Grounding Video

[Delfin]

Yeah, the first thing I do after doing something stupid is do a feature length video highlighting my lack of basic skills.

 

[BruceK]

If you pick up an unknown SEM(someone else`s mooring)makes sense to test it as you might your anchor by loading up in reverse.

 

[Mac2]

Apparently, all of the footage got 'washed out to sea'!

He filmed the mooring ball on the beach. Maybe he edited the footage due to insurance reasons.

 

[Max1]

Sad tale.

Mooring ball for a lunch stop. Ball gave way.

Possible total loss.

Unbelievable.
I have nothing else to say about the matter. However I would like to say that TF Has been a great source of knowledge for me.
Though I have owed a small sailing boat for almost all my life, I am new to trawlers and the concept of living on a boat all summer. So boating safety is something I am very keen on.

I have learned a lot here. Especially from the many replies by TF members. And as I have learned from my other passion:, "Learn from the mistakes of others. You'll not live long enough to make them all yourself."

 

[Serene]

He filmed the mooring ball on the beach. Maybe he edited the footage due to insurance reasons.

He also stated in his commentary that he had more footage, but it got washed out to sea!

But yes, probably code for I don't want to show it or admit I have it due to insurance reasons.

 

[Mambo42]

Although lots of mistakes were made I still feel for him. I just put myself in his place and if my boat would end up on the dry I would not be happy.
Of course I do everything to prevent it, but you never get 100 % guarantee all will go well. In the Med we need to go stern to in any wind force with the anchor out and only a few meters between our stern and the shore. Can tell you that brings the stress level up and you have to fully trust your anchoring skills. Then again, in those cases we stay onboard all the time.
It looks like he lacks experience, but if any of you would ever come to the Med I can tell you that he has actually more experience than 99 % of the charter boat 'captains'.
Would I have gone on that mooring buoy and then left the boat unattended ? Nope. I refuse mooring buoys in bad weather, but I understand why others take them. Here in t
he Med you are sometimes not even allowed to anchor, you have to take a mooring buoy (and pay a lot of money for it as well).
Is this boat a total loss ? Not really. It will cost serious money to get it back up and running again, my guess is about 400.000 - 500.000 USD if he has a company do it for him. If he would do it himself he would be looking at 250.000 - 300.000 USD.

In all it was an expensive lesson for him not to trust mooring buoys at any time, but I think we have all had our moments where we concluded we were lucky to avoid disaster. I should have checked all the electrical connections last year, did not do it and almost caught fire. So I will be the last one to judge him for doing what he did. It was not clever, he should not have done it, but it happened.

 

[FWT]

The focus has been on the skipper and his errors in judgement.

Would you expect a grounding to cause the struts to poke big holes in the bottom?

 

[STB]

The focus has been on the skipper and his errors in judgement.

Would you expect a grounding to cause the struts to poke big holes in the bottom?

That much boat coming down hard onto that little area? You betcha.

 

[hollywood8118]

The focus has been on the skipper and his errors in judgement.

Would you expect a grounding to cause the struts to poke big holes in the bottom?

The initial contact of the prop looked to be with rock while spinning. Could be the struts and rudders were on rock and not sand. Either way it doesn't really matter. It was going to hurt her getting bounced on the beach, most likely bulkhead damage from hull flex and other damage not initially noticed. Probably still repairable with time and money.
Hollywood

 

[Serene]

The initial contact of the prop looked to be with rock while spinning. Could be the struts and rudders were on rock and not sand. Either way it doesn't really matter. It was going to hurt her getting bounced on the beach, most likely bulkhead damage from hull flex and other damage not initially noticed. Probably still repairable with time and money.
Hollywood

Yes I noted the state of the props too. They were definitely spinning at some stage after running aground.

 

[La Sirena]

I think this is a lesson to many that there is a lot more to boating than meets the eye. It's more than buying a boat and turning the key. There is a lot that can go wrong to even the best and most experienced captains, and the consequences can be deadly. It's the responsibility of the captain to anticipate potential failures and their outcomes, and react accordingly. It seems things on the water are in slow motion until they shift into high gear and cascade into a downward, uncontrollable spiral.

It's fun to watch guests and passengers relax, smiling with a drink in hand while I'm driving the boat, but my mind isn't really at rest until we're safely an anchor or at a dock and the weather is calm.

I feel for this captain, but I predict he will not be returning to boating.

 

[rgano]

Swell and onshore wind noted; I'm outa there. Three things I would like to think I would have done.

1) Back down on the ball
2) DIVE the mooring -heck, they swam ashore; why not spend a minute to dive the darned ball?
3) Somebody competent to start and run the boat stays aboard in that situation, probably me, and keeps a watch, not sleeping below.

 

[dutch-barge]

one more reason why I feel so much better haveing a STEEL barge

 

[READY]

Yet by the grace of God go I...

Certainly some lessons learned but I don't come to the conclusion he is an incompetent captain. I know I have made bad decisions in life (including boating) that could have had a much worse outcome than it did. Fortunately most resulted in experience gained.

I look at these type of videos as being a great opportunity to post what could have been different but not an occasion to make judgement on the captain. He will face that with his insurance company.

And for those wondering about a Go Fund Me...I doubt it. He seems to have plenty of money and I doubt his income stream from YouTube is a major component either.

I have enjoyed his videos and hope he will be able to/chose to repair the boat and keep sharing.

 

[psneeld]

When you list a bunch of failure points and not many positives, is that passing judgement or expressing knowledge learned by various methods that keeps us out of the "Yet by the grace of God go I..." category?

 

[Serene]

When you list a bunch of failure points and not many positives, is that passing judgement or expressing knowledge learned by various methods that keeps us out of the "Yet by the grace of God go I..." category?

I like these types of threads, not because of some sort of perverse pleasure in seeing others suffer, but as a learning experience. Especially in hearing other's opinions of the situation.

So for me, it is definitely in the expressing knowledge learned by various methods that keeps us out of the "Yet by the grace of God go I..." category and a positive learning opportunity.

 

[Serene]

Yet by the grace of God go I...

Certainly some lessons learned but I don't come to the conclusion he is an incompetent captain. I know I have made bad decisions in life (including boating) that could have had a much worse outcome than it did. Fortunately most resulted in experience gained.

[SNIP]

I don't think incompetent is the correct word. I think it is more a case of inexperience, combined with a lack of judgement in that situation where getting to the bar/restaurant with a group of buddies took priority over seamanship.

Having to swim ashore instead of using the tender because the sea state was too rough onshore, was a BIG red flag for me!

 

[chriscritchett]

Hear, hear, READY.

I’m not sure why, exactly, but the negativity on this thread has left a very bad taste in my mouth. (And yet I keep reading, I know how this works ) I’ve watched many of Hillbilly’s videos and judged him, and second-guessed his choices, and for sure envied the hell out of him. And yet I find myself bristling at all the bashing here.

There are a hundred points to armchair QB about the whole situation, but if you weren’t there and in charge on that day, you weren’t there. I know I wasn’t.

Personally I think the absolute dumbest choice in the whole operation was trying to reboard the boat in those conditions. Very high chance that goes very, very bad. But, it was his one chance to try and save his boat. Credit to stupid bravery sometimes.

Anyway, my $.02. My best to him and to everyone here, and may we never be the subject of a thread like this now that we’re that much wiser.

 

[psneeld]

Is being an armchair quarterback the same as someone who with requisite experience points out errors that are so obvious, many here all agree on them?

 

[Serene]

[SNIP]

There are a hundred points to armchair QB about the whole situation, but if you weren’t there and in charge on that day, you weren’t there. I know I wasn’t.

[SNIP]

So the NTSB shouldn't investigate airline crashes because they weren't there?

Isn't the point of doing analysis after the fact (armchair quarterbacking if you like) to learn what happened and understand what can be done in the future to mitigate similar risks/incidents?

If you watch all of his videos and especially read his responses to comments, you will see an element of hubris in the way he goes about his business, which IMHO has opened him up to the very situation we are discussing here. i.e. critiquing his actions.

The Hillbilly chose to post videos of his life online in the public domain, so he has given everybody access to the information to analyse as they see fit!

It is simply another source of a learning opportunity to apply to our own personal experience. The whole purpose of forums such as this one is for like minded souls to come together to discuss topics of interest. In this case it is trawlers, of which a big part is seamanship and decision making.

 

[chriscritchett]

Don’t worry, Mr. Brady, you too can be armchair. All it takes is not being on the scene at the time. In my context it’s a verb, not a slight.

 

[chriscritchett]

So the NTSB shouldn't investigate airline crashes because they weren't there?

Isn't the point of doing analysis after the fact (armchair quarterbacking if you like) to learn what happened and understand what can be done in the future to mitigate similar risks/incidents?

If you watch all of his videos and especially read his responses to comments, you will see an element of hubris in the way he goes about his business, which IMHO has opened him up to the very situation we are discussing here. i.e. critiquing his actions.

The Hillbilly chose to post videos of his life online in the public domain, so he has given everybody access to the information to analyse as they see fit!

It is simply another source of a learning opportunity to apply to our own personal experience. The whole purpose of forums such as this one is for like minded souls to come together to discuss topics of interest. In this case it is trawlers, of which a big part is seamanship and decision making.

Do not disagree with your main points at all, though comparing TF discussion to an NTSB investigation is an amusing stretch.

Again, I was just hoping to lighten up what I took as an overly negative thread. Over and out.

 

[Serene]

Do not disagree with your main points at all, though comparing TF discussion to an NTSB investigation is an amusing stretch.

Again, I was just hoping to lighten up what I took as an overly negative thread. Over and out.

Roger that!

 

[psneeld]

I think the difference with this incident is it had both visuals and fairly well explained compared to a sketchy news report where people make wild assumptions.

 

[lwarden]

Hear, hear, READY.

I’m not sure why, exactly, but the negativity on this thread has left a very bad taste in my mouth. (And yet I keep reading, I know how this works ) I’ve watched many of Hillbilly’s videos and judged him, and second-guessed his choices, and for sure envied the hell out of him. And yet I find myself bristling at all the bashing here.

There are a hundred points to armchair QB about the whole situation, but if you weren’t there and in charge on that day, you weren’t there. I know I wasn’t.

Personally I think the absolute dumbest choice in the whole operation was trying to reboard the boat in those conditions. Very high chance that goes very, very bad. But, it was his one chance to try and save his boat. Credit to stupid bravery sometimes.

Anyway, my $.02. My best to him and to everyone here, and may we never be the subject of a thread like this now that we’re that much wiser.

I'm not sure why you are sticking up for the guy. I've watched a number of his videos and was struck by how little he knew about boating, mechanics, navigation etc. The entire premise of his channel seemed to be some sort of humble-brag. I'm not at all surprised he had an incident like this. The boat had a lot of teething issues and I've read a number of reviews of the Aquila which were pretty bad. All in all, it was a recipe for something bad to happen. Glad no one was injured or killed, that's all I can say.

 

[ABfish]

I'm not digging all of the harsh judgement. The guy states clearly in his early videos that he has waited many years to start seriously cruising. He's in his early/mid-60's.

At that age, he has a limited amount of time to acquire experience. At some point, you've got to jump in the game and make it happen. I would imagine that an aggressive, determined mindset has been a key to his success as it is for many successful people.

He hired a captain to jump start the learning process. Spent time on his personal fitness, acknowledging that jumping around on big 54-footer requires some agility. Attacked the cruising lifestyle with passion and lots of thought. Relished the thought of taking friends and family along on his adventures. Seems like a genuinely generous and likeable fellow. Willing to share the highs and the lows.

Chalk me up as another defender.

 

[psneeld]

Jump in the game late with limited experienc and possibly wind up on the beach.

Seen it too many times as a rescuer/assistance provider to think it's coincidence.

No one I think is saying much bad sbout the guy, but some pretty obvious bad decisions in this incident were made.

People are right, any one of us can do the same one day...but why will msny never be in a similar situation?

 

[Duke 239]

But I think of a mooring ball owned by a major restaurant as an engineered and maintained device.

Politely, you would be wrong. Even if it ws a "major retaurant", and I would not use that term to describe where the Hilbilly was going, "engineering" is a pretty specific thing done by certain licensed people. It is extreemly unlikely that any such person was involved in the setting of these moorings. Regarding maintenance, I expect the maintenence interval is the same as the failure interval. In other words, it needs maintenance now.

I think the Captain and his insurance carrier will try to apply US liability norms to the situation, but will quickly find out that they are not in Kansas anymore. The BVI isn't even like the UK when it comes to such foolishness.

 

[Northern Spy]

If you watch a few of his videos you will see a pattern.

Buy your first boat brand new for circa. USD$2.75m, have no experience and rely on paying people to do everything. Marina hop from bar to bar and put it on Youtube. Allow the generator to overheat multiple times due to blockages in the raw water intake. There is more, but I can't be bothered typing!

He has also blown a transmission on one of his Volvo diesels, ripped off the skeg under one of the hulls, dropped the keys to start his dinghy overboard, etc.

It is literally an example of somebody who has more money than brains!

Apparently, the guy unwittingly creates schadenfreude videos.

 

[Slider70]

OK, we all, or at least most of us, have made some mistakes while boating. There may be someone out there that hasn't but I don' think I've met the person yet?

Many small ones are made while learning and some big ones too? A mistake often occur without too much damage being done. Just some experienced learning to make a better seasoned boater. Disaster however are usually the result of a number of mistakes, things going wrong at the same time, or in a chain.

This disaster was a chain of mistakes. Tying to a mooring buoy, on a lea shore, then leaving the vessel unattended. I think the phone call to the restaurant and not asking the right questions are a red herrings. Likely no one there knew the actual status of the mooring?

Basically, don't tie to a mooring buoy you have no personal idea of holding capacity or its current condition. While this fellow tries to excuse his mistakes or justify them the simply questions he needs to answer are what would he do different in the future? That quickly defines ones mistakes and what to learn from those mistakes.

Mistakes are a part of the learning curve. But, what I viewed from the video is this fellow just doesn't seem to be able to understand his errors?

I participate in this blog to learn, and perhaps help others learn, rather than having to make those mistakes myself in my learning process.