the Bay area recently purchased a gorgeous E-38-200 in Long Beach. The boat was circa 1989 or 90 and barely used. I got a good look at it since it was in our marina during the prep for the fateful northbound trip. The new owner and crew were very nice, stopped by to check out my older E-38, had a couple of beers, etc.
After a couple of days being delayed by fuel filter problems, they departed north, with plans to stop at Marina del Ray, Santa Barbara, etc, and basically hop their way up the coast, trying to motor during the early hours as much as possible.
Well, I just heard on their third day, 5 hours north of Santa Barbara, the boat began rapidly taking on water. Wind and sea conditions were evidently a bit gnarly, shall we say, and they had experienced a rough morning up to this point. I believe they were motorsailing, but again, this is secondhand.
When the water began ingressing, they checked and shut the thru-hulls, and turned back for Santa Barbara. After a 5-hour return trip (that must've been fun) through the rough conditions, pumping like crazy, they made it back into port and got the boat pulled out of the water.
Scary to say, there was apparently a crack in the hull near the hull/keel stub!! I'm not sure of the exact location or dimensions, but it was big enough to let water in at an alarming rate.
I can't really speculate on the exact conditions, how hard they were pushing the boat, etc, since I wasn't there, but as a fellow E-38 owner, this certainly got my attention!
Thankfully the crew made it back safe and sound.
I know these boats are tough, but are there any other similar tales of woe out there? I like to push my boat within reason, but holy smokes, this is a scary story!!! :eek:
Is there something I should know about my E38 I've known and loved for the past 6 months?
P.S. If anyone directly involved is here, please jump in and correct any facts I may have gotten wrong. So sorry for this mishap!!
Let me also caveat by saying this sad story was relayed to me secondhand, but I did meet the folks and boat involved prior to the event.
One of our fellow Vikes from the Bay area recently purchased a gorgeous E-38-200 in Long Beach. The boat was circa 1989 or 90 and barely used. I got a good look at it since it was in our marina during the prep for the fateful northbound trip. The new owner and crew were very nice, stopped by to check out my older E-38, had a couple of beers, etc.
After a couple of days being delayed by fuel filter problems, they departed north, with plans to stop at Marina del Ray, Santa Barbara, etc, and basically hop their way up the coast, trying to motor during the early hours as much as possible.
Well, I just heard on their third day, 5 hours north of Santa Barbara, the boat began rapidly taking on water. Wind and sea conditions were evidently a bit gnarly, shall we say, and they had experienced a rough morning up to this point. I believe they were motorsailing, but again, this is secondhand.
When the water began ingressing, they checked and shut the thru-hulls, and turned back for Santa Barbara. After a 5-hour return trip (that must've been fun) through the rough conditions, pumping like crazy, they made it back into port and got the boat pulled out of the water.
Scary to say, there was apparently a crack in the hull near the hull/keel stub!! I'm not sure of the exact location or dimensions, but it was big enough to let water in at an alarming rate.
I can't really speculate on the exact conditions, how hard they were pushing the boat, etc, since I wasn't there, but as a fellow E-38 owner, this certainly got my attention!
Thankfully the crew made it back safe and sound.
I know these boats are tough, but are there any other similar tales of woe out there? I like to push my boat within reason, but holy smokes, this is a scary story!!! :eek:
Is there something I should know about my E38 I've known and loved for the past 6 months?
P.S. If anyone directly involved is here, please jump in and correct any facts I may have gotten wrong. So sorry for this mishap!!