Bad storm today

[Manny]

A storm blew through the Havre De Grace area today, apparently there were 75 mph gusts! There was some damage caused by the storm around the marina. On my boat, the bimini I made this winter was hit hard (there was hardware failure - no damage to the fabric or stitching) and my brand new dinghy was blown onto the dock and now the bow chamber has very low air pressure:cry: Stuff that normally stays put during hard sailing was strewn throughout the cabin. I guess it could have been worse.
I'm going to inspect my docklines in the morning but what's the general consensus - should I just replace them after going through this event?

Manny

 

[Ron20324]

Inspect them, but if they ain't broke, don't fix 'em. :naughty:

 

[RichH]

I'm going to inspect my docklines in the morning but what's the general consensus - should I just replace them after going through this event? Manny

If they have become chafed or very 'stiff', then replace them ... and use the new lines in late fall when the NW'erly gales/ 'busters' come roarin' through- sometimes for days at a time.

 

[Franklin]

... Stuff that normally stays put during hard sailing was strewn throughout the cabin....
Manny

Yep, you'd be suprised at the stuff that hits marinas during the week when nobody is around and what the boats do in their slips and to think some use 3/8 rope from home depoe for dock lines

I remember one morning at the exact second I was rolling out of bed for work we got hit with a 70 knot wind from the port side that had the boat heal way over and all kinds of stuff fell down including a ceramic soap dish that I had high up in the head. Scared the crap out of me, espeically when that soap dish hit the floor. That night I got rid of most all breakable stuff, even if it was stuff I would put away before going sailing.

Every once in a while we get 50 knots for a day or two and boy, do the boats go crazy then. I know people would spend more on dock lines if they saw what I see but 99% of people stay away from the marina on bad weather so they don't have a clue.

 

[CalebD]

But Franklin is a live aboard on his Hunter 37' and stayed aboard during a hurricane and lived to tell the tale.
He is also correct about the weather that passes unnoticed by many owners as they are not there as often as he is.
"If it's going to happen, it will happen out there" but it can also happen right at the dock or the mooring. I have seen enough boats sunk at their moorings to know not to let my guard down. "Chafe happens"; been there, done that and had the insurance coverage to buy the boat back and fix it up to prove it.
PS: Don't leave your Bimini up when away from the boat. You didn't say if it was up or down so at least leave it down. 70 knot winds are pretty strong for a Bimini even if it is not deployed as every bit of canvas and pole provide windage that is susceptible to stress failure in higher winds. If it takes only 5 minutes to setup the Bimini then consider taking it down and setting it up each time you go out. I am always amazed at the power of bad weather and how the precautions I used to take are not enough to save my boat (myself and crew) from the vagaries of the weather Gods. Thankfully your canvas Bimini was not damaged badly.

 

[Bad Obsession]

This summer has been famous for bad storms. I rode out a nasty storm with sustained winds of 60 knots in Herring Creek this year. Thank God my anchor held (and now I have a lot of faith in my ground tackle).

I also tend to leave my bimini up as I have no cover for it. After hearing this, I am wondering if I should just go ahead and make a cover for it! It sounds like a good idea to put it away! I am not sure how it will fold with the two windows that I have on it though (two strattaglass windows are on it with underside covers so that I can open them to see the wind instruments at the top of the mast and the tell tales on the main).

Just be glad that you and your neighbors stayed tied down okay. I had a neighbor come loose, a few years ago, during a storm and ding my boat. I took a lot of grief from the other boat's insurance company over the incident and they drug their feet. I finally got them to pay up for the damage.

your boat has probably ridden out similar storms and you don't even know about it. If your lines are fine with no chaffe then don't bother replacing them.

 

[MrBee]

Manny, When did the storm come through ?
My daughter and I were out sailing till about 3:00pm. Our boat is above the Bridge and across the river, at Owens Landing.
A friend of mine is down today but i can't make it, I will ask him to check on my boat.

Brian

 

[Cpt. Jon]

Yep had very high sustained winds down here. Saw on the weather channel the maryland action. I'd definately have someone check on the boat if you can't get to it. I must have seen it on the news at around 5pm, and looking at the national data buoy center data, it looks like the winds peaked between 3-5pm. We had the strongest winds I've seen here short of a hurricane or tropical storm coming through.

 

[Ron20324]

Manny, When did the storm come through ?
My daughter and I were out sailing till about 3:00pm. Brian

It blew through Annapolis at 3:30 to 4:00 P.M.

 

[seadaddler]

So Far

So far it's been pretty quiet in SW Florida,my boat baby sitter has been telling me while I am up in NY,before I left Florida I put double lines and extra fenders all around the boat.
One more week in NY and it's back home to check on her,keeping my fingers crossed for a quiet Hurricane season all over not just Florida.
Nick

 

[Joe Blizzard]

some use 3/8 rope from home depoe for dock lines

That's exactly what I use. Lehigh twisted nylon, to be exact. It's strong enough for my use, it has nice elasticity, and it's cheap enough to replace as soon as the wear points start looking fuzzy.

 

[Ross]

Above are the copy and paste graphs of the wind a half mile east of Havre de Grace for the last 24 hours.

 

[Warren Milberg]

Yep, this is the kind of thing that can happen when you are away from your marina.....
(Herrington Harbour North, Sept 2003. My boat was the 9th on the right, and was totaled). Stuff happens.

 

[MrBee]

We must have docked and left for home just before it gust started.

 

[DougM]

Its blowing about 30 here in Northern MI today. Just went out and put on extra fenders and an extra spring line... tomorrow looks abut the same

 

[Ross]

Besides the wind we got about two inches of rain per hour during that storm.

 

[Bob Poff]

Manny look at your lines especially where they're tied or can rub.
If you don't see anything there you're probably all right.

Last Sunday evening another real rip snorter went through HdG about 7 PM.
I had just left the marina for home and drove right under it.
It takes a lot to get me to pull over in a storm but that one did.

Well, it looks like I need to head down there and check on the boat.
Guess the lawn isn't getting mowed...... what a shame!

 

[Manny]

Turns out it was a tornado!

Went next door to Tidewater's chandlery to get bimini hardware and the guys let me know it was a tornado. Apparently dinghies were flying over the roof of the building and into the river I don't know what time it hit exactly but it was after 3:00 pm from what i've been told.

Manny

 

[Ross]

Re: Turns out it was a tornado!

There was a very sudden shift in wind direction about that time.

 

[BobM]

You could swap them end for end, although you may need to put some new loops in.