Luck
- Thread starter pumpkinpie
- Start date
Good Luck, we wish you well. Its gotta be hard watching Dorian with your new boat. 
Reduce the windage on your boat. Remove the jib and all the canvas.
Take valuables off the boat.
Make sure your insurance premiums are paid and you have followed the insurers instructions for named storms.
You are in a more enviable position than boats on the east coast. Dorian will weaken as it crosses over Florida and storm surge will be less of an issue. Rain and wind could be a big problem. You will find the leaks in your boat. Check your bilge to make sure they are clear of debris and the batteries are charged to keep the pumps working.
Most of the wenches I've come across don't like their bottoms taped.
I had not heard of taping the bottoms of winches.
Before any one says, what does he know, he sails on Lake Ontario. Let me tell you we do deal with the remnants of hurricanes with 50+ knot winds, storm surges and feet of rain.
Reduce the windage on your boat. Remove the jib and all the canvas.
Take valuables off the boat.
Make sure your insurance premiums are paid and you have followed the insurers instructions for named storms.
You are in a more enviable position than boats on the east coast. Dorian will weaken as it crosses over Florida and storm surge will be less of an issue. Rain and wind could be a big problem. You will find the leaks in your boat. Check your bilge to make sure they are clear of debris and the batteries are charged to keep the pumps working.
Most of the wenches I've come across don't like their bottoms taped.
I had not heard of taping the bottoms of winches.
Before any one says, what does he know, he sails on Lake Ontario. Let me tell you we do deal with the remnants of hurricanes with 50+ knot winds, storm surges and feet of rain.
You might: Protect your lines from chafing on the dock by putting a rub guard on the dock edge. Remove the “rolled jib” from the roller furler if that is where it is. Put some tires on any pilings. Make sure your standing rigging is tensioned properly. Remove any masthead instruments, windex, etc. Remove or securely cover any cockpit instruments. Remove any solar vents and duct tape the remaining plastic ring.
Remove your sheets, and secure your halyards.
Remove your sheets, and secure your halyards.
I would spiral wrap your headsail or take it down. I would also tie loops around the mast so that the mainsail cannot possibly come out of the mast. Fold up the bimini frame if possible. Remove the anchor or secure it so that it cannot possibly come loose. Take home your ship's papers and documentation. Close your propane tank valve. Charge your batteries. Put out every fender you have. I don't think replacing the transducer with a plug would eliminate any risk, but it's easy, so do it. Unplug shore power before the storm hits. Make sure that all of the lines are lead fair and don't rub on any edges. Verify that your bilge pump works. You are on the west side of Florida, so I think you will be fine. but keep your insurance policy and agent phone numbers handy.
Lesson I learned from Charley. I was well tied but the boat rolled from side to side and my mast pounded the powerboat on a lift next to me. Lost a spreader and cracked the mast. The stern ladder was damaged by a boat that broke loose and sunk 5 other boats. I found you are at the mercy of the worst prepped boat near you. Hopefully, being on the west coast will save you from the brunt of the storm. Oh, and remove your jib. Goos luck
How high are your piling above MHW?
I’m only 30 miles south of you and my prep thus far has consisted of washing my wife’s car ( not my idea).
While all the steps mentioned are prudent, I’ve been through enough of these to wait until a couple of days before the Mon eta to get a more precise track. The storm (currently) has F10+ winds only within a 30 mile radius and Florida is a long state.
I’m only 30 miles south of you and my prep thus far has consisted of washing my wife’s car ( not my idea).
While all the steps mentioned are prudent, I’ve been through enough of these to wait until a couple of days before the Mon eta to get a more precise track. The storm (currently) has F10+ winds only within a 30 mile radius and Florida is a long state.
Blue painters tape was recommended to me and I used it to prep for Sandy and since. As long as you remove it in a few days it won't leave a residue mess like duct tape can.
20 - 30 kts of wind for an extended period of time, say 12 hours, can chafe through dock lines. Cut up a pair of jeans, cut up a garden hose, cut up an old beach towel, Tape something around the possible chafe points.
Remember the potential water rise and/or fall when placing extra/existing dock lines. Re-rig to different (more distant) pilings if possible to allow for more scope.
Remember the potential water rise and/or fall when placing extra/existing dock lines. Re-rig to different (more distant) pilings if possible to allow for more scope.
Maybe not so much a wind event but lots of rain likely. Make sure cockpit drains are clear and running easily. Lose that jib. Lock the mainsail furling mechanism, wrap and put a bite on winch for the furling in line. Lash a line thru the clew of the main around the mast. Put the plug in. Lock or lash the wheel. Tying up in the slip is an art. I used to use 3 strand nylon (Which is in some disrepute) for it's stretchiness. I didn't worry to much about the heating/melting issue because usually there is plenty of rain to cool it. But I would back the 3 stand up with braided dacron a bit longer. So the 3 strand would dampen the violence that the dacron would cause to the cleats when fetched up. And of course you have to allow for tide/surge. I would tie the boat out further from the dock even if that made boarding difficult or impossible and have those dacron lines shortish. As the tide rises I imagined that the boat would move back not forward, which is the worst. I would have the bow lines more loose to let it move back in the slip. Consider tying lines to poles further away. The longer lines add more security to the system. Experienced storm veterns talk about a "Spider web."
Don points highlight above.Dorian is not big in diameter, but the eye landing point is going to take the biggest punch.
______
Many Marinas will force an evacuation. Wrong or Right for that, is not up for discussion on boat preps.
Ask your marina on their policy and also local City Hall about mandatory evacuations.
This can be forced by the snap of FEMA fingers.
Jim...
PS: By Saturday morning you will know. FEMA knowledge will be close by Friday night and let the local authorities know too .
A very good point - I was not thinking of floating docks. But back North after storms you could find a boat adrift or aground with its floating dock still tied to it. The dock had floated off the pilings which weren't high enough for the surge. Now most marinas have hurricane poles which go deeper into the bottom and are higher. High enough? We'll see.
This is what is irritating about the forecasts. All storms are different. Some have destructive winds a hundred miles away like the NE Hurricane of 1938. Others perhaps like I pray about Dorion may be violent but in a limited area. The media and CYA agencies never seem to distinguish. Yet the difference makes such huge difference to the public. Do you want to leave your home to go to some uncertain destination, with an unknown time table to return home - not to mention where to evacuate to? Or suffer terrifying times in your home as it gets blown away? These are serious decisions and we don't need media hype to poison our decision making.
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 23,505
@pumpkinpie it sounds like you are working in the right direction. Hoses can work chafe covers. Some folk use towels zip-tied to the lines. Some folk use small fire hose over their lines zip-tied or stitched on the line.
Granted this is your first experience. Do the best you can and keep a record. Double lines, individually tied. Use lines 2-3 times your normal diameter. If you normally use 5/16 or 3/8ths up this to 3/4. You will greatly increase the holding strength of the lines.
Granted this is your first experience. Do the best you can and keep a record. Double lines, individually tied. Use lines 2-3 times your normal diameter. If you normally use 5/16 or 3/8ths up this to 3/4. You will greatly increase the holding strength of the lines.
We could continue on this link for one more day...
Hurricane Dorian <-- TS<--TD 5 <-- Invest 99L
If people are tired of the hype already.
I can say this for now, the Hurricane Hunters are flying unusual mission with 2 planes at same time.
Jim..
Unless you like 7-grain wheatbread, the stores are already emptying out. Gas stations are drying up.
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 23,505
Bobby, It appears your moored in IA... is that not Iowa? Why would the stores be emptying out and 7 Grain bread be the only thing in Iowa? I am confused.
this isn’t a consideration only for floating docks but rather any pilings not high enough to ensure the dock lines stay put.
It’s both understandable and prudent to take the warnings seriously. Given the small dimension of this one, predicting a path of serious impact is impracticable this far in advance.
I have this app on my phone called "Laudate". They added a prayer for those in the path of the hurricane. Receive it in the spirit it is offered.
God of the heavens: nature and all that You have created are truly awesome. Often, we; take these wonders for granted. Teach us to cherish all of your gifts.
Try as we might, we know that we cannot control the oceans, the mountains, the weather. We also firmly believe that ever since the time of Noah, You do not send floods, make the earth shake, or dispatch weather formations, such as hurricanes, as warnings or punishments.
So we ask, as this hurricane approaches land and approaching our brothers and sisters, that You shelter all who will be in its path. Watch over everyone, their loved ones, friends, and fellow people, many of whom are preparing to evacuate. Guard them as they prepare, perhaps to leave their homes again. Give them strength, courage, and resolve to ride out this storm; answer their prayers and ours that they be blessed with goodness and be spared from harm.
Blessed are You, Source of Life and Nature, whose awesome power and strength fill our world and inspire us to be strong in the face of all of life's difficulties.
Amen
God of the heavens: nature and all that You have created are truly awesome. Often, we; take these wonders for granted. Teach us to cherish all of your gifts.
Try as we might, we know that we cannot control the oceans, the mountains, the weather. We also firmly believe that ever since the time of Noah, You do not send floods, make the earth shake, or dispatch weather formations, such as hurricanes, as warnings or punishments.
So we ask, as this hurricane approaches land and approaching our brothers and sisters, that You shelter all who will be in its path. Watch over everyone, their loved ones, friends, and fellow people, many of whom are preparing to evacuate. Guard them as they prepare, perhaps to leave their homes again. Give them strength, courage, and resolve to ride out this storm; answer their prayers and ours that they be blessed with goodness and be spared from harm.
Blessed are You, Source of Life and Nature, whose awesome power and strength fill our world and inspire us to be strong in the face of all of life's difficulties.
Amen
