Newish boat owner going thru my first hurricane season with a boat. Basic question fully realizing that you don't have the specifics but here goes: I have a Catalina 270 tied to a dock/piling arrangement behind the house. My choices if a big blow comes this way are to tied down substantially at the dock (assuming I'm taking famly out of town so I can't be there to adjust lines) or to establish a mooring arrangement in the bayou we are at. Comments - suggestions???? Thanks folks, Bill
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Slip Not Generally the Best Spot
Check with your neighbors and see what they do. My choices would be first to pull it out of the water second to tie it off or anchor it in a bayou and third to leave it in a slip. Too many places for it to bash into in the slip assuming the dock even stays put. Depending on which side the storm goes the tide can go way up or way down sometimes even both. It is a judgement call you will have to make with each situation.
Check with your neighbors and see what they do. My choices would be first to pull it out of the water second to tie it off or anchor it in a bayou and third to leave it in a slip. Too many places for it to bash into in the slip assuming the dock even stays put. Depending on which side the storm goes the tide can go way up or way down sometimes even both. It is a judgement call you will have to make with each situation.
Options in the water.
I agree with what Rick said, pull your boat inland if you can. Leaving your boat at the slip is not the best option. Your slip neighbor may not secure his boat as well as you and his boat can break lose and damage your boat. Move your boat as far away from other boats as possible if you can. If you have to leave your boat in the water, look for a hurricane hole. A hurricane hole is a protected body of water surrounded by high structures to block the winds and far enough inland to protect against the storm surges generated by hurricane winds and high tide. Deep canals, narrow coves and inlets with trees or other high structures to deflect the high winds and far enough inland to dissipate the storm surges are your best protection. Another option is to anchor in the bay or in a protected harbor using the standard 10:1 storm scope with the boat facing the direction of the hurricane. If you have to leave your boat at the slip, double-up on all lines and cover all lines with chafe protectors. Use fenders and fender boards as much as you can put between your boat and the dock. Also make sure you leave enough slack for the boat to rise with the storm surges. Once you prepare you boat for the hurricane, you leave the boat and don't come back until the hurricane passes; you can always buy another boat. Check the link for more information. Fair Winds, Clyde
I agree with what Rick said, pull your boat inland if you can. Leaving your boat at the slip is not the best option. Your slip neighbor may not secure his boat as well as you and his boat can break lose and damage your boat. Move your boat as far away from other boats as possible if you can. If you have to leave your boat in the water, look for a hurricane hole. A hurricane hole is a protected body of water surrounded by high structures to block the winds and far enough inland to protect against the storm surges generated by hurricane winds and high tide. Deep canals, narrow coves and inlets with trees or other high structures to deflect the high winds and far enough inland to dissipate the storm surges are your best protection. Another option is to anchor in the bay or in a protected harbor using the standard 10:1 storm scope with the boat facing the direction of the hurricane. If you have to leave your boat at the slip, double-up on all lines and cover all lines with chafe protectors. Use fenders and fender boards as much as you can put between your boat and the dock. Also make sure you leave enough slack for the boat to rise with the storm surges. Once you prepare you boat for the hurricane, you leave the boat and don't come back until the hurricane passes; you can always buy another boat. Check the link for more information. Fair Winds, Clyde
A list
I have a sequenced list of what to do. Email me at bodonovan@vagazette.com with fax no. Takes about 8 hours to do everything.
I have a sequenced list of what to do. Email me at bodonovan@vagazette.com with fax no. Takes about 8 hours to do everything.
Great artical
Bill I read a great artical in SAILNET by larry and Sue hardy..Here it is Home / Authors / Sue & Larry Hurricane Dockside Preparation Reduce windage * Strip all the canvas off your boat. Dodger, bimini, sun awning, boom cover, etc. * Strip off sails and stow below. (If only a tropical storm is expected, you may get by with just wrapping your mainsail boom cover very tightly with line and securing your roller furling jib with multiple tight turns of the sheet. This practice is definitely not recommended if a hurricane is likely). * Remove the boom and lash it on deck. * Eliminate extra halyards. Attach the shackle end of each halyard to one line, then raise all halyards together to the top. This leaves you with just one line running down from the top of the mast and reduces windage. * Remove all loose gear from the deck. * If a dinghy is usually stored on deck or on davits, secure it ashore or place it in the water and fill it with water with the plug in, then secure it to the dock. Secure your boat * Make sure you have properly sized fenders for your boat. * Secure your boat with double lines on each cleat. Use long lines to allow for possible storm surge. * Use only three-strand nylon for dock lines. This provides the proper stretch and shock absorbing characteristics. * Add chafe guard to your lines at all rubbing points. (Cut up water hose or fire hose, if you can get some old ones from your local fire department, work well.) Miscellaneous tips * Clean strainers and ensure all your bilge pumps are properly functioning. * Ensure boat is completely closed up to protect from torrential driving rains. * Stay informed with the latest weather updates. * Prepare your boat as if you expect a direct hit each and every time, and be happy if it misses you. * Don't be a hero. If a direct hit is coming, leave your boat and tend to your own safety. S.H. and L.H.
Bill I read a great artical in SAILNET by larry and Sue hardy..Here it is Home / Authors / Sue & Larry Hurricane Dockside Preparation Reduce windage * Strip all the canvas off your boat. Dodger, bimini, sun awning, boom cover, etc. * Strip off sails and stow below. (If only a tropical storm is expected, you may get by with just wrapping your mainsail boom cover very tightly with line and securing your roller furling jib with multiple tight turns of the sheet. This practice is definitely not recommended if a hurricane is likely). * Remove the boom and lash it on deck. * Eliminate extra halyards. Attach the shackle end of each halyard to one line, then raise all halyards together to the top. This leaves you with just one line running down from the top of the mast and reduces windage. * Remove all loose gear from the deck. * If a dinghy is usually stored on deck or on davits, secure it ashore or place it in the water and fill it with water with the plug in, then secure it to the dock. Secure your boat * Make sure you have properly sized fenders for your boat. * Secure your boat with double lines on each cleat. Use long lines to allow for possible storm surge. * Use only three-strand nylon for dock lines. This provides the proper stretch and shock absorbing characteristics. * Add chafe guard to your lines at all rubbing points. (Cut up water hose or fire hose, if you can get some old ones from your local fire department, work well.) Miscellaneous tips * Clean strainers and ensure all your bilge pumps are properly functioning. * Ensure boat is completely closed up to protect from torrential driving rains. * Stay informed with the latest weather updates. * Prepare your boat as if you expect a direct hit each and every time, and be happy if it misses you. * Don't be a hero. If a direct hit is coming, leave your boat and tend to your own safety. S.H. and L.H.
Hurricanes
Just a note that it very common for boats to be skewered on pilings during a hurricane. The storm surge lifts the boats above the level of the pilings and the waves bounce it up and down on the piling until it holes the boat. The boat then sinks down the piling. Marina slips with low pilings are particularly dangerous. My slip has three pilings a side, all tall. I move the boat out to where I can run bow and stern lines to the outer and inner pilings and springs from the middle pilings to the bow and stern. Remember to leave them slack enough to keep from being pulled out of the boat as it rises on the storm surge. If the water goes out of the Chesapeake I'll be able to walk out to her as she only has about 6" of bottom clearance at low tide springs.
Just a note that it very common for boats to be skewered on pilings during a hurricane. The storm surge lifts the boats above the level of the pilings and the waves bounce it up and down on the piling until it holes the boat. The boat then sinks down the piling. Marina slips with low pilings are particularly dangerous. My slip has three pilings a side, all tall. I move the boat out to where I can run bow and stern lines to the outer and inner pilings and springs from the middle pilings to the bow and stern. Remember to leave them slack enough to keep from being pulled out of the boat as it rises on the storm surge. If the water goes out of the Chesapeake I'll be able to walk out to her as she only has about 6" of bottom clearance at low tide springs.
Do what you can, then go.
The preparation suggestions given below should be followed to help reduce property damage. Just remember that hurricanes are deadly. As Monty Python said: "Run away! Run away!". Do your best to prepare, then leave. Some pictures on link below on what a strong hurricane is capable of. MArk
The preparation suggestions given below should be followed to help reduce property damage. Just remember that hurricanes are deadly. As Monty Python said: "Run away! Run away!". Do your best to prepare, then leave. Some pictures on link below on what a strong hurricane is capable of. MArk
Mooring Compensators Work Good
With regard to shock loads on dock lines, "mooring compensators" work really good at reducing the shock load. See link: http://www.aquarama.com.au/mooringlines.html West Marine has them under the "Tempo" brand and they also have "mooring snubbers" which is another device to reduce shock loads. During a major event several years ago our marina took old tires and slipped them over the pilings to allow for lines to be attached. As far as I am concerned, for shock load protection on mooring lines this is the best solution I have ever seen. It is cheap and worked really well. Where cleats were yanked out by the "roots" the old tires saved the day. Mooring compensators will likely be in short supply but old tires are plentiful.
With regard to shock loads on dock lines, "mooring compensators" work really good at reducing the shock load. See link: http://www.aquarama.com.au/mooringlines.html West Marine has them under the "Tempo" brand and they also have "mooring snubbers" which is another device to reduce shock loads. During a major event several years ago our marina took old tires and slipped them over the pilings to allow for lines to be attached. As far as I am concerned, for shock load protection on mooring lines this is the best solution I have ever seen. It is cheap and worked really well. Where cleats were yanked out by the "roots" the old tires saved the day. Mooring compensators will likely be in short supply but old tires are plentiful.
insurance
A good insurance policy, strip her, tie her up, lots of fenders than run.... We've been doing this for a life time and so far it has worked well.
A good insurance policy, strip her, tie her up, lots of fenders than run.... We've been doing this for a life time and so far it has worked well.
Thanks folks!!!
Appreciate all the good suggestions. I'm the only "sail" in th bayou so everyone else just pulls their boat out of the water. Thanks again and let's hope all I have to do is watch the wx channel and say, missed another one!! Bill
Appreciate all the good suggestions. I'm the only "sail" in th bayou so everyone else just pulls their boat out of the water. Thanks again and let's hope all I have to do is watch the wx channel and say, missed another one!! Bill
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