Lee Huddleston wrote:
I was wondering what other posters thought about refloating that
vessel. Of course, the picture I saw did not show how much damage
there was to the bottom. Assuming for the sake of discussion that the
bottom was still intact, would it be possible to kedge or drag the
boat on its side over to deep water?

Well, the text says that the keel was wedged in. It is very easy to
break up the hull by dragging the boat sideways. It should be dragged
straight in the keel direction, and carefully. I am not sure that is
possible (high-water?)

I got mine wedged in in Gotland, and it was successfully dragged out
straight astern, and VERY carefully. Afterwards, I feel lucky. Some
other rescuer could have pulled at high power, and sideways.
http://www.helsinki.fi/~stenberg/minerva/dmg-keel4.jpg (you can see how
the aft end of the keel bent when it was dragged out)
http://www.helsinki.fi/~stenberg/minerva/dmg-keel5.jpg
http://www.helsinki.fi/~stenberg/min...mg-keelrp1.jpg
But the boat was never really lifted out of the water, the keel was just
wedged in. And it was not coral, but chalk stone.

(Two transverse supports were broken, and the mast shroud chain plates
ripped loose, but that was the initial shock, not the rescue operation)

Dag Stenberg