Luck

[bawlmer]

Good luck and be safe. Having a boat in Florida for 15 years I remember these events well. Given that you are on the gulf side I would worry mnore about rising water than wind but definitely prepare for both. Take lots of pictures of the boat and any upgrades since purchase. Follow previously stated suggestions.

 

[bawlmer]

Being on the upper Chesapeake I am preparing for storm surge. If Dorian comes up the coast we will definitely get some.

 

[Will Gilmore]

Given that you are on the gulf side I would worry mnore about rising water than wind

Would that still be true with the hurricane coming from land rather than pushing a surge ahead of it from the water? Maybe a receding of the tide followed by a big backlash surge as the storm passed. I don't know. Any thoughts or answers anyone?

-Will (Dragonfly)

 

[jssailem]

Bawlmer, depending on how the storm progresses, you may get some increase or maybe a decrease in water, as the storm winds, as it tracks off shore, will have a tendency to draw water out of the Bay. Western edge of storm wind directions should be from the North and West as the eye movs in a north easterly direction.

 

[bawlmer]

You are right. They do spin counter clockwise. You can't be too careful though. Before I moved there a hurricane did sneak in and washed out the downtown area. I don't remember the name though.

 

[capta]

Would that still be true with the hurricane coming from land rather than pushing a surge ahead of it from the water? Maybe a receding of the tide followed by a big backlash surge as the storm passed. I don't know. Any thoughts or answers anyone?

-Will (Dragonfly)

It depends on the wind direction, not the storm's direction. The Gulf side of Fla is particularly susceptible to storm surge as it is very shallow a long way offshore. It can be 60' deep, 60 miles out.
Therefore, a storm on the east coast of Fla that produces west winds of even 60 knots in the Gulf can create a lot more surge and damage than 100+ knots of wind on the east coast. It's all about topography and wind direction.

 

[BobbyFunn]

Would that still be true with the hurricane coming from land rather than pushing a surge ahead of it from the water? Maybe a receding of the tide followed by a big backlash surge as the storm passed. I don't know. Any thoughts or answers anyone?

-Will (Dragonfly)

While Irma hit FL it was heading north and the eye was in central florida and level with the tampa area.

The winds on the northwest quadrant were blowing south for most of the morning and afternoon as the storm advanced from the everglades up to lakeland.

By afternoon the east side of upper tampa bay was all sand. There was a manatee stuck out in the middle that wasnt able to swim fast enough.

 

[Roland5048]

I'm here in West Central Fl right on the coast. High tide regularly creeps into my back yard so I watch any storms carefully. That being said, the winds from Dorian, like those from Irma, will be coming from the northeast pushing the water out. When the eye passes to the north of us, the winds should shift to the southwest which would normally push the water in however, the system will be moving away lessening the force. Think true vs. apparent wind. Sailing a close reach vs downwind. Those folks on the east coast, north of the eye, are going to get the full storm surge until the eye passes and the winds shift to the southwest which will pull the water out. Unfortunately the damage will have already been done. To our friends on the east coast, please heed evacuation orders and be safe. It could have easily been us, also. Godspeed to all.

 

[shemandr]

Report from Jensen Beach: Northerly winds under 15 knots in lulls. Some impressive gusts maybe in the 40's but not once a minute. Little rain. Cloudy with Sun peeking thru here and there. Hurricane and Storm Surge Watches. Radio says 26 kn winds but don't specify lulls or gusts. TWC is saying 21 kts. I hope most the people got off those Bahamian Islands.

 

[Mechone]

After allot of storms many sailboats de mast . Even with sails and boom removed. Why do you not take the mast down? I take mine down every year for winter haul out , and can do it in 30 minutes with 3 people and mast crane.
I rig for crane at dock with sling and rope as I lift between double spreaders ,remove 4 inner stays and drive over to crane. Anyways good luck to all , I wouldn't want to be in that storm

 

[Roland5048]

After allot of storms many sailboats de mast . Even with sails and boom removed. Why do you not take the mast down? I take mine down every year for winter haul out , and can do it in 30 minutes with 3 people and mast crane.
I rig for crane at dock with sling and rope as I lift between double spreaders ,remove 4 inner stays and drive over to crane. Anyways good luck to all , I wouldn't want to be in that storm

Those of us here in the south keep our boats in the water year round. Trailer sailors excepted. What you are proposing would be a logistical nightmare here but I can see your logic.

 

[Tradewinds]

I'm a noob and could be speaking out if context.

I think taping the winches down only gives the thieves something to laugh at.

 

[JamesG161]

By afternoon the east side of upper tampa bay was all sand.

The term Storms Surge is being over used to mean rising waters caused by a storm.
It is being use like...
Higher waters along the coast, caused by storm winds. [restricting water run off]
______
A professional storm meteorologist told me, a real Storms Surge carries SAND with it.
That is a storm pushed Wave picking up the bottom as it hit the shore.

Oh well...
Jim...

 

[BobbyFunn]

The term Storms Surge is being over used to mean rising waters caused by a storm.
It is being use like...
Higher waters along the coast, caused by storm winds. [restricting water run off]
______
A professional storm meteorologist told me, a real Storms Surge carries SAND with it.
That is a storm pushed Wave picking up the bottom as it hit the shore.

Oh well...
Jim...

The area did experience storm surge as the storm moved north and the wibds shifted, but noone noticed that really.

The phenomenon occurred in the bahamas that year with another storm.

It wasnt storm surge (as you say), it was the wind actually pushing the water out of the shallow area, like when Moses crossed the red sea

The manatee was saved when locals walked out during the storm (Tropical at this time) rolled the poor guy onto a tarp and dragged it to the water.

 

[BobbyFunn]

A professional storm meteorologist told me, a real Storms Surge carries SAND with it.
That is a storm pushed Wave picking up the bottom as it hit the shore.

What are your thoughts on this explanation.

Storm surge is caused by the non-storm air pressure pushing water up into the eye of the storm, like holding water in an upside cup above the waterline, a baraometer. The wind turns it into waves, breaking waves eat the shore like a tsunami does.

Surge will flow like a current through mangroves. Thats why we save them, to break the waves.

 

[JamesG161]

Real Storm Surge is normally the leading edge of the storm, pushing wind driven waves higher and higher.

Example: Katrina had 3 wind waves, back to back 40', 42', 36'. Basically wind waves, built up as the bottom shallows to shoreline. There is a video that show the shallow bottom [15'] of MS coast as pure Bottom behind those 3 waves. No more Gulf Water. All went to land. It took 5 hours drain the Gulf waters Back. Many saw pictures of a Boat type Casino, lifted by those wave and set down ashore.
_____
However, Coastal Flooding can be enhanced by wind driven sea state. That type of "Surge" is a gradual increase or Flooding.
Jim...

PS: How do I know this? I am court expert in Storm forensics, along with other Storm experts in many disputed Katrina insurance claims. Our team won 19 out of 20 cases against the Insurance Co. The one we lost.. all forensic info had been removed from the "crime scene".

 

[BobbyFunn]

Makes sense. Theres more than one factor involved, there's also topography.

I wpuld imagine the overall net effect is generalized as "storm surge" so planners can simplify the dangerous results of not preparing.

 

[jssailem]

If you wonder about this sand idea, just turn on any of the news stations with their "On Scene" reports standing on the beach near the water. There are big breaking waves and wind from the storm. The water is all brown water. Why? The waves/water are filled with sand. They will shift the beaches. The surge is no different as it comes ashore with the storm.

 

[agprice22]

I think I have everything completed and more. Thank you all for the help it was much appreciated. We took our Bimini top down too, frames etc.. walked it a couple blocks for storage. Car and no truck. Wish the F350 was sitting here. Again, I really want to thank each of you for the comments and help.

Looks like you got skipped by this one. Unfortunately, many did not fair so well, and it is not over although significantly abated. God rest the souls who perished in Abaco. My father has a house on the beach in Treasure Cay. It is probably not there or has suffered significant damage. He has many friends there and has had a hand in helping many people there and in Marsh Harbour. It is heartbreaking and shocking to see the pictures now.
Hopefully, there will be no more threats from storms this season.

 

[agprice22]

Yes. My father is fine. He lives in South Florida, but his house in Treasure Cay was on the beach. It was destroyed unfortunately. While he built it with concrete block construction on the first floor, it was stick-built on the second floor. The 185 mph winds removed the second floor. From a photo I found online, I can see the first floor is intact. The second floor is a filed of debris to the West of his house.
People on Abaco and the barrier islands are suffering. Many people in Florida, as well as our US agencies, are mobilizing to help them. They need everything.