[C320-list] Ok my turn to feel stupid.

[Bill Culbertson]

David,
 
My 320 is on Lake Erie.  Lake Erie is susceptible to a water-level phenomenon called seiche.  Webster says "an oscillation of the surface of a landlocked body of water (as a lake) that varies in period from a few minutes to several hours".  In Lake Erie's case it happens because the lake is long&skinny, fairly shallow and has its long axis aligned near perfectly in the direction of the prevailing winds (SW).  The West end of the lake from the Michigan shoreline to about 50nm out ("The Islands") is about 35 ft deep at most and more like 10-15 feet at the west end.
 
When the wind is blowing hard from the west or southwest for a few days straight, it "blows the water to Buffalo, NY".  When I get a chance, I'll dig up a NOAA historical water level graph of one of the times I've experienced this.  In my six seasons of ownership, I've twice had an October sieche blow the water completely out from under "Harmony" right at her dock.  Lucky she's a wing keel.  As you say, she just settles into the mud and stays mostly upright.  Not so for the fin keels in our marina.  I stay aboard and loosen dock lines as the water "drains" over a period of 5 hours.  I've got some pictures I could post to the 320 site.  I bring six foot stepladder with me.  When she's fully settled in the marina mud, you need the step ladder to prop from the boat deck up to the pier to climb off if you choose to.
 
For the fin keel boats, folks try to fiddle with lines so that when they tip over, they miss the mast of their neighbor.  I've heard rumors that last time, two boats sank because the water came back in quite fast (think sloshing in the bathtub).  The boats were leaned way over and the water came  back in so quickly, it went over the gunnels before the boat refloated. Presumably the scuppers were plugged with October fallen tree leaves or the mud had a pretty good grip on the hull or both.  
 
The 1st time it happened, I was a pretty new owner and unaware of this likelihood.  I didn't get down to the boat until she was hanging from her docklines.  By then, there was no way to loosen them nor would it have been very safe to do that I don't think.  For those who have wondered how strong the four docking cleats are, there's your answer.
 
 -bill
 Harmony #859

 
----- Original Message ----
From: David Cardoza <dave at avaloncon.com>
To: C320-List <C320-List at catalina320.com>
Sent: Monday, July 17, 2006 1:29:33 PM
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Ok my turn to feel stupid.


The "port list" everyone mentions gets very pronounced as it settles into
the sand hence the multiple anchors to starboard to keep it straight.  But
for the most part not much different than being up on blocks at the marina.
Another 320 owner across the bay in Onset harbor had his fully dry out a few
years ago and sit unaided on the keel till the next tide.  The marina
operator has a picture hung on the wall at the gas dock.  I would have been
much less relaxed if that had happened here.  But having seen that picture I
wasn't all the nervous or upset. Once in 20 years though for a hard aground
is more than enough for me.  I'm framing this and hanging it in the cabin so
I wont't ever have to do this again (knocked on my desk).... 

-----Original Message-----
From: C320-List-bounces at catalina320.com
[mailto:C320-List-bounces at catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Chris Burti
Sent: Monday, July 17, 2006 12:07 PM
To: C320-List
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Ok my turn to feel stupid.

Amazin'!

--- David Cardoza <dave at avaloncon.com> wrote:

> http://cardoza.org/BlindDateStoodUp/
> 
> Was having a wonderful conversation with some
> friends who had rafted up and
> missed a slight shift in the wind.  There is 6' of
> water under the ladder
> and just of to port.  Hadn't noticed until around
> 4:30 when the kids said
> the boat was looking "different" then it was to
> late.  We had to wait till
> 11:20 pm to float off.  One of our friends came up
> with the phrase Blind
> Date "Stood Up".
> 
> Location: Bassets Island Pocasset MA.
> 
> 
> 


Chris Burti
"Commitment"
Catalina 320, #867, 
Farmville, NC

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