Dennis' brush on the N.C. coast has caused me to think about how best to prep my 23.5, which sits on a trailer in my back yard. I was thinking about putting cinder blocks under the trailer for support, and then running the hose into the air "vent" in the top of the water ballast tank and filling the tank with water. This would increase the weight of my boat/trailer by 1000 lbs or so, which should make it more resistant to being blown over in a hurricane. As soon as the storm has passed, I'd dump the water. Opinions or suggestions? Thanks.
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Don't think so.
Bruce: I am NOT a Hurricane expert, but I do not think that a thousand pounds is going to make any difference. When you see these storms ripping a roof off a building and tearing trees up by their roots. I think I might consider these long screws 4-5 feet long with a loop on the end about six of them and tie the boat and trailer to the ground may help. In reality if you get a direct hit you better hope you have good insurance because NOTHING that you can do will make much difference. Hang on.
Bruce: I am NOT a Hurricane expert, but I do not think that a thousand pounds is going to make any difference. When you see these storms ripping a roof off a building and tearing trees up by their roots. I think I might consider these long screws 4-5 feet long with a loop on the end about six of them and tie the boat and trailer to the ground may help. In reality if you get a direct hit you better hope you have good insurance because NOTHING that you can do will make much difference. Hang on.
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Dick Vance
Trees and Rocks
Bruce, Tying and weighting the boat down will help but even if it doesn't blow over a big threat is flying debris or falling trees, etc. I've weathered several hurricanes on land, thankfully never in a boat, and had a car trashed by flying gravel from roofs and coconuts in Florida. Dick Vance H-25.5 Honey Bear
Bruce, Tying and weighting the boat down will help but even if it doesn't blow over a big threat is flying debris or falling trees, etc. I've weathered several hurricanes on land, thankfully never in a boat, and had a car trashed by flying gravel from roofs and coconuts in Florida. Dick Vance H-25.5 Honey Bear
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Dave Condon
Preperation
Bruce; Knowing the Hunter 23.5 very well and having to prep for the hurricane which included boats in the water too, there are several suggestions. Since the boat is on the trailer with the mast down I presume, secure all lines tightly particuarly the shrouds and forestay as wire and fiberglass do not get along well. Lash the boat to the trailer with the tie down strap as if you are taking the boat anywhere. Remove all loose gear on top. finally, do not park under any trees and make sure your insurance is paid up. We do not recommend putting water into the tank
Bruce; Knowing the Hunter 23.5 very well and having to prep for the hurricane which included boats in the water too, there are several suggestions. Since the boat is on the trailer with the mast down I presume, secure all lines tightly particuarly the shrouds and forestay as wire and fiberglass do not get along well. Lash the boat to the trailer with the tie down strap as if you are taking the boat anywhere. Remove all loose gear on top. finally, do not park under any trees and make sure your insurance is paid up. We do not recommend putting water into the tank
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Jon Bastien
Water weight gain...
Bruce, I can think of a good reason NOT to add water to the tank- Is the trailer rated for (or capable of) holding that much weight? I think the extra 1000 pounds on the trailer for my '87 H23 would probably cause the supports on my trailer to fail... As for hurricane prep, I think the post advising augers in the ground to tie the boat to is probably the best way to go. You might find them at a hardware store, or perhaps in stores that cater to mobile homes? Good luck getting through the rest of 'cane season... --Jon Bastien '2 Sheets to the Wind' Key West, FL
Bruce, I can think of a good reason NOT to add water to the tank- Is the trailer rated for (or capable of) holding that much weight? I think the extra 1000 pounds on the trailer for my '87 H23 would probably cause the supports on my trailer to fail... As for hurricane prep, I think the post advising augers in the ground to tie the boat to is probably the best way to go. You might find them at a hardware store, or perhaps in stores that cater to mobile homes? Good luck getting through the rest of 'cane season... --Jon Bastien '2 Sheets to the Wind' Key West, FL
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Rick Webb
Hook it up and Split
After purchasing our boat t is summer I decided that if another storm were to threaten us here in Biloxi I would hook it up to the car and head north. If that is not an option check at your local home center for the trie downs used for the metal storage sheds they sell the set for my shed was like $20 they even come with steel cable and clamps. I would fill the ballast also. I don't think it would bother the trailer if it is just sitting there after all it is full when you drag the boat out of the water. Any aditional weight would help keep it where you left it. I would also remove everything from the deck mast, shrouds, stay and any of the lines. anything that can flop around is going to do damage. We had ours you are having yours we should be safe from storms untill a few other places get hit. I'll keep my fingers crossed just in case
After purchasing our boat t is summer I decided that if another storm were to threaten us here in Biloxi I would hook it up to the car and head north. If that is not an option check at your local home center for the trie downs used for the metal storage sheds they sell the set for my shed was like $20 they even come with steel cable and clamps. I would fill the ballast also. I don't think it would bother the trailer if it is just sitting there after all it is full when you drag the boat out of the water. Any aditional weight would help keep it where you left it. I would also remove everything from the deck mast, shrouds, stay and any of the lines. anything that can flop around is going to do damage. We had ours you are having yours we should be safe from storms untill a few other places get hit. I'll keep my fingers crossed just in case
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Bruce
Trailer Issue
Thanks everyone for the feedback. As I write this, we have 20-30 knots of wind and rain - no sweat so far. I thought about the water weight factor - I had thought about blocking the trailer frame up with cinder blocks to handle the extra water weight. At this point, the boat and my insurance policy are all doing OK. Thanks!! Bruce.
Thanks everyone for the feedback. As I write this, we have 20-30 knots of wind and rain - no sweat so far. I thought about the water weight factor - I had thought about blocking the trailer frame up with cinder blocks to handle the extra water weight. At this point, the boat and my insurance policy are all doing OK. Thanks!! Bruce.
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Jim Moore
Trailer Tie-Downs
My 19' Hunter, Jenny Lee, is in a dry slip about 50' from the water of St. Andrew Bay in Panama City, Florida. As soon as I rented the slip I bought four trailer tie-downs at Lowe's: I got the tall ones, must be four feet or so, and it took a tire-iron and lots of grunting to screw them into the ground, but I got them to where only the eye and about an inch or so of shaft remained above ground. When a severe storm is imminent (maybe the current one will pass us by), I secure the boat to the trailer to the tie-downs with a couple of straps (like what you use to secure the transom to the boat when trailering) and some line. This has worked well for three years or so in at least one big blow (Opal). Oh, since the slip is not private, I also hammered 3-inch PVC pipes around each tie-down into the ground and painted them fluorescent yellow so people wouldn't (hopefully) stumble over the tie-downs when they're not in use.
My 19' Hunter, Jenny Lee, is in a dry slip about 50' from the water of St. Andrew Bay in Panama City, Florida. As soon as I rented the slip I bought four trailer tie-downs at Lowe's: I got the tall ones, must be four feet or so, and it took a tire-iron and lots of grunting to screw them into the ground, but I got them to where only the eye and about an inch or so of shaft remained above ground. When a severe storm is imminent (maybe the current one will pass us by), I secure the boat to the trailer to the tie-downs with a couple of straps (like what you use to secure the transom to the boat when trailering) and some line. This has worked well for three years or so in at least one big blow (Opal). Oh, since the slip is not private, I also hammered 3-inch PVC pipes around each tie-down into the ground and painted them fluorescent yellow so people wouldn't (hopefully) stumble over the tie-downs when they're not in use.
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