#1 boat gets beached, #2 'pro' pulls boat off beach, #3 boat rolls and sinks

[appsyscons]

This past Sat, I went to Boca Grand (Gasparilla Island) for an Easter egg hunt
with our grandchildren. After the gala event, I drove to the South most end, to
Boca Grande Pass and Lighthouse. I came across this boat, a real nice twin
engine Center Console. According to the park ranger, it arrived about 2:00am,
reportedly with steering problems. When I arrived Sat about 11:00am, a
professional tow company was already on site with two boats.

all shot with 7D, 18-200, some extensively cropped


to see all of the pictures, click here


























to see all of the pictures, click here

[Ratickle]

That professional tow company is not so professional I think.....

[Bobcat]

Good timing Frank.......I can hear the tow boat guy saying..."You attach this end to the T-top....and I'll tie my end really low...and pull like hell!!"

[old377guy]

OMG

[fund razor]

Dam.

Do people "document" a boat that small? Has no numbers.

[appsyscons]

Standing on the beach with my camera, watching this unfold, felt a bit surreal.
It seemed pretty obvious to me, that it would roll over as soon at it hit deeper
water. I was thinking, once they get it a few feet off the beach, in very shallow
water (still partially sitting on the bottom), they will stop to pump it, get it level,
and then pull it into deeper water.

I watched as they just dragged it off, out in Boca Grande pass, and like I thought,
over and down she went.

I have posted a few more previously un-posted pictures, be sure to check them out, at the original link.

Remember in my original post I said "... professional tow company was already
on site with two boats...", well here is a composite of three previously un-posted
pictures, showing the other one of the two boats, involved in this incident:





to see all of the pictures, click here

[Ratickle]

Did you stay for the final outcome?

[fund razor]

I wonder where they thought that water was gonna go?

Amazing pics. Thanks.

[MOBILEMERCMAN]

Went from a simple grounding to a total loss. I suspect their insurance will be suing the tow company to recover the losses. On the other hand the tow operators probably just saw it as a way to increase the bill. A salvage is governed by different laws and rates.

From what I understand about at least one towing company is they pay their employees a flat rate to tow but, give them a percentage of the salvage.

[Ratickle]

It makes me pissed off just to watch that. If it were my boat, and I had hired the guys, I'd be throwing rocks and clam shells, (or whatever I could find if I were watching...). You wonder how people can be so stupid.


As for the documented craft, it would be really close on the 5 Net Ton or whatever the rule is now. I've never figured out that "easy" form deal they use.

[appsyscons]

Did you stay for the final outcome?

That was the final outcome.
Looked to me, like they were sailing off, with the 'anchor' in tow.


So if you see this guy coming to 'help' you and your boat out,
what would you do?

[Spencer]

Not sure how this one would work. A light grounding on sand isn't considered a salvage, but a tow. Who knows what happens when the tow company turns it into a salvage. Good thing it was TBUS and not BoatUS.

[appsyscons]

Not sure how this one would work. A light grounding on sand isn't considered a salvage, but a tow. Who knows what happens when the tow company turns it into a salvage. Good thing it was TBUS and not BoatUS.

What is the difference?

From Boat US web site

"WELCOME to BoatUS - Towing Services
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Why? Because we provide for the most services in the most ports, in the most waterways for the most boaters.
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[Bobcat]

I think he was referring to SeaTow....who have a checkered past with race teams.

[Ratickle]

I think he was referring to SeaTow....who have a checkered past with race teams.

Probably, they've pulled some real winners.......