How did we weather Irene?

Marc Bergmueller · Aug 29, 2011

We faired well. Little storm surge on the Nanticoke river. Both power boats on either side of me left, thank god. I asked one what his plans were after I noticed his single 3/8th lines on a 28' enclosed cabin cruiser and he replied "that what insurance is for". We were so lucky at home in Berlin, MD. We've had worse winds in a TS.

Bill Roosa · Aug 29, 2011

What a yawn event on the Upper Patomac. The wind strength only got above gail for about an hour. It did rain a LOT though which cleaned off the bird poo and dirt.

John T1594 · Aug 29, 2011

In the water and hoping

We keep our boat on the Forked River, a tributary to Barnegat Bay in central New Jersey. We could not get on the list to have our 2000 H340 hauled so we kept it in the water. Our home slip, near the mouth of the river is not well protected, so we motored up the Forked River river and found a relatively protected slip at another marina. We removed all sails, and cockpit canvas. We tied double lines, heavy spring lines, fenders all around and crossed our fingers. The slip pointed north east behind many building, trees and other protective structures. On Sunday, during the tail end of the hurricane, we went to check on the boat and it was OK. At high tide, the storm surge was only about three feet, so the boot stripe was level with the dock. The AC power never went out, so the batteries stayed charged and the ice and beer in the fridge was cold. We adjusted some lines and went home. Later in the day, we had some higher (40-50 kn) winds from the West (on our port stern) so we adjusted the lines further. Monday is fare and we wil be returning to our home slip. It will be lonely at the dock since all of our dock neighbors were hauled and will have to wait many days to get back in the water. I believe that the storm surge was minimized by the fact that the Bay provides a buffer from the ocean surge and that the many tributaries to the river give plenty of watershed area to absorb and distribute the excess water.

Alan · Aug 29, 2011

Wasn't as bad as predicted it could have been. Unfortunately some will become complacent next time. The boat did real well out on her mooring, no issues there. At home we lost power, phone and internet. We're not expected to have power back for up to a week. My generator is doing yeoman work keeping the 2 refrigerators running and a few lights operational at night. Lost a few trees in the yard but the house came through just fine. Those gas stations that have power have lines.
I'm glad I took the preparations I did and that things worked out better than they could have here at least.

Witzend · Aug 29, 2011

http://www.thebostonchannel.com/video/29009799/detail.html?taf=bos
Many boats lost in the N. Boston area.

Alan · Aug 29, 2011

If you have a good look at all the boats that break free from their moorings the main reason is the nylon pennant lines chafe through. By adding spectra lines for the last 6 feet that attach to the boat completely eliminates this problem. The nylon pennant can do the shock loading while the spectra eliminates the chafe factor, the result - boat stays on her mooring.

jibes138 · Aug 29, 2011

Survived OK

Windward Jan survived quite well but some other boats that anchored up near me including a sport fisherman were washed up into the tree line. I posted a report on a thread under my name so I won't repeat it here. Read how I prepared because it seemed to work well. Boat was very close to the center of the storm so she was pounded on for eight hours straight. The key seems to be three equally spaced anchors.

Nova Scotia Sail · Aug 29, 2011

Wild weather on the southeastern shore of Nova Scotia (LaHave River), winds gusted to 93km/h (50kn). My boat was dancing at her mooring all night. No reports of any damage other than trees - we've had worse nor'easters.

zeehag · Aug 29, 2011

how are ye doing in new england and upstate ny in the flooding rivers and creeks? hudson river?

CalebD · Aug 29, 2011

Most boats at Nyack Boat Club who weathered the storm at their mooring made it as did we. I think we lost only 1 boat due to failed mooring tackle.
The Hudson took some tidal surge as did the Sound but it was a quick event and did not result in any major problems up the Hudson. The LI Sound has higher tides and probably saw higher surge levels and even Vermont had extensive flooding.
Here in NYC we were safe with our cat only 2 blocks from the Hudson River. The surge was mild here but there was still wind and lots of tropical downpours to the north. There are lots of places flooded by the torrential rains up north but we did dodge a bullet in NYC. The winds rarely got above 50 knots judging by the local buoys that register and record wind speed.

shemandr · Aug 30, 2011

Artemis did fine at a floating dock. I found her just as I left her.

mark_swart · Aug 30, 2011

My boat came through fine in Newport News, VA. I had her triple-tied everywhere. The marina did lose two powerboats, reportedly due to the rain.

2d Wind · Aug 30, 2011

Left Sea Bright on the Shrewsbury and moved up the Hudson to Haverstraw. As far as I know, all boats fared well. Happy to say that ours came through without a scratch and pretty much dry. Sad to see all the boats that had trouble up in Boston.

Caboteur · Aug 30, 2011

The boat did very well on her mooring. The cottage didn't do so well!
Quite an awakening. We're working on it now: should be ok in a couple of weeks.

Ross · Aug 30, 2011

Our boat and home are unscathed. Some people in the county to a hard hit. The marina had a section of the seawall collapse.

mark_swart · Aug 30, 2011

mark_swart said:
My boat came through fine in Newport News, VA. I had her triple-tied everywhere. The marina did lose two powerboats, reportedly due to the rain.

That was the boat I just sold. Unfortunately the one I just bought is in St Mary's MD and got into the dock. Some light toe rail damage. Dang it...anybody have about a 1 foot section of S2 toerail?!?!

jibes138 · Aug 30, 2011

Some weren't so lucky

Heres some photos from the anchorage area where I weathered the storm. All the boats washed up were anchored near me.

Captnkev25 · Aug 30, 2011

I was lucky enough to haul out after reading some posts on this forum. I faired just fine here on the South shore of Long Island because I was high and dry. My marina didn't do as well. The power boat 2 slips to my left snapped a piling and sank leaving my neighbors bow unsecured on my port side. When I went to check Sunday afternoon he was swinging wildly into my slip and would have battered my boat and his had I been there. We lost a another a few slips up. It started to sink slowly and the owner was able to get a pump on and it started to raise back up and then the power went out!!! Another rose so high with the surge that he was smashed down onto the piling essentially harpooning his hull. All in all I was glad I was out but feel for those with damage.

No damage with the exception of a good cleaning

I'm usually on the other side of the still floating but unsecured Proline

Poor guy snapped both the pilings

Little further up the marina

Cpt. Jon · Aug 31, 2011

Scary, had the 25.5 and 30 ft sailboats one in front of the other in their slips. removed the sails and rollerfurling headsail from the 25 and anything else that can cause windage. Double lined the boats with 1/2 inch lines, total of 16 lines I think. I wasn't there to witness it as we were under mandatory evacuation and I don't keep the kids where emergency services can't get to in a situation like that. Some neighbors stayed and said that the boats seemed to be riding it well. The house fared well, water up to the house but about 1/4 inch from making it into the garage, so we were spared that kind of mess I guess. We were 1 of 3 houses on the street I think without water in the garage or under the house.

We feel really blessed and lucky, but the most important things - I took with me (wife and kids).

How did we weather Irene?

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