Jacksonville post Irma

[TIM WEBB]

Good work you guys!

[DigitalMechanic]

Slowly but surely, the dock... that was supposed to already be competed... is coming along. We now have half of it rebuilt, and just in time for our Gator Bowl Regatta (which was postponed for a month due to the hurricane). The turn out was pretty good, and there were lots of boats, especially Flying Scott's (about 19 of them raced). I raced with my buddy Michael on his Thistle, and we only had one other competitor that showed for the Thistle class (who is a local member of the club). 7 Hobbie Cats and 4 mixed fleet multi-hulls showed as well. So considering that this was a rescheduled event and over 30 boats showed, I would say it was a success!

Our first club race since Irma - http://www.regattanetwork.com/clubmgmt/applet_regatta_results.php?regatta_id=15595

So, as the completed dock gets closer to the submerged aluminum ramp, I imagine that thing is going to come out soon. The dock building crew is supposed to try and lift it our for us using their crane. But for now, "The little PDF that could" continues to mark it's location.

[GreenLake]

Looks like people are putting keelboats on lifts.

[DigitalMechanic]

Those are the survivors. There is no power out there. Those boats have been stuck since the storm. Sad... but true.

[GreenLake]

wow!

[DigitalMechanic]

So, the ramp remains submerged... The dock is coming along very very slowly. I believe I previously posted a picture of the boat in the neighboring properties yard, but tomorrow a crane is scheduled to come and remove it from the property. I wish I could be there, but have a telecom job with unrealistic deadlines that I am working on. One of the fellows from the club will be there, and he said he will try and get some pics/video of the action.

[DigitalMechanic]

I have a lot of pictures, so I will probably have to break tis up into several posts...

First, here is the crane...

[DigitalMechanic]

Here is the crane pulling the boat out of the neighbors yard...

[DigitalMechanic]

And here is the landing... back in our yard... Who know's when it will disappear, lol.

The club member's were trying to create something to help the guy get the mast off the boat (using a tree to hoist it). He decided to tie it to his truck and pull it off... I guess it is his boat, he can do what he want's?

[DigitalMechanic]

And last but not least, here is the ramp that we have been talking about retrieving this whole time...

Our dock is much higher now, not sure if we will be able to put the ramp back in service.

[TIM WEBB]

And here is the landing... back in our yard... Who know's when it will disappear, lol.

The club member's were trying to create something to help the guy get the mast off the boat (using a tree to hoist it). He decided to tie it to his truck and pull it off... I guess it is his boat, he can do what he want's?

DM, is the hull holed? Just wondering why they didn't just drop her back in the water?

[DigitalMechanic]

Check out the picture of it in the air. The keel is missing. It was originally sticking out of the dirt straight up on it's keel. I knew the keel was cracked from looking at it over in the neighbors yard. I thought they might repair it... but I presume it broke off when they pulled the boat out. The owner did not seem to care much about saving the boat... like I said he hooked to the mast to his truck and ripped it off, vs a graceful takedown. I think the boat will probably end up getting cut up and thrown away. Not sure at who's expense now that it is back in our yard. It is sitting on valuable dry dock space at the moment.

Previously, the dock guys had been hogging that space, and now this boat, so the dock guys are hogging a different space. This means that boats get to sit in front of boats in the dry dock alleys... which means that you get to move at least more than one boat if you want to get yours out. Sucks... and makes trailering to the water an overly interesting obstacle course. I am waiting for someone to tell me that their boat got hit by another boat on land... and the insurance company is scratching their head on that one, lol.

We are so dysfunctional, lol... But we make it work!

[TIM WEBB]

Ah, I see. Just looked like any other shoal draft keel in the pics. Is the owner a Rudder Club member?

I'm sure all the boat moving around stuff is a hassle, but when it's all said and done, the club will have a better facility for it, so hang in there! ;-P

[DigitalMechanic]

He was a member, but I do not think he is now. He never used that boat. It just sat. I don't think he prepared it for the storm (tied it down etc). But then again it may not have helped if he did. Who knows?

Yeah, we are going through reconstruction pains. Like I said, we make it work. Everyone helps out

[GreenLake]

And last but not least, here is the ramp that we have been talking about retrieving this whole time...

YEAHHH the ramp!