วีดีโอ

Good luck with salvage although I would be inclined to take the insurance money and run. Spade type rudders are the Achiles' heel of modern yachts. I don’t see how they can ever be made strong enough to avoid bending or breaking without endangering the hull structure. Perhaps best for rudders on cruising boats to be tied into the keel somehow. Here in Portugal we have attacks by orcas to deal with as well.

As a long term sailor I know how much a boat becomes a part of your life. It’s hard to say goodbye especially when things go this bad. No salvage likely for what I have seen. Unless it’s very shallow at that spot and done within a day or two it’s not worth it. Sad reality. I hope you have insurance and maybe hire a diver to get some personal belongings out. Take your time to give it a place, thank God you’re safe.

Thanks for the video. Sorry for your loss of the beautiful Dragon Fire. Autohelms are a great tool, especially for the single hander, but autohelms have a dark side: Lateral forces at the top of the rudder post exerted by the sea’s great power against the rudder applied mostly at the bottom bearing eventually overwhelm the top post bearing, always the structurally weaker of the two, because of the moment arm of the force being resisted there. Failure of the top bearing or its structure is then quickly followed by the bottom one failing as it must, like the force that causes a broken wrist. (Imagine trying to dig with a shovel using only one hand.) A helmsman applies force to the steering gear far less abruptly and forcefully than a powerful hydraulic autohelm, made increasingly rapid and powerful when engaged in battle with even slightly heavier than calm sea state. I use my autohelm very sparingly and only in calm sea states (after having ruined one in a heavy sea). Closely scrutinize the top bearing structure while at dock by having an assistant rapidly move the helm to port and starboard while observing the top bearing area for hairline cracks opening and closing. I’ve seen it; A guy trying to sell me an otherwise nice 1985 Catalina 38 had rigged a piston between the cockpit wall and emergency tiller to act as an actuator for many long boring motor returns from Ensenada to San Diego after that annual "downhill" race. He had the piston off when I inspected the boat, but he had left the tell-tale: an after-market fitting he had attached to the side wall (gunwale) opposite the port side of the rudder post and exactly where it would need to be to connect athwartships to the small emergency tiller, he had expropriated for the purpose of a DIY autohelm, a dead giveaway. Ruined the top structure of the rudder post, a circular crack in the heavy fiberglass around the emergency tiller knob opening and closing as the helm was turned back and forth. Refusing to admit his crime or fix it, he also thereby ruined the sale. His exact words were, “I’ll just sell to someone else who won’t notice it.” And he was a medical doctor! If I treated my architectural clients like he treats his patients, I’d have smoldering piles of rubble with my clients under them in the five western states in which I practice my profession.

I’ve always wondered if the sea water hose to the engine could be disconnected at the throughhull, and the engine be used in a Hail Mary attempt as an auxiliary bilge pump. Even at full throttle, I don’t imagine that very much water passes through the heat exchanger, but I wonder???

32 year old watching this from rural England. It’s people like you that is inspiring me to go out and buy my first boat. Many years ahead of me and my young family to hopefully enjoy some fine sailing. Fair winds friend.

Sad story and sight to see your sailboat go. Glad you made it! What model sailboat? It's hard to believe a rudder post is fastened with 1/2 inch plywood and caulking.

More Brains in a potato!

Holy cow, sorry to see you lost the boat - at least you are safe! And the insurance company paid off. As a boat builder for over three decades, I am surprised to find out that a Beneteau 50' only used .5 inch plywood tabbed in with 5200 for the upper bearing support - that is totally insufficient. I can't imagine they are all built that way, surely this was a factory screwup? I was also a commercial diver for 12 years and have raised many sunken boats - I don't think salvaging yours is worth it - better to find another one and start over. Best of luck and be thankful it didn't happen well offshore when you might have had to resort to the life raft for days.

Are you really disparaging the very people who came out to save your life? Sounds like it to me.

To all the people who seem to have all the answers on what I should have done, or what I am planning to do. What is your background? Have you ever lost a sailboat due to similar circumstances, that you can speak with past knowledge? Or are you playing the ever immortal armchair quarter back. Hindsight is always 20/20. It is easy to pontificate on what I should or should not have done. Have you solo sailed across the Med and Atlantic Ocean? I am sorry, but I have taken all the criticism I care to take. I have not responded to ONE negative post before now. If I am able to raise Dragon Fire, it is not a wreck - it has an enlarged rudder post hole. It will not cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to put back into original condition. Contrary to popular belief, engines and electronic devices do not just die because they have been submerged in salt water. With proper care, most of these items can be restored to working condition. Oh I know that common belief says I am wrong. Take a look at "Can the engine be saved after 3 months in salt water? (Glimt - Part 3)" here on TH-cam. Yes I am 73, but I am still full of energy and enjoy building things. Dragon Fire was/is a spectacular boat - and Beneteau does not make substandard boats. Virtually everything that has ever been built will have some design flaw, or something that could have been done better. Some people say that Ford, or Chevrolet or Crysler products are trash. But people buy them every day and are happy with the service they get from them. Buy a new boat some say. We were lucky with the price we paid for Dragon Fire. Almost half of what we could have brought for in the US due to the economic condition our economy is in. I have a suggestion for those who feel I am not in my right mind for buying the rights back to Dragon Fire, or that I was taking a nap while being towed (even though I had only a few hours of sleep the previous night). I suffer from sleep apnea and don't sleep much at night any way - so I tend to take naps during the day. Anyway, rather than stating your professional opinion about me in a negative way - just go away. Just because you don't agree with me does not mean you need to be ugly in your comments to me. For the vast majority of you who have shown support and sympathy for the unfortunate sinking of Dragon Fire, I took the time to answer each of you with "thanks". I sincerely meant it and express my humble thanks to you once again. David

You took a nap while you were being towed with a fucked up rudder post?Nice job.Cant believe you sunk your boat.Crazy!

So, so sorry that this happened. Glad you are safe. Things can be replaced, you cannot!

Let that money you spent buying the right to salvage be a life lesson and move on. Risk reward is way way off on this proposition unless the TH-cam makes you bank. Get another boat and sail on friend. Be safe. (Next time more what if’s and less hope and prayers for seaworthiness, especially in the open ocean in heavy seas.)

Long story short the coast guard are fkn imbeciles. I have a 1” gasoline crash pump, and a few electric pumps. All kinds of stuff to try to plug leaks.

😔😥

So the USCG sent 3 boats and could not prevent her from sinking. SMH

That's horrible, i can't even imagine. Sounds like you're taking it in stride, though. It seems like the coast guard really let you down a couple times there. What made you decide to go forward with salvaging the boat?

Hi David, I am sorry to hear about your loss. I was the Cape Dory 28 that was next to you on the hard at McCotter's. I have a feeling after spending some time with you that you will get through this setback and have many more (positive) adventures ahead of you.

Mccotters marina?

Thats rough! Shocking how things can go bad, so quickly. Do you think that if the coast guard had not shown up, that you could have saved her? At least you’re safe, and you were insured. Good luck with Future endeavors and enjoy the bay liner.

Sorry for the loss of the boat but it’s time to call it a day. You’re putting yourself in additional danger with your Bayliner searches and the boat has zero value. Rudder posts sinking aren’t unheard of because of poor build quality but the CG should have had operating pumps at the ready. At any rate, you’re alive and healthy and it’s time to move on. Best of luck.

Sorry for the loss of your boat sailor.. classic example of all the gear and no idea regarding the coastguard! The pumps should have been put aboard the vessel on arrival with a crewman who knows these pumps like the back of his hand with enough fuel to get you back to port. That crewman could have also assisted with making her watertight again which I would have through would have been the number one priority rather than putting you under tow for hours… the yacht veering off to port like she did should have been a good indication she’s not happy, they obviously did keep a very good watch on you? Best of luck bringing her back to port mate, massive undertaking but I’m sure it can be done, I just hope she hasn’t smashed herself to death when hitting the bottom?

Sad times - very frustrating being there whilst all this is happening - thoughts are with you & yours - take it easy Man. Sometimes, after a great Love, we need to move on. Greave & recover & take lots of time & get lots of hugs ... someone who has lost before too. Fair winds.

friends don't let friends buy Beneteau.

Sorry for your loss my friend understand your feelings a sailboat is not just a vessel its hopes and dreams and a home on the water ,i recently had some bad luck with my live abourd sailboat fishermen had badly damaged my boat while it was at anchor during a Storm wasn't on the boat at the time thankfully but now fixing the extensive damaged they caused theirs is always something with boats,buy yourself another boat preferably a bullet proof one

Do you know where all that water was coming in? I've been towed in at above reasonable speeds on a boat that lost its rudder, we streamed a long heavy warp to keep it straight.

Even if you find it - not worth salvaging. It is a wreck!

Hate to say it, but its best to buy a new sailboat. It would take many years to bring back a right off.

There are no words. I was just visiting Washington and New Bern, thinking about retiring there. Wonderful folks, everyone I met was welcoming and encouraging. I wish you the best, maybe we will meet someday.

Hey David I’ve following sailors for a long time on TH-cam and want to be a sailor one day as well. You give me motivation that it’s never too late I’m 50 and itching to do this. Be seeing and maybe one day out there on the water

This is a case of poor design and cheap manufacture.

Thanks,

Sorry for your loss. How deep is the water there? Might be worth asking for CG track to help understand drift at the location. Did also have AiS, pings May also reveal location before sinking.

I just found this video and have a question. I’m a novice sailer. What caused water to enter the bilge. What caused it to get worse enough to sink her.

Gave you and Dragon Fire a very sad like.

Very sad watching her go down, but glad you're safe David.

Saddest sailing vlog I have watched to date. :(

Hullo from a boatie in New Zealand. What a sad story. Good luck with locating Dragon Fire and raising her.

This hurts my heart so bad! I hope you find her.

I don't know that coast well enough to be certain but I'm guessing that the yacht could have been carried some way by the tide/current during its time sinking.The CG performance sounds pretty lame, missing gasket, non-functioning equipment.. a cutter that wants to drag the yacht along at speeds well beyond its design limits.. All sounds very amateurish. You might have been better off with a local fishing boat and some lifetime sea-going professionals.

Glad you are safe , what make and year was your boat ?

Sometimes you are able to find coordinates when taking photos or filming videos with your smartphone.

Your channel just came across my feed with this video. I am sorry to have found your channel under this circumstance but I am glad to see that you are safe. I have subscribed and will look forward to seeing your experience in retrieving and the revival of your boat. This is a type of fear that I have but you are proof that being calm with methodical movements and well prepared can save your life. I hope your able to find her and bring her home. I hope the currents didnt carry her to far or create enough damage that salvage would not be possible. Good luck sir

I think I would feel extremely let down by the Coast Guard. Very disappointing performance.... Sorry for your loss. Thanks for sharing your story.

You are the quintessential sailor. Perhaps those Coast guard rookies check their gear now

It is just sad David

I am so sorry for your loss! What a terrible experience, but I'm glad you're safe. Would love to hear an analysis of what happened and what things you would have done differently.

Terrible to hear but glad that you're safe and dry. I wish you luck with the recovery

what boat you got?

Thanks for the video. How was coming through Oregon Inlet? Thats always scared me, but willing to try it