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MichaelC · 07-04-2011, 20:09

Moitessier's Joshua was in exactly the same situation at Cabo. They dug around her and shoved her out with a dozer. This could be done here as well. It will not hurt the boat, and from the photos I am sure she would simply float and sail. Wish I were there. I'd do it. with that boat it is really not that big of a project, since you don't have to be careful not to hurt it. You won't. It is a tank. Colvin designs are incredibly strong. And damn good sailors, to boot.

gulfcoastsailor · 07-04-2011, 21:03

My money is on the side of salvage.

VirtualVagabond · 08-04-2011, 01:34

Tom is a totally 'no compromise' guy and he built that boat the same way. She's heavy displacement with a very comfortable ride.
I have no doubt she could be dragged up the beach and trailered as per Atoll's suggestion.

Removing the masts would be interesting. From memory, they're galvanised spun steel street lamp posts that could easily stand alone. The rigging was virtually decorative.

Le Papillon has carried the dreams and memories of many. She deserves better.

sctpc · 08-04-2011, 03:22

is this true? 1979 Steel Schooner

doug86 · 08-04-2011, 04:10

Complicating all the "bulldozer & haul her away" theories is the fact that the boat is on Fire Island, which is under the jurisdiction of The National Seashore, federal permits would probably have to be obtained to drive heavy equipment on the beach. The long and wide load she would be on a trailer may not even fit on the few surface roads that do exist. On a trailer, this boat would be about 60' long and how wide? 13'? The task is far more complicated than simply making a few phone calls. It will take time and lots of money. The money is the obstacle. Every day she sits in the surf creates more damage to her running gear and potential for rudder and keel damage, not to mention what must be happening inside with salt water and sand swishing around.

If the Feds decide to "federalize" the cleanup (which is done on occasion), then they pay for all the work and use contractors already on their list of pre-approved vendors. Of course, no work permits are needed if the Feds are the ones hiring the work. If that decision is made, the boat will be gone in a day or two. Believe me, they would rather the owner deal with it.

Cormorant · 08-04-2011, 04:15

When they do "beach replenishment" operations, pumping sand in from offshore, they have dozens of bulldozers crawling all over the beach out there. But I agree, someone will make this relatively simple operation difficult.

I think digging, pushing, and kedging her out to sea would be easier than trying to get a truck involved. . . .

smurphny · 08-04-2011, 04:58

If she were my boat, she'd have been out of there already.

Soundbounder · 08-04-2011, 05:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by smurphny

If she were my boat, she'd have been out of there already.

Whatever you say
SOUNDBOUNDER: Ashore On Fire Island

**GordMay** · 08-04-2011, 05:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by smurphny

If she were my boat, she'd have been out of there already.

If she were under command of a decent sailor, she'd not have been "in there" at all.

smurphny · 08-04-2011, 05:42

Quote:

If she were under command of a decent sailor, she'd not have been "in there" at all.

Indeed. It's simply amazing that someone could do this through inattention. Things like this make you scratch your head and wonder who's at the wheel of nearby boats although most of the captains (of sailboats) I've ever met are pretty competent.

It appears that the boat is above the low tide line, I wonder why we do not see shovels, a$$holes and elbows in the pix to try at least to get her upright. I wonder if she's severely holed. There are not many rocks around there and you'd have to be really unlucky to land on one.

Soundbounder · 09-04-2011, 07:45

Some FB photos of when she first came ashore:

https://www.facebook.com/album.php?a...closeTheater=1

sctpc · 09-04-2011, 14:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soundbounder

Some FB photos of when she first came ashore:

https://www.facebook.com/album.php?a...closeTheater=1

So it looks like it was a calm sea and the 3 just sailed right up to the beach.
How far would a tug be stationed from there? as at that time it could have just been pulled off the beach as a soft grounding.