Hurricane Bill

[Bob S]

This is my second season boating, we got off to a slow start but recently it's been wonderful. Now I'm looking at this:
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/graphics_at3.shtml?5-daynl#contents
A question to all you Northeast sailors. (I am on a mooring.)
How serious does this look. Should I be thinking of hauling the boat? Are you? Is it too soon to make a judgment? This thing has me a bit nervous!

Last season we had Ike. I watched and as it got closer I removed all my sails and canvas. It turned out to be a false alarm and his winds turned out to be little more that typical.

 

[shemandr]

Those probabilites have served me reasonalby well over the last few years. I moved my boat once last year - and it wasn't necessary. I'm on L.I.
You have a 5% chance of 50 knot winds and a 20 percent chance of tropical force winds (39+).
Definitely stay tuned. I think its a bit early to run but it depends on your situation. It appears the storm will pass to the East giving you and me northerly winds. How is your mooring field in that condition. For me Southeast is what I fear. It can blow like stink from the NE and I have a fetch of like 100 feet. High tides can be a problem for us with any Easterly wind.
Hauling is not off the options list. I assume you know your insurance may pay a portion of the fee with some, worth checking on, stipulations.
I've broken down the canvas and sails much more than other local sailors but I think its smart to do and don't forget Maine Sail's advice to remove your anchor from the bow roller.

 

[Bob S]

I'll remember the anchor, hope it doesn't come to that.

 

[Cpt. Jon]

It's too early to predict where that strorm is going to go. It finally made a turn to more NW, and the models all show the storm missing, but it depends on the trough pushing the storm west. The stronger a storm is, the more it wants to go poleward. What I would do, is to make a plan (I am doing that anyway and I'm not even in the cone of uncertainty). We don't use morings here, so I am not sure of the strength or ability to double lines etc like I do in my slip. I don't think I would haul in my location or not.

Here what the models show but they WILL change as the storm changes and as data from the Hurricane Hunters is input.

 

[Boompa]

Keep eyes & open....WIDE

If it heads for Massachusetts, I'd likely haul... We're on a mooring in what looks like a very protected area but my biggest fear is collision with any boats that break from a mooring or slip.

Thanks for the suggestion re 'checking w insurance company pitching in for haul out'.

 

[BobM]

Arghhhh! What a season. Just really started sailing in mid-July...spent ten days with my Mother in Tampa at the hospital...probably have to go back down this weekend again as she is still not out yet. Just what I needed...a flipping HURRICANE to buzz my boat in Boston. I will definitely strip the canvas off her.

Any other suggestions? Chafe guards of course. Extra pendants? Should I run some lines to my winches somehow? I think Boat US will pay for a haul, but will have to call them to see if there are any limitations (such as must be in the forecasted direct path within 24 hrs of the haul or some such BS). Also, I am worried about the (in)competency of my yard in an emergency situation like this. I will call them to see if they are preparing to haul boats Sat.

 

[Alan]

As of this morning it is packing sustained winds of 135 (cat 4) and further strengthening expected.

 

[Gail R]

Ewww... I do not like that track, particularly since we are planning to start our cruise on Saturday! Right now the local guys are telling us it will likely be a near miss in Maine, but it's still too close to call with a lot of certainty.

Should the worst be predicted, it's unlikely we would haul. Our anchorage has some of the best protection anywhere, with pretty tight mooring regulations. We're on a 5000# chunk of granite. At the most, we would remove all sails, canvas, etc. and put on the storm painter. I would MUCH rather be on a mooring than a dock in this kind of situation. Boats can get pretty beat up at docks and the mooring is, IMHO, a bit gentler.

Hopefully this bugger goes out to sea.

 

[zeehag]

stormpulse and noaa still show a skimming of rhode island and a tad of mass---stay safe--if you haul, tie your boat to ground--not to a tree---treees fly!! be safe and keep dry....

 

[Warren Milberg]

There is some very good info on storm prep on the BoatUS Hurricane Resource Center site: http://www.boatus.com/hurricanes/default.asp?WT.mc_id=100034

 

[Tim R.]

Ewww... I do not like that track, particularly since we are planning to start our cruise on Saturday! Right now the local guys are telling us it will likely be a near miss in Maine, but it's still too close to call with a lot of certainty.

Should the worst be predicted, it's unlikely we would haul. Our anchorage has some of the best protection anywhere, with pretty tight mooring regulations. We're on a 5000# chunk of granite. At the most, we would remove all sails, canvas, etc. and put on the storm painter. I would MUCH rather be on a mooring than a dock in this kind of situation. Boats can get pretty beat up at docks and the mooring is, IMHO, a bit gentler.

Hopefully this bugger goes out to sea.

I agree. Out to sea is good. I am hoping to ride out in Portland but if it comes closer we may see you this weekend Gail. Brewers can usually find me a mooring but if you know of any good vacant ones let me know.

 

[Alan]

I have to agree with Gail on the mooring vs dock issue. If you can keep the boat on its mooring there is far less probability of storm damage than sitting at a dock.
Stripping the boat of ALL windage is a prudent precaution. I can't tell you how many skippers will leave headsails rolled up, dodgers, awnings and all sorts of other things available for big blows to destroy.

 

[Ed Schenck]

Definitely get the boats off the dock. At my last marina in North Carolina we were required to move them to an anchorage. If the marina had to move your boat it was $750.. . . .each way! Just to make their point there were pictures in the clubhouse showing results of marinas where the boats were left tied in their slips. In most cases the slips and the boats were up on shore somewhere else. In the fall of 2008 I paid some friends to anchor my H37C. All of the ground tackle was on the boat and we had gone over the instructions. The boat was fine when I went to bring her back to the marina.

 

[RobG]

I'm on a mooring too but have a nagging question.

What about the scope of the mooring equipment v/s the storm surge? We have seemingly excellent mooring equipment with large chain through the top of the ball to large double braid, double pennants via a large single shackle. How do you know if the scope can handle the storm surge or can the bow be held down and bashed? Do you consider extending the pennants? I would think that would introduce chafe problems ect.

I feel for ya BobM. I've had a tough season too.

 

[Franklin]

All depends on the marina. If it's a floating dock with room for 15' of tide surge and in good condition and protected from the water, I'd stay at the marina. But if it's not protected (don't foget to include the storm surge) and/or it's a fixed dock, definately get it out of there.

If you don't take your sails down, you run a big risk in having them torn all to pieces. We had 15 headsails torn up after Ike in this marina out of maybe 30-50 left up...not a good percentage.

Also, at 130 knots of wind, each flat square foot exposed will produce 50 lbs of push against the boat, so try to remove anything you can. Don't forget to drop the boom down into the cockpit and secure it good with pillows underneight it.

And if you are crazy like me and want to ride it out on the boat, get a fully inclosed motor-cycle helmet. It will do wonders for your vision when you go outside and keep your head dry and keep the noise level down so you don't free out. A helmet is now part of my heavy weather sailing kit.

 

[Morgan30]

I have to agree with Gail on the mooring vs dock issue. If you can keep the boat on its mooring there is far less probability of storm damage than sitting at a dock.
Stripping the boat of ALL windage is a prudent precaution. I can't tell you how many skippers will leave headsails rolled up, dodgers, awnings and all sorts of other things available for big blows to destroy.

I know what you mean. At least tie a line around the front furling and wrap a line around the main cover to help from tearing away. Amazing what people do not do. I am at a dock, East side of the canal. I will throw off a storm anchor if needed and even tie across. I also have smaller boats to worry about too. I do hope as above that it goes to sea.