East Coast Hurricane Preparations

[Jim Legere]

Well, it looks like Earl is on his way and everyone from NYC to the Canadian Maritimes could be in the path. I am starting my preparations anticipating that it will begin sometime on Friday in Nova Scotia. We have been through hurricanes before - Juan went through us in 2003 - and I know my mooring is good but the trick is to keep the boat attached to it. During TS Noel, my boat chaffed through two brand new mooring pennants and ended up on the beach (fortunately no damage; kedged off the next day). Since then I have been attaching the anchor chain to the ring on top of the ball (which is attached to a steel rod that goes through and attaches to the mooring chain) as a belt and braces approach. I don't attach the chain to the same place as the mooring pennants as I think chafe and snubbing would be an issue. I see the nylon pennants as the primary system and the slack chain is there "just in case". Anyone with wisdom to share on moorings in a hurricane?

 

[Mathurin]

Good luck Jim, keep us posted !

 

[Ed Schenck]

Can you add an anchor when you are on a mooring? At the marina in North Carolina where I was they never lost a boat that was properly anchored. They posted pictures of lots of boats that were a mile inland when they were left on the docks. They were still attached to the docks in many cases. But there are no moorings.

Their procedure there is two anchors, each with a very heavy ten foot cable. The cable cuts into the bottom better than chain or rope rode for a better hold. I had 100' of nylon rode with an FX-37 and 100' of chain with my normal CQR35. And that was in about six feet of water. They recommend about a 45 degree angle off the bow. I had to pay to have it put out there in the creek. When I went to get it the boat was in there solid. Maybe you could use the mooring as one anchor and add one
somehow.

Oh, and ten foot of fire hose on each rode at the bow. This not only provided chafe protection at the chocks but also for when the rodes start to wrap from the twist. The nylon rode went around the sampson post and then to the mast.

 

[Jim Legere]

All good advice Ed. I like the fire hose idea, but no time to find some this time round. I don't think I need a second anchor as my mooring is really solid (2000 lbs + 5/8" chain) and never budged in past hurricanes/tropical storms. The biggest problem is chafe on the 3/4" nylon mooring pennants. I would love to have bigger chocks on the bow - something that would take a one inch line with chafe protection too - but that is one of the areas that I find the H37C lacking. That is why I have been experiementing with shackling the anchor chain (with lots of slack) to the ring on the top of the mooring ball...just in case. Anyway, Earl's predicted track has shifted slightly to the west as it passes Nova Scotia so we we likely only see 50 - 60 knots here.

 

[Jim Legere]

We survived Earl...

Earl hit shore in Nova Scotia as a Category 1 about 50 miles southwest of here, leaving us in the "dangerous quadrant". Went to bed on Friday night with the track predicted to be up the Bay of Fundy, a nice safe distance away. Woke up Saturday morning to find its track shifted east and heading for us! Damn hurricanes are still unpredictable even with the best computer modelling.

Anyway, our preparation paid off as we weathered gusts to 65 knots on our mooring. The wind was clocking from SE to SW and we were almost in the lee of a large hill when our neighbour's boat dragged its mooring and ended along side CALYPSO. We managed to get a dinghy launched and got a warp on the errant boat (a J30) but there was damage to our rub rail, toe rail and bent stanchions by the time we got them apart. Mostly cosmetic damage on our boat but the J30 will have to be hauled out for repairs. We will sail the rest of the season and get the repairs done over the winter. A smaller J22 astern of us weathered the storm without damage but her owner was having a fit watching the goings on. Alls well that ends well...more or less.

 

[Ed Schenck]

That'st too bad Jim. All that prep and your boat is fine only to have someone else's boat hit yours. You seem to have a rub strake that was not factory issue. That might have prevented worse damage. Still quite a mess that, hopefully, the insurer will make right. Those are pretty dramatic pictures. I don't think I would want to watch.

 

[Jim Legere]

Could be worse

Thanks for the kind thoughts Ed. The boat was originally from the Chesapeake and I gather those teak and stainless rub rails are a common upgrade down there as they often moor between pilings - anyway it really saved our boat. There is some wood to replace but no fiberglass to repair. I think the bent stanchions can be straightened as they are not kinked. I tightened up the top lifeline with some lashing and went for a great sail today...life could be a lot worse. In Nova Scotia we average about one hurricane every ten years. That's a lot better odds than living in Florida or on the Gulf Coast. Mind you, it is a bit colder here in the winter and we get that same solid water problem that you know all about

 

[Mathurin]

Your preparation paid off in the end ! That's too bad you still get some damages from a loose boat. At least you get to go out sailing right away! That's the best way to forget about the misadventure. The pictures are really impresives !

 

[sandpiper10471]

I don't think I could have watched my boat go through that battering. I would have had to go to a bar wayyyyyyyy inland. The photos sure reinforce the need to have utmost respect for the winds and waters of the world. Well done with the preparations, Jim.