Comments on: Followup: Trimaran still on the rocks along Beach Drive; owner reported to be seeking help

By: Scupper

Scupper — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 22:48:12 +0000

I’ve been pretty close to the situation and can tell you that the skipper performed to the absolute best of his abilities. I hold nothing against him and furthermore consider Michele, the Beach Drive neighbor who saved him from his hypothermic state on late Wednesday night, a true hero. This can’t be overlooked IMO.
It would’ve been interesting to witness the handshake at Shilshole Marina when the ownership transferred. I would think the previous owner had a pretty good hunch this scenario would unfold… or worse. Should have been salvaged at the marina.

By: Been There

Been There — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 22:11:07 +0000

@ OT – You are spot on. Thank you for your posting, and your help cleaning up the mess left behind by this fiasco that was bound to happen.

By: Please

Please — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 21:37:26 +0000

Have to agree with OT. Being nice or mean has nothing to do with the fact that this guy made an extremely irresponsible and negligent decision that is goin to cost all of us. Mean or nice, it’s unacceptable and the owner should be held accountable.

By: WSB

WSB — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 20:43:17 +0000

For anyone who wanders into this story via Google or elsewhere, our coverage continues with new updates this afternoon: http://westseattleblog.com/2013/02/sailboat-saga-tow-in-the-works-for-troubled-trimaran-off-beach-drive
.
TR

By: OT

OT — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 20:32:05 +0000

Ah well. You might see me as mean but I’m just stating my opinion (it is ok to have an opinion here right?) Since my last post, the towing companies have declined helping (like I said they would), a pontoon has busted off and more pictures have surfaced showing the poor condition of the boat and the “patch”(like I said). The pictures also show all the crap floating in the water (polluting the sound).
So yeah, I’m just being a big ole meany. I’ll be out there later to help clean everything up.

By: Kim

Kim — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 19:57:40 +0000

I second exactly what Jessica said. Enough with the snotty judgemental comments. If you don’t know the full story you have no idea what you’re talking about– and you’re just mean. I hope folks are more kind to you than you are to others when you need help someday.

By: OT

OT — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 19:31:05 +0000

“Ideally, some local person would go down there with a vat of bondo or whatever, help patch that business up and away he goes”

You obviously haven’t looked at that boat. The entire thing is soft rotted plywood with a thin layer of fiberglass as a shell. It’s probably been cracking and rupturing more just by it’s own weight from sitting on the beach. No one wants to get involved b/c of the liability. Whose to blame when the area surrounding “the patch” breaks away. They should just remove all hazardous material, drag it out, let it sink and consider it a new dive attraction. If he REALLY wants to save it he could just apply for a $150 Boat U.S. membership w/unlimited vessel assist, and MAYBE they’d do it. My guess is they’d tell him he was on his own too.

The guy got himself into this situation, anyone who “admires” him has issues they need to deal with. Picture this: You’re standing next to a guy at the zoo while looking down on the lions on display. The guy says “hey, those lions sure are cool, I think i’ll go get a closer look.” You would probably think, “THIS GUY IS NUTS!” and try to discourage him from doing so because you know what COULD happen. The guy convinces you he’s a lion tamer and can handle it. He hops the fence and gets attacked (as expected). Now everyone has has to stand by and watch in horror because one idiot followed through with a stupid idea and WE get stuck with trying to remedy the situation without compromising our own well-being.

Whoever sold him the boat (shilshole or previous owner) is NOT to blame. The guy got himself into this situation because he didn’t prepare, and lacked the knowledge to go about things correctly. WE ARE ADULTS. I’m all for “community” and helping people out, I do so all the time. But when it gets to a point of “babysitting” your fellow man, it’s going too far. Freedom vs Stability? I’ll take freedom and darwinism.

He’s probably just going to end up scuttling the damn thing. If so, he needs to be SEVERELY fined for polluting our sound. Oh yeah, he’s broke, so maybe several years of community service cleaning up polluted waterways.

By: WSB

WSB — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 19:03:34 +0000

New update, a boat is there to ~~tow away~~ assist the trimaran. Got sidetracked before I could post Michelle’s earlier photo of swamped boat. Adding this update separately.

By: Jessica

Jessica — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 18:50:56 +0000

I was the one who sent in the recent photos of the stranded guy/ catamaran! I had no idea this had been going on for days! I told him I would do my best in getting the word out for help. I brought him a shovel, food, silicone patching stuff, a blow up floaty ( so he had somewhere dry to sleep, juice, etc.
I didn’t have much to help him with, but it made him estatic that I was at least “willing” to help him!! That is all he wanted and needed, for someone to “CARE!!”
I hope everyone on here who is putting this guy down never needs help, Bcuz U got it coming!! Karma is a nasty true reality!!!!
This man has nothing and yet he is giving everything he has to help “the poor!!”
It blows me away on how “un-neighborly” some of U R!! Just like the ignorant folks that are yelling at him to “get off the beach!”
DUH, what do U think he has been trying to do?? If more of U would “try” to “help” instead of just “watching & complaining” maybe he would be on his way by now!! Don’t ya think?
Anyone bad mouthing this guy and his situation are extremely “IGNORANT!!!!”

By: Rhonda Porter

Rhonda Porter — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 17:38:55 +0000

Scupper is a nice fellow :) he’s my hubby… on his way to the “Skipper” right now to bring him some warm socks.

I feel bad for the “Skipper” – it looks like he’s probably lost just about everything. It’s probably a good thing he was not successful with his boat repairs last night because he would have probably sank further out and gone down with both boats. We have been adding updates to our post as well.

By: Surfchick

Surfchick — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 17:35:54 +0000

The Coast Guard = military. Their missions are vast but primarily focused on preservation of life and national security. Would you call the Army if your gun was broken?

By: WSB

WSB — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 17:03:03 +0000

We have an update from neighbor Michelle this morning (I will add her photo shortly) – now both boats seem to be sinking, with the tide in, anyway, she says, and they’ve heard that the Department of Natural Resources might help. Stand by for the addition … TR

By: Eilene Hutchinson

Eilene Hutchinson — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 16:51:33 +0000

Sounds like “Scupper” is a nice fellow, lending a hand and doing something concrete to help in this situation. Hope someone gives him a good hand whenever he may need it, also.

By: Please

Please — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 07:35:30 +0000

Cake- you can’t have it and eat it too. The “captain” has done the community a disservice. He doesn’t have the $1k to tow thr vessel properly. It’s like driving without insurance-irresponsible.

By: WSB

WSB — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 07:12:55 +0000

Bs, we have yet to speak to him ourselves. Somehow we’ve missed him on our three or four trips to the scene. As noted, though, the Beach Drive Blog folks have made contact, and were trying to help – you might e-mail them or leave a comment. Or head down to the beach in the morning and see what’s up.