Got some minor HULL DAMAGE during big weather

Moored at a dock finger pier you can tie both sides

Side tied. (Prodigal is the 3rd boat in this line)

Prodigal is side tied and a little broken today.  (wind and waves can push it hard against the dock and we've had very hard winds for two days)  So i put out 'fender boards' to protect her from scraping on the pilings.  (poles at the dock can rub against the hull)  I had a dock board stored down in a deck locker that has been aboard for ten years.  finally i used it - for the first time ever - last week.  You can see where the board had rotted and it was quickly wearing away by rubbing on the pilling / post.  So i went out to a building site and got a replacement board.  We were told 'BIG wind' (gusts to 50 mph) was coming so i installed a second dock board and replaced the worn one too.  All well and good.  Till it wasn't.  At 4:30am today, this morning, i was awakened by a loud noise.  I ran up on deck in my underwear to be frozen by the wind and by the horrible image of my broken dock board.  The 'NEW' replacement board broke.  here i am in the dark, freezing, watching the hull pound against the dock pole....   My only choice was to wedge another side tied fender till daylight. (and pray) I did a lot of serious praying.  Prodigal did some serious pounding and bouncing off the piling. 

  

I didnt sleep well, if any, after that.  At 6am, with first light i ran to Home Depot and bought a new board and replaced the broken one.  BUT the boat had taken some pretty nasty damage from the pounding she took the night before.  There is a spot about 6" long that knocked a hole in my outer layer of fiberglass.  So the GOOD NEWS:  i am now going to become a fiberglass installer.  (I'm not just a pretty face. I'm also not just a diesel mechanic, or Chef, or Pirate!)

Fiberglass Damage from hitting dock posts.

If there is any consolation in knowing it "could have been worse," I'm not feeling it.  As they say, when God closes a door, he opens a window.  (i'm feeling like I heard him SLAM this door and listened to it pound, scrape and rub all night.)  Well, I'm going to go out on the dock again now and check everything.  Fortunately the wind dies down tonight, so maybe I'm through tearing things up? (i hope so)

Fiberglass Installation Expert, Skip

PS. God sent me a helper.  tonight walking down the dock, a couple I met two years ago in Marsh Harbor stopped by.  (They are next door at a the marina.) the wife volunteered her husband - who is 'an expert fiberglass installer' - to help me.  So another Christmas Miracle is in the making!  Photos later after i screw that up.

2 part - Epoxy Fix Mix. West Marine $20.

My Sister Lynn, the question sister, asked "do the other boats around you have bigger, or better boards?"  Great question.  Here are some photos of the Fender Boards for my neighbors boats.

 

TODAY, with help from Jeff and Chris off s/v Pappy Jovial, 

We fixed the two bullet holes in my hull. 

 before the work

Clean it, sand it, wash it with Acetone.

 just mix the 2 part epoxy and stir.  then wait.

trowel it on - after it thickens, then cover with tape to hold in place.

when your fingernail wont pierce the 'spare goo' any longer, carefully remove the tape.  Last step, take an old tee shirt drenched in Acetone and lightly rub the surface of the fix area to smooth away any imperfection.  Sorry I dont have any photos of these steps.  I was too busy being careful to not get the sticky white goo on my hands, phone, or camera.  (very sticky)

 Taking off the tape

Finished.  This morning, after it dried.  It's not perfect, but it's perfect enough.  Chris of s/v Pappy Jovial told me yesterday that Jeff has 'never had a real job.  He's just worked on boats all his life.'  Well I'm glad for that.  His experience and assistance helped me to learn this valuable lesson.  Thanks to Jeff, Chris and all the mentors and helpers everywhere!  Another Christmas Miracle.