Hurricane Mathew Prep Suggestions Welcome

[smokey73]

Hope none of you are in the direct path.

The hurricane got me thinking about how to reduce windage when on my mooring. If it looks like Mathew takes a turn towards Beaufort, SC (right now its in the cone of uncertainty but they are expecting it to head further east) I will want to prep the boat to ride it out. I'll have a house to prepare so I want to get onto the boat preps early, even if it turns out to head out to sea.

If the forecast track is heading for Beaufort:

1. I plan on removing the anchor so the mooring lines don't hook on it ( I always do this when we expect strong winds, even if its not a hurricane based on recommendation from MaineSail)
2. I will put additional chafe protection on the mooring lines
3. I plan on removing the dodger and bimini canvas and lashing up the frames
4. Will securely wrap ties around the Genoa in addition to multiple turns on the sheets around the Genoa to ensure it doesn't unfurl (If it projects a direct hit I'll probably remove the Genoa)
5. I'll remove the solar panel so it doesn't rip off
6. I'll remove the netting that I have on the lifelines (for the dog)

The question is what to do with the main sail? My main is in a StackPak and it is a mini sail in strong winds. I normally loosen the lazy jacks and wrap multiple turns of line around the StackPack to compress it to a circle. If the projected path is a Cat 3 or 4 hit in the dangerous hemisphere of the storm I will probably remove the main sail.

Question: Is it easier to just remove the boom with the sail attached or to try and remove the sail and Stackpak from the boom? Has anyone ever removed the boom with the stackpak installed? When they pulled my mast in the yard they removed the boom with the stackpak installed. Seems this might be easier (albeit heavier than just the sail)

Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[kloudie1]

I know that removing the main and genoa is a pain, but they really both need to come off if the winds are going to be sustained over about 30 kts. if ya can do it by removing the whole boom, then go for it! Double up on mooring lines.. More chafe gear than you think you need.
Genoa.. don't trust the sheets to hold the furler closed.. after several tight wraps, mechanically lock the drum to the frame.. Most furlers have a provision for this .. it might be a hole in the drum where a bolt or caribiner can slip through and lock the thing. Like I said.. remove the sail if the winds are going to be sustained over about 30 kts.

 

[capta]

I highly recommend you just haul the boat out of the water. Many insurance companies will even pay for it. If Matthew comes anywhere near your boat as a high cat 2 or more, I'd bet dollars to donuts she won't survive on a mooring unless you are surrounded by mangroves.
If you care for your boat why take a chance, even if you have to pay?

 

[njlarry]

I agree with captain Capta, better to be on the hard. Either way the genoa should be removed as even if you lock the drum the wind can unwrap and rip the sail. Standard practice on the bay is to merely wrap the main sail up with the main sheet but of course removal is best.
Good luck, hopefully you will be well out of the path.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Take off dodger, bimini and so forth. Unless you have a floating dock, you do not know what rise in tides and chop if you are at a fixed dock. The best is to haul the boat out of the water. If you have a floating dock, of course a lot will depend on how many poles and how deep they are in. Since I do not see photos of the exact area, then we can only suggest. Remove all loose gear to include lines. Use chafe gear on heavy duty lines going over the boat used as either mooring or dock lines. As a previous dealer in North Carolina, as a back up, I use to moor boats in the Pamlico asking initially the local folks, not the weekend warriors from Raleigh-Durham using two anchors that were oversized, with 50 feet of chain and about 100-150 feet of heavy duty line used for an anchor throwing the first to the east, digging in the anchor by backing up in full reverse until held fast. The second was thrown out to the south and then dug in as described above counter reacting to the rotation of hurricane winds. One thing is know where the safety anchorages are and secondly the holding bottoms. Def. use chafe gear where the lines go over the boats or the anchor lines will chafe and make sure the rotation of the boat will not hit others in the holding area.

In the future, sign a contract with a local yard to haul the boat out in the event of storms like this. better safe than sorry.

 

[shemandr]

Close thru hulls. Suggested here and proven to be a good idea is to tape around companionway to reduce rain intrusion to below. Make sure cockpit drains are running free. Take most valuable electronics off.

 

[Ron20324]

A live-aboard friend prepped his boat when Isabelle came. He put all his valuables in his car in the marina. His boat floated in the slip okay, but his car -and contents- were flooded.

 

[Gunni]

You can't wrap a Genoa sufficiently to prevent a corner getting loose, inflating and going rogue. Take it off. Find a high'n'dry Marina with a boat lift, arrange a haul and do it early. They will mandate no Genoa on rig. You don't want to be in the surge. I have successfully lashed the mainsail to the boom in bag and prevented the boom for a hurricane. Strip everything to the deck. No canvas.

 

[Warren Milberg]

If you are in the weather "cone" get the boat out of the water, on the highest ground possible, take everything off (sails, anchors, anything on deck), and tie the boat down. I waited a day too long in 2003 as H-Isabel came up the coast and I lost the boat.
As you can see in this pic, the wrapped up main and bimini survived; the boat, dock, and marina did not.

 

[chrisings]

Agree with removing the sails, we always do. One interesting note, when Sandy hit the northeast it was the boats on the hard that took the worst hit as they floated off their stands with the storm surge and were deposited in the strangest places, most boats in the water faired much better. You just can't reason with hurricane season.

 

[njlarry]

Must respectively disagree. Boats on stands only had problems when they were placed on low ground. Those on firm high ground did well. After Sandy many boats that were moored were never even found. There is a reason many insurance companies pay for haulout. They have the data.
When a hurricane is coming, get the canvas off the boat and put her on high ground several days inadvance before the high winds start. The day before is often too late.

 

[chrisings]

Must respectively disagree. Boats on stands only had problems when they were placed on low ground. Those on firm high ground did well. After Sandy many boats that were moored were never even found. There is a reason many insurance companies pay for haulout. They have the data.
When a hurricane is coming, get the canvas off the boat and put her on high ground several days inadvance before the high winds start. The day before is often too late.

I understand your disagreement but this was fact in NJ and NY for Sandy where most boats on the hard are stored in the parking lots of the marinas (not exactly high ground). My point is that every storm is different. In general I agree, all canvas off, boat stored as high and dry as possbile. Edit: It should also be noted that when Sandy hit NJ/NY it was no longer a hurricane.

 

[Gunni]

In fairness to NJ and NY, those folks, and those marina's had not seen a hurricane in their lifetime and they did not build their facilities to manage a response. Down south we learned a long time ago that you get out and up when a hurricane approaches.

 

[Bob S]

This one is starting to look scary for the Carolina's. I am taking everything off about 3 weeks earlier than I would like. Unfortunately, my appointment to haul isn't until the 13th and the storm will pass before that.

 

[Gunni]

I expect the entire east coast will see gale force conditions or worse if that trough doesn't appear to hold H.Matthew offshore.

 

[JamesG161]

I expect the entire east coast will see gale force conditions or worse

In fact Matthew will be sucked in behind that trough. On target Gunni !

I would never suggest how to protect your boat in your area. I would talk to the OLD Salts nearby and listen to them.

Here is a general guide that is good tho.
http://www.boatus.com/hurricanes/HurricaneWarning.pdf
With pictures even.
Wishing all along the East Coast the best of luck...
Jim...

 

[Parsons]

I never know how to answer without talking down to some expert, or over the head of a newbie, so here goes. I grew up in hurricane country, and have seen my share of missing neighborhoods and marinas. Many people underestimate the power of hurricanes over water. Next time you're driving 70 mph on a highway, open up all the windows - that's only a Category 1. Wind pressure goes up in squares, so doubling wind speed quadruples the forces. If Matthew hits you in SC, it will be a Cat 3 (at least 96 kts sustained winds with gusts up to 50% more), with storm surges over three meters. If a fiberglass boat is in the water, it is more likely than not to be lost. If you are not nervous for your boat, I have failed to convey the message. Every inch of windage adds pounds to the force on the mooring. How good is your mooring (every link that connects bottom to your cleats)?

 

[Kings Gambit]

You can't wrap a Genoa sufficiently to prevent a corner getting loose, inflating and going rogue. Take it off. Find a high'n'dry Marina with a boat lift, arrange a haul and do it early. They will mandate no Genoa on rig. You don't want to be in the surge. I have successfully lashed the mainsail to the boom in bag and prevented the boom for a hurricane. Strip everything to the deck. No canvas.

This is the most concise best advice I see in here right now, from someone who lived in FL (Tampa Bay) for 11 years.

 

[Jacob Herman]

Good afternoon everyone.

I am a new sailboat owner, i havent even gotten a mast for this thing yet. I am currently at a small marina at Boynton Inlet in Palm Beach County. Me being new to boat ownership had no idea you didnt leave the boat at the dock.

The owner just called and said they are taking their big fishing boat to keys. I need to move mine, and my response was where.
I am the only sailboat at a commercial fishing dock full of big 60 foot offshore cruisers that can make a quick trip to anywhere.

Does anyone have any advise on what to do. All the yards are full and closed already. Does anyone know if there is a place to anchor that would be great?

Thanks ahead.

 

[Kings Gambit]

Since there's no mast yet, it'd be best to haul it out on a trailer and go inland to a boat storage or other type of vehicle storage yard. If you don't have a C250 trailer, which is likely, then maybe one of the yacht dealerships of the area can direct you to where you might rent or borrow one, etc. Also, one does not really "anchor" for a hurricane; one moors (multiple anchors), etc.