Charlie and others on the Texas coast

Nov 30, 2015
1,343
Hunter 1978 H30 Cherubini, Treman Marina, Ithaca, NY
Thoughts and prayers are for my childhood buddy and the entire Wilcox family in Houston. I communicated with them earlier today and this is the text response he sent:

"Locked and loaded! Got the power covered and the Ark is standing by if needed! Praying that the forecasted rain falls gradually over the 5 days."

He then sent me these photos.

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Mar 1, 2012
2,182
1961 Rhodes Meridian 25 Texas coast
Back home, but just got internet back.

House lost a ton of shingles. Probably need a new roof but I do carry windstorm insurance

Boat has only relatively minor damage and is afloat with no water inside. Section of toe rail destroyed, Genoa track attached there missing. One broken spreader and one damaged stanchion. Three doubled dock lines snapped, but on side away from floating finger pier, and the big fenders absorbed shock. 7 foot surge with waves on top of that.

However, nine boats on the docks are sunk, and 4 more were driven ashore. Five good friends lost their boats, sunk or destroyed, So I feel VERY lucky
 
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jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
23,141
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
Good News Charlie. You were lucky and prepared.
Curious, what type and size of dock lines snapped?
Big fenders always seem like an extravagance when eyeing them in the chandlers. Proof they serve a purpose.
 
Mar 1, 2012
2,182
1961 Rhodes Meridian 25 Texas coast
one was an older 5/8 braided. Broke about a foot out from boat. Others were a doubled bow line both 1/2 one an older one, one brand new. Again broke 6 inches to a foot away from chafe gear. Strongly suspect shock loading from boat pitching on waves. We have reasonably new steel framed floating docks on TALL steel pilings, so boat floated on surge, but the wave came across what's left of break water. I am on the leeward side in this instance and all sunk boats were across dock from me. Docks show evidence of real pounding, but not destroyed by any means. All deck boards are 1 inch Ipe. Docks new in 2011
 

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
23,141
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
Thanks Charlie
 

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
23,141
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
Many sailors have never experienced the issue of chafe and fatigue in lines. That they broke 6-12 inches from the boat is indicative of the type of abuse a boat can put on lines as it reacts to the wind and waves.
 
Mar 1, 2012
2,182
1961 Rhodes Meridian 25 Texas coast
Many sailors have never experienced the issue of chafe and fatigue in lines. That they broke 6-12 inches from the boat is indicative of the type of abuse a boat can put on lines as it reacts to the wind and waves.
And ALL of my lines have chafe protection both at the chocks on the boat and on the dock cleats.
 

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
23,141
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
Yes. One of the issues is that line develops stress points from use, say a place where a knot was tied. These spots are fine until they get stressed. The storm put super stress on your lines. Pulling the line, heating up the line, breaking threads. Then a big surge and snap.