TOPIC: My '63 Dorsett sank in the Texas storms

As the lake continued to fill with each passing rain storm here at Lake Conroe, Texas, my boat lift could no longer keep my little Dorsett above harms way. Despite being tied down, Tuesday morning's storm brought 3-4 foot waves that crashed atop my boat house and ultimately jarring my pride and joy off its cradle. Hours of storm serge pummeled the poor little boat which was capsized in the boat house.

I managed to get it back on the cradle and am now awaiting a salvage crew to tow it into my trailer for insurance purposes. It takes on water so I can't tow it myself... I suspect a hull breach of some sort. Also the top is separated from the hull in the entire nose section. There are many salvageable parts like the windshield, steering wheel, metal bits, etc. I'm just too f'ing heartbroken to deal with any of that stuff right now.

Anyone in need of Dorsett parts feel free to contact me or if anyone wants the boat... It probably can be repaired but I haven't the skills, knowledge or time.

Now begins the search for a replacement... 14 to 16ft late 50's to mid 60's and under $3000. Any tips or leads greatly appreciated and please pray for others here in the South who have suffered losses in these horrific storms, floods and tornados.

Be well, swim safe.
Poda

so sorry to see this... but i would wait to see the extent of the damage before getting all worried about finding another hull.. after getting it all dried out and looked at.. you just might decide to tackle the repairs with some good advice from some guys on here... fiberglass work isnt as hard as you think... just wait to check it all out after its out of the water and post pictures of the damage.. im sure others will chime in and give you some words of wisdom ...

Poda,

WELCOME ABOARD but also SORRY for your troubles.

yours, satx

Sorry to hear this, however your lift must be set very low. The lake is not that full yet.

Bob Holmes can do wonders with glass repair. His dad own Homes boat Co here in Houston in the 50s and 60s...just do not pay him too much too fast for it will take longer to get the repairs done. When he is hungry he does work faster

Thursday, May 28, 2015
12:45:00 PM
Level is 1.35 feet
above full pool of 201.00

Just be glad that Lewis Creek dam held...so far

We are leaving to go down to Madagorda to get our boat off the lift and bring it home. Our lift brings the boat off the water 8 feet (standard High tide) however they say that the river may go over 12 feet and that will push the boat up into the boat house rafters

Keep yer boots dry, TT. Keeping Texas in my prayers.

Heartbreak...

Oh man, heartbreaking.

I appreciate the kind words. I just don't have the time or patients to learn glass work at this stage.

I'll likely leave the repair to the next owner, assuming it is even salvageable. As for my dock, yes it does seem to be a foot lower than my neighbors, however even another foot wouldn't have saved it. The storm surge was 3-4 foot high where I live, waves were breaking ABOVE my sea wall which 4 foot above the current high water level.

I pray the dams continue to hold and the water finds its way to the sea without further destruction down stream.

Thanks again for all the kind words and support. I'll post pictures once its out of the lake and on the trailer.

with the rains of 98/99 lake Conroe wen a whopping 5 feet (Most other lakes around here the lake will go up 15 feet or higher in the springs)above pool level. A few lake front homes got some water in them so they became the squeaky wheel. The San Jacinto River Authority (SJRA) open the dam that water added to the East fork of the San Jacinto and the creek like Cypress and washed away a few bridges, closed I 10 for a few days and flooded and washed away many homes and businesses down stream.

There were many law suits because of this and the SJRA got out by saying that the lake is not a flood control lake. However a ruling has changed that for the future and if the creeks and the east fork of the San Jacinto is about to flood homes and businesses down stream, the dam on Conroe must be metered to try to control it and may stack water into the homes on the lake.

Lake Houston down stream always goes over it's spillage for it is a shallow lake to began with

What engine do you have on it? Spray some oil in it. You might need to deliver it to Fla. Dave

TallTexan,

To the SJRA, I have one comment: "Well, that's a H of a note."
(One wonders WHAT, if anything at all, that "management" there was thinking????)

Btw, our local cable Channel 14 News, here in SA, is still reporting that the area near where you live as "under water" & "with many millions of dollars of flood damage".

yours, satx

I live not far from the Brazos River. (in fact less then 1 mile and less then 2 miles from where Santa Anna crossed to get his a*ss whipped by old Sam) they are moving people out in places because Lake Somerville is going over the Spillage. The road on our west side may be under water in the morning.

To get the boat out of the boat house I had to fill it most of the way with water, and using 10 fenders tied to the side long way to keep it up right. The cowling on the motor had to come off and the windshield had to be taken off to clear the boat house winch system. (Motor clear only with me and Mike standing in the back)

After I cleared the boat house I motored to the yard and pumped the water out. I loaded the boat onto the trailed using the ramp parking lot Talk about a fast ride down river I had on both my blow up life jacket and my offshore jacket....just to be sure

There are some large offshore boats that are gong to need new windshields (and maybe more before it is over) for they are stuck in their boat houses. I did not take my camera in fear that it would get wet.

I am planing on going to Somerville tomorrow to check on the lake house there. We may have water under it and mice and ants in it.

The land I am looking on buying near Altiar just took a dive in the price. 60% of it is under water

The jet stream is moving so it looks as if the weather may change soon

TallTexan wrote:

The jet stream is moving so it looks as if the weather may change soon

We can only HOPE that the weather man is CORRECT for once. - Since I last talked to you by phone, we have had some relatively brief "power outages" & some other "minor inconveniences" (like closed roads, due to rising water) BUT it's FAR better here than 40 miles to the North & (to my knowledge) nobody in Bexar County is in real danger.

Note: To the north of us, 26 people are confirmed "dead" & over 30 more are "feared lost".
(Channel 14 News has reported tonight that people are finding a few poisonous snakes IN their houses "up north" of here, with many more IN their "yards" & IN "outbuildings".)

yours, satx

Our thoughts and prayers are with all you good folks out there, hope things improve soon for you.

Ditto on what Mark said. Priority is to keep safe, boats can be replaced. Wisconsin is getting seasonal rain from the same system but nothing close to your situation. Red Cross volunteers have left the Green Bay area heading your way to help out where needed a few days ago.
Just curious, a few years ago I touristed(?) in San Antonio and of course did the river walk...is that flooded also?

Stay Safe.

My daughter lives in Round Rock and got lucky she only had a little water seepage in her living room and bedroom. They just had to pull the carpet out There old house in Pflugerville was on the news showing water pouring through it.
She laughingly asked me to send her one of my boats.
I saw where lake Travis had risen 25 feet in 7 days that is a whole lot of water in a short time. As was said before stay safe.

Salvage vessel hoisting sunken Dorsett.

Loaded onto trailer in my driveway.

Bow damage/separation extends approximately 1/3 of boat

Bow damage pic.

Having trouble getting photos to publish.

What a heartbreaking sight.

Hull damage is about 10 to 12" long, maybe 3 to 4" wide.

Parts is Parts I guess.

I have more photos if anyone is interested, but I reckon you can see the extent of the damages only too well. Once the insurance check arrives the Dorsett goes with motor and trailer to whomever wants it at a reasonable price. I believe the Dorsett trailer is worth around $1000. Or the insurance will haul it off... Rather one of you glass experts save her from the junkyard.

Now begins the search for a runabout replacement. Any tips or leads would be greatly appreciated. Hopefully someone has a nice (not perfect) 14 to 16' classic glass boat for around $3000. Anyone?

Forecast looks clear for the next 7 days!!! Time to dry out and get back to boating.

Be well,
Poda

Check out this beauty. Needs absolutely nothing. open the dropdown link for details. Worth a trip up north.

That is a sweet little runabout. Many thanks for the lead.
Just might be bidding on that baby... All proceeds going to charity too! Good karma.

Poda