WRAL Raleigh TV Story on McCotter's

Also Bath, Goose Creek Park, and Many Beachings

Several Power Boats in Trouble at McCotter's Marina

Some Boats Swamped By Hurricane Irene

My heart goes out to the folks who have lost their homes in Irene in NC, and I wish speedy recovery for the towns that suffered most in the storm. After retrieving Paul and Piper's boat Delphine from Broad Creek, I took a little Dinghy around to get a closer look at some of the powerboats damaged during the destruction of the boathouse at McCotter's.

Here, Equinox, a blue hulled beauty lies partially submerged at her slip. She may have been held down by docklines or debris, or possibly holed by a piling as she settled down, as happened to Mariana.





This unknown powerboat (name "I Got Mine"?)was floated onto the dock and is awkwardly perched above the water. I would like to know the names of any vessels that any readers recognise from the photos, I hope the owner is safe and sound.




Here A 29 foot powerboat, "Beautiful Day" appears to be whole with a shredded canopy, a minor miracle from the look of the boats around her. Smart or lucky captain, can't tell which, yet.



"Animal Lover" out of Peekskill, NY is sunk at the dock, perpendicular to the normal berth, doubtless floated over the dock and came down sideways, swamping in the process. She will need to be hauled and refitted, but that can't happen at McCotter's just yet, they must repair their boat lift dock.




Once you have the urge to go out, know that navigational markers may be damaged, moved or gone. This is Red "6" just in Broad Creek, giving an idea of the storm surge (although it was higher). At the end of the spoils section out in Pamlico River to the East, Marker Red "10" is missing completely.



Please let me know if your boat is featured, or if you have questions. Almost all of the boats on stands at McCotter's Marina are safe, I only saw one in the back yard that had moved. Different story at Captain Sam's Boat Yard next door, they have much lower elevation it turns out. Numerous, perhaps fifteen boats were on the ground there, including a giant cruiser in the road. I am in Carrboro, NC and took all photos on Monday August 29th.

Athena up in the Air

Orion Appears to be in Good Shape




Met the owner of Athena, briefly. Like Marshall, he spent the night on his boat at the dock, but things got complicated. He' is going to need a crane to get this baby off of the dock.

Katherine the Grate is in a tight squeeze as seen here, but perhaps is not as bad as she seems. Paul and I both commented on how tough fiberglass boats can be, until they aren't.


Here's a general view from the north of the chaos Irene left behind.



In regards to Paul, an owner, who requested information, I have added a photo of several well-tied boat, among them Orion on the South Dock, which appears, from sixty feet, to be in good shape. I know some boats were retied due to the massive storm surge, and many docklines parted in the storm, so there may have been rubbing or other damage, all I can see is what's in the photo here. Hopefully she fared well.




I have some more photos coming, I am hearing from many owners about boats they own and hoping for good news. I have photos of Delphine, Orphan Annie, Antidote, Beautiful Day, Orion, Animal Lover, Island Time, Equinox, Princess, and some others, including a Catalina 36 from WYC which dragged mooring through the far end of the fuel dock. Here's hoping your boat is OK, can be fixed, was insured, or needed hauling out anyway. Peace, Chris.

Awesome Dude at Marina Saves his Home

Link to a terrific interview, where Marshall Harris of Key West describes his attitude about protecting his property. "Not the smartest thing to do". I don't know, Marshall. Seems pretty smart to me. Also, can we borrow your metal detector? Paul and I found no CQR anchor when we went out into Broad Creek to retrieve Delphine. Seems a sailboat got tangled in one of three anchors that Paul and Piper had positioned and chafed through the line. I know you hate CQR's, Marshall, but that metal detector you mentioned when we met you might do it. How else can we find the anchor, chain and line?

Click link below to meet Marshall.

Flood worries and some relief in Irene's wake | The Courier-Journal | courier-journal.com

Sea Licious Survives, Mariana Probably A Loss

>Many Boats Damaged as Hurricane Irene Roars Through Broad Creek



Two boats at McCotter's have captured my special interest, and I first want to let reader Julian, owner of SeaLicious, a Pearson 303, get a gander at his rig, which appears below.



Looks great Julian. You are a lucky sailor, since right next to your boat were so many wrecks I couldn't count them. Most of the boats that were in the remaining boathouse were lost or damaged, as you can see below. Pictured below is (I think) Happy Sails, a Columbia 24, and Caroline. Both were damaged, but not sunk. Also, behind Happy Sails is a San Juan 28 which lies buried under tin roofing from the former boathouse. Even further back is Athena, which stands completely upon the dock!



Mariana is a Sam Crocker "Amantha" Class Cutter belonging to Don Justin, who made the difficult journey to see his sailboat. I met him on shore, and ferried him out to his boat, which was inaccessible from shore. She had risen on the amazing 8-10 foot storm surge, and settled down, fatally, on a piling. Only this prevents her from sinking now. She once belonged to G. Gordon Liddy. Don peers into the cabin to retrieve a souvenir, an irreplaceable knife from his Navy service.




Hurricane Irene has probably put an end to this beautiful and historic boat. The loss of a boat is a sad thing, but not knowing could be worse. I hope I have helped to put a few minds to rest.



I have many photos of other boats, most have survived, some have not. I will be happy to provide photos to anyone requesting information. Washington, NC has restored electrical service to many areas, fuel seems to be available, and McCotter's is open. The lift dock is damaged and must be repaired before any boats can be launched, or pulled out to be inspected for damage. The small boat ramp is also blocked by debris. Let me know if I can be of assistance as recovery from Hurricane Irene continues.

Hurricane Irene Slams Marina

McCotter's Marina Damaged by Irene

Another Boathouse Gone

Once again, McCotter's Marina suffers losses, this time from the Category 1 Hurricane Irene. I only have local news reports to go by, and I will confirm this information when Paul and I return to retrieve Piper and Paul's boat from Broad Creek.

This photo seems to show the wreckage at the docks of the marina, east of Washington, NC




A combination of hurricane force gusts and storm surge likely caused this collapse, I doubt anything could have been done.

The storm surge on the western shores of Pamlico Sound was predicted to be massive as this map of risk indicates.


The red areas are in the Neuse River, and the Pamlico River near McCotters is the shaded in brown, indicating nearly as severe a risk of flooding.

With that in mind, Paul's family and I zipped down to McCotters to ensure the safety of their 29 foot Columbia, Delphine. Our strategy was to anchor her out in the creek, where she could ride over the storm surge. At dock, she would likely be damaged by surge and waves and it was too late to have her hauled out. She had been up on stands for the previous two years. Also the flood might float her off of any stands that the staff might set up.

Here she sits on stands in October.



Below, after Hurricane Irene has passed, a boat is stranded blocking the road; this sort of damage is the reason there is currently a curfew in Washington, NC.



In a photo also from the Washington Daily News, boats in slips ride out the storm while the docks are awash.



Finally, from the WDN, from the Washington waterfront is this well-anchored sailboat with a branch, riding safely on the Pamlico River.



With Luck, Delphine is fine, Piper and Paul actually used three anchors to secure her. If no trees or boats ran into the sailboat, then she will be as we left her on Thursday. The eyewall of Irene was around 25 mile from McCotter's Marina, so no one could be confident of complete protection. I'm sure the staff did all they could to protect their property and that of clients. I hate to see property damaged, but the most important thing in a dangerous situation is to protect life and limb, and once again, no lives were lost as McCotter's suffers their continuing bad luck.