Hurricane preparations

[Chris Patterson]

We spent a good deal of our time, and sometimes even using our own lines to secure absentee owners boats. I'm not saying this because I'm trying to sound like a nice guy, I promise you I'm not.
I don't know, it just seems to be the right thing to do. They probably would have done it for us had we been gone. What comes around, goes around I guess.
And yes, we even secured the pontoon boat. Don't even know the guy, but there could be a million reasons why he didn't come check his boat. While it certainly is not "our kind" of boat, it possibly may be the pride and joy of some ol' timer..

 

[Sailm8]

Securing an unsecured or poorly secured boat is self preservation. ALL of the boats sunk by hurricanes in our area were the result of poorly secured boats breaking loose.

 

[Scott T-Bird]

I put in more preparation this year ...

I didn't have any problems last year and little water leakage with Irene but this storm sounds like it might be even more intense inland than Irene was last year.

I sealed all windows and hatches and decided to wrap the mainsail cover rather than removing the sail. Since it is the end of the season, almost everybody pulled their boats out, leaving me with my choice of slip locations. I like the one on the other side of the finger pier better for security and the ability to center the boat in the slip with a lot of room around her. Last year, when the prevailing wind was pushing her too close to the finger pier for comfort, I used my winch to pull her away and recenter. I figured I would put the line in place ahead of time this year just in case. It's left loose because I don't want it under tension unless absolutely necessary or as a back-up.

I wouldn't normally be concerned being as far inland as we are and as protected by hilly terrain as we are, but from the sounds of it, the winds could reach levels not ever seen in our area from a coastal storm. I thought about taking her over to the marina for winter storage, but I couldn't be assured that they would get her out, and their slips are too narrow and exposed for my liking, and the exposure where they put me on stands also leaves me thinking I'm better off in the water in our protected cove. We don't have waves or surge, but with 8 to 12 inches of rain expected, the water will be over the pier as it was last year.

 

[Merlin Clark]

Good luck Scott and all.

 

[bffatcat]

Your on the hard on a cradle you say Remove all canvas, move your ladder away from the boat Hope for the best