Since the hurricane season is fast approaching, I have a question for the more experienced sailors. This is my first season on a mooring. I have a Beneteau 331, and I am not sure what precautions I should take if a hurricane (or even a really bad storm) is forecast. I know that if a hurricane is going to hit I should try to get the marina to haul out the boat, but what if I am unable to get that done? I am in a pretty sheltered location. Will the mooring anchor be sufficient to hold the boat in high winds? Should I put out an anchor(s) to assist in holding the boat, or is it better to let her move to point into the wind? Should I add an extra line to hold the boat to the mooring ball? I do plan to talk this over with the marina owner, but I know that the members of this forum have a wealth of information, so I figured I would try here first. Any advice is sincerely appreciated. Thanks
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one approach
Here in S Texas we are faced with usually at least one "event" per year. Hauling out my 393 is not practical as there is nowhere to put it that wouldn't be worse than in the water. I have a set of extra heavy nylon lines that I set up in a "spring" (long line) arrangement that holds the boat within a 1' side, forward and back movement, but allows the boat to rise as much as 7 feet. It is sheltered on the North side, which is the strongest wind side of a hurricane when they approach from the East. It is essential to remove all "windage" so there is as little force as possible on the boat. Finally, and this is the most important step of all: Laminate your insurance policy.
Here in S Texas we are faced with usually at least one "event" per year. Hauling out my 393 is not practical as there is nowhere to put it that wouldn't be worse than in the water. I have a set of extra heavy nylon lines that I set up in a "spring" (long line) arrangement that holds the boat within a 1' side, forward and back movement, but allows the boat to rise as much as 7 feet. It is sheltered on the North side, which is the strongest wind side of a hurricane when they approach from the East. It is essential to remove all "windage" so there is as little force as possible on the boat. Finally, and this is the most important step of all: Laminate your insurance policy.
I just asked this same question at my marina...
I live in central FL and this is my first hurricane season as a boat owner too. I just asked this question to the folks at my marina yesterday. First off, he said the boat is better off in the water than in the yard. My boat is at a dock rather than a mooring so the rest of his advice wouldn't apply to you but basically he said to double up on the dock lines and tie them high on the pilings to allow for the tidal surge. Other than that, he said all you can do is hope for the best.
I live in central FL and this is my first hurricane season as a boat owner too. I just asked this question to the folks at my marina yesterday. First off, he said the boat is better off in the water than in the yard. My boat is at a dock rather than a mooring so the rest of his advice wouldn't apply to you but basically he said to double up on the dock lines and tie them high on the pilings to allow for the tidal surge. Other than that, he said all you can do is hope for the best.
STARTING POINT
As mentioned previously, take EVERYTHING off the top of the boat. Sails, canvas, life rings, cup holders, EVERYTHING. This reduces the windage of the vessel and also increases your odds of keeping this stuff in good shape. Go down below and make sure everything is stowed away. Pack towels, newspapers, anything into cupboards that hold small, loose items such as dishes, canned goods, silverware, so they do not break or jumble into a giant mess. I would also add additional line, through the mooring ball, but more importantly, add some type of chafe protection to the lines. Dont forget to make sure your batteries are topped off so the bilge pump will work properly. If possible, add an additional battery to increase battery life for the bilge pump. Don't be shy about talking to your neighbors who are also on moorings. If the guy next do you hasn't taken proper precautions, he might break his mooring and head straight for you! Wind is a danger to vessels but storm surge can be just as dangerous or more so. After Isabel last year. Our area had little in the way of wind or rain, but the storm surge did all the damage. Good Luck
As mentioned previously, take EVERYTHING off the top of the boat. Sails, canvas, life rings, cup holders, EVERYTHING. This reduces the windage of the vessel and also increases your odds of keeping this stuff in good shape. Go down below and make sure everything is stowed away. Pack towels, newspapers, anything into cupboards that hold small, loose items such as dishes, canned goods, silverware, so they do not break or jumble into a giant mess. I would also add additional line, through the mooring ball, but more importantly, add some type of chafe protection to the lines. Dont forget to make sure your batteries are topped off so the bilge pump will work properly. If possible, add an additional battery to increase battery life for the bilge pump. Don't be shy about talking to your neighbors who are also on moorings. If the guy next do you hasn't taken proper precautions, he might break his mooring and head straight for you! Wind is a danger to vessels but storm surge can be just as dangerous or more so. After Isabel last year. Our area had little in the way of wind or rain, but the storm surge did all the damage. Good Luck
Safe mooring
With many decades of experiance, I can volunteer the opinion that you are much better on a mooring than any other situation IF the mooring itself is adequate. First, the mooring must be large enough and set in a proper bottom deep enough to hold. Next, the there must be enough chain at least 1/2 inch, and enough rope at least 3/4s to allow enough scope to handle ANY conditions. Next, the boat must have a sturdy enough cleat to take ANY strain, and adequate chafe protection provided. IF YOU HAVE ALL THESE CONDITIONS, you are as safe as you can get. Mooring failures mostly result for two basic reasons. The mooring drags due to its inadequacy. The mooring line breaks . The most common cause of the line breaking is too short a scope for the much higher water level and the surging of the boat in wind waves. A 10,000 pound boat that surges violently upwards and is arrested suddenly by a short pennant will exert a violent strain maybe an engineering type could calculate, but it's enough to snap a 3/4 line like a shoe string, or rip the cleat loose. An ordinary summer mooring in a very crowded harbor designed for summer conditions with light tackle is definately NOT safe in any storm. Yes, stay on a proper mooring[and laminate your insurance policy], but look for something better if not. If the right conditions and suitable area is available, sometimes a LARGE single anchor with heavy rode and chafe gear is the next best choice. NEVER stay on the boat, NEVER Good sailing RON B
With many decades of experiance, I can volunteer the opinion that you are much better on a mooring than any other situation IF the mooring itself is adequate. First, the mooring must be large enough and set in a proper bottom deep enough to hold. Next, the there must be enough chain at least 1/2 inch, and enough rope at least 3/4s to allow enough scope to handle ANY conditions. Next, the boat must have a sturdy enough cleat to take ANY strain, and adequate chafe protection provided. IF YOU HAVE ALL THESE CONDITIONS, you are as safe as you can get. Mooring failures mostly result for two basic reasons. The mooring drags due to its inadequacy. The mooring line breaks . The most common cause of the line breaking is too short a scope for the much higher water level and the surging of the boat in wind waves. A 10,000 pound boat that surges violently upwards and is arrested suddenly by a short pennant will exert a violent strain maybe an engineering type could calculate, but it's enough to snap a 3/4 line like a shoe string, or rip the cleat loose. An ordinary summer mooring in a very crowded harbor designed for summer conditions with light tackle is definately NOT safe in any storm. Yes, stay on a proper mooring[and laminate your insurance policy], but look for something better if not. If the right conditions and suitable area is available, sometimes a LARGE single anchor with heavy rode and chafe gear is the next best choice. NEVER stay on the boat, NEVER Good sailing RON B
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