Another storm

[Franklin]

is on it's way. Right now it's predicted to hit Texas (Galveston) next weekend but lots of time for it to change. Most of the marinas here in Kemah are pretty well protected, but after seeing what happened last month, I'm really trying to find some good ideas.1) Take my boat and anchor it out 15 miles off shore with 4 anchors. Should be far enough away from flying and floating objects.2) Keep it in the slip but put a lot of weight in it to reduce freeboard with lots of dock lines.3) Take my boat into clear lake and anchor it in the middle of the lake with 4 anchors.What worries me about my slip is the slip seperating poll is very loose and sure not to withstand a lot of stress and if mine is loose, I bet a lot others are too. Dock is floating but word is that a major storm surge will push the dock higher then it was desiged to go. And of course the #1 problem, other boats not being as strongly tied down.My boat didn't drag much at all when I got caught in a 50+ knot storm one night when the keel was wrapped by the rode and had beam to the wind and that was just one anchor, so I think with 4 anchors and well rigged anti-shafe rodes, it might have a better chance away from other boats.THOUGHTS?

 

[texastom]

Same thoughts as I was having

Franklin, I'm wondering the same thing as I am on a floating dock but it will not handle a 12' storm surge. Anything less than that I think I'll be okay according to others that have been here through several of the smaller storms. Any advise/lessons learned from our neighbors that have just been through this would be appreciated.If we are to get more than a 12' storm surge I guess I'll take as much off the boat as I can and say "good bye" and "good luck" to her. (Better check my insurance for replacement value)By the way Franklin, I don't think there is much chance of a boat surviving anchored in the Gulf and certainly not in Clear Lake. All those old docks with boats tied to them will be barreling down Clear Lake taking out anythng in their path. Might have some luck if you run as far up Double Bayou as you can and anchor to the shore near a pasture. With any luck the boat floats up on the pasture and drags anchor for a ways until the water recedes. Your boat might end up in the pasture but undamaged otherwise. We'll know more by Wednesday.Toms/v At Last

 

[Bill O'Donovan]

Floating dock

Is absolutely best. Unlikely you'd get a 12-foot surge, and in any case there is no better alternative. And, by the way, it won't knock you out to tie down since it's quick.

 

[Rick Webb]

Do Not Rely Solely on the Floating Dock

They are great while they hold together but once they rack and come apart there are two problems first they bang into everthing around them second is they drag everthing around that is tied to them and bang it into everthing left.Boat US had a pamphlet on their website on how to prepare.

 

[Franklin]

Maybe....

I should try what the lost crew of the last hurricane did...try to outrun it Just kidding.So no chance of it surviving in the gulf huh.

 

[Jim22039]

Haul it out

Just a thought if anchorage is not protected and lack of confidence in the docks. We just escaped Ophelia on the docks with extra lines. She was only a Cat 1 but moved so slow that the winds built up over 20 hours. The tidal surge was not as bad as Isabelle but stayed around a long time. Crews worked the docks to adjust bow lines with the surge and no boats damaged in our marina. Good luck to all of you in the Gulf....

 

[texastom]

Luck is what we need

Thanks Bill, I do intend to tie her down as securely as I can. I've talked to the owner of the boat beside me and we are in agreement that we will need to tie the boats together for the most protection. The configuration is that there are two boats between each floating dock. My boat is larger than the boat beside me. At this time we are thinking we should lash the two boats together and tie off so neither boat is against the dock. I can run lines to his dock because of the size difference but he cannot run lines to my dock. Consequently he is not able to secure his boat away from the dock without tieing off on my boat. Any ideas about how to do this will be appreciated. Also I noticed that many of the boats in New Orleans did not remove their sails. Was this just bad timing or is it really not necessary if you lash the sails down? I think I should remove the head sail.Toms/v At Last

 

[Rick Webb]

Remove Everything You Can

Then take everything you can off of the boat to the house. I do not think tieing the boats together is a good idea. You'll need every cleat you have to tie yourself off. Perhaps others will anchor out and one of y'all can move to an empty slip. Good Luck

 

[Franklin]

Looks like it's heading to CC

From the last track I saw, it predicts it will hit Corpus Christi.I think what Tom was saying is that he has a finger on one side, but nothing on the other side to tie off to keep the boat off the finger. If that is the case, I would agree that tieing the boats together would be a good thing, but you have to realize that the lines that go to the finger and dock have to be twice as strong now because of twice the weight. Also another thing to point out...your boat may be damaged because the cleats on his boat aren't strong enough. If you question whether his boat cleats can handle the pulling of your boat from one direction and the wind pushing is another, then I wouldn't do it.I think I've heard of people also dropping their anchors while tied to the dock. Good idea? I'm afraid our dock will rise so high that it will rise off the tracks and float down stream and run into stuff with all the boats still attached. If everybody put out their anchor also, maybe that would keep the dock where it is if it floats off the tracks (floating dock that is with about 10-12 feet of room).

 

[Rick Webb]

Tom, If You Gotta Do It

You'll need four lines a bow line a stern line, then a forward and an aft spring line with a boat load of fenders in between. You'll wnat all of these as tight as possible so that the two boats float as one. If the move independant of on another they will rub the hell out of one another and perhaps one will hole the other usually it is the smaller one that damages the larger.