E38-200 Lesson learned.

Late last season the local dock flies came aboard. On the way out I set the auto pilot as usual and pulled up the bumpers and secured all lines. As I returned to the helm I was heckled by the passengers. "We can do that for you, show off, ohhh an auto pilot" and so forth. So we sailed up about 30 min or so to the restaurant and tied up.

After lunch I took the crew up on their skills. You get the dock lines and I'll pull out the Jib. No motor required! It was blowing pretty good. We gracefully pulled away from the dock and tacked back down the river. As we neered my home marina I fired up the engine and made my usual approach. The current was inbound at 5 knot + not for the faint of heart, but I've done this many times. As we came down the fairway I popped it in reverse to slow her down and to my surprise the engine stalled. Ugh ohh. That has never happened before! Back to neutral, engine fired right up. Shift to reverse and bam engine stalls again! Aghhhh. Hey fellas where's the bow line? Wraped around the prop? Aghhhh. Prepare for collision!!! 5+ knot current and we collide head on with a docked vessel. Bow pulpit to bow pulpit. CRUNCH!!! Then the stern swings around and we're able to hold her off the other boats.
The crab dock master and my buddies jet ski get us off the boats and to the neerest dock to tie up. The next morning at slack tide I got my mask out and unwraped the bow line that was never secured. Shamefully I motored down to my slip.

Lesson learned. Trust no one, you're the captain and if it goes wrong its your fault.

So a lil insurance claim and a call to Rail Makers. They did a superb job. The welds are flawless and they still had all the original jig and dimensions for the 38. However I can't access the through bolts. My anchor locker is glassed in to support the windless. The only way out would be in pieces! Anyone here think some access ports would work for this and any future access? It's either that or cut similar holes and glass them back up when done.

The cardboard templates are in approximate location. The bow is an 6 inch opening and the port and starboard would be 4 inch opening. Beckson screw out is what I'm thinking.