Plans for hurricane season 2023?

[LydieBP]

Hi all,
About 7 months ago a major hurricane doddled towards Florida . It barrelled through Ft Myers area, traversed the state and up the Eastern seaboard

To those who with sailboats over 35 ft, who feel their sailboat is vulnerable, what is your plan this season? What is your SOP for preparing your boat ?
To those in the Ft Myers area in particular, what are your thoughts ?

I'm in that situation myself and feel like this is a good time to start a conversation with fellow sailors.

Cordially ,
Lydie

 

[Jacktar]

Not correct, Ft Myers was always in the cone, locals simply did not execute pre storm tasks to reduce damage and lives lost. Documented not opinion.

 

[LydieBP]

Okay, no worries.
This is a conversation among local concerned sailors regarding hurricane plans for this 2023 season.

Are you going to ride it out at the dock ? are you hauling out? Are you moving to a hurricane hole ? Are you counting on the marina?

Again, what is your SOP for preparing your mid to large size sailboat?

To those in the Ft Myers area in particular, what are your thoughts?

Cordially ,
Lydie

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

1. Review to confirm insurance is current.
2. head down to the dock to joke with everyone else over a cocktail about the futility of prep.
Hint - good drinking game is to bet on the number of catastrophic phrases in 5 minutes the TV weather folks use describing what might happen.
Another common activity is to see which boater pulls out their heaviest, thickest (cruise ship sized) hawser guaranteed to pull the cleats out of every dock or deck. We had 2 people tie for winner last year.

 

[LydieBP]

Great tip to review Yacht insurance.

 

[JamesG161]

More to come soon on this forum about 2023 season.

Weather and Forecasting

The National Hurricane Center will publicly release their forecast on May 25th, 2023

Jim...

 

[Rick Webb]

The National Hurricane Center will publicly release their forecast on May 25th, 2023

Does it matter what they predict?

It only takes one storm.

If it lands on you it's a bad year.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

Does it matter what they predict?

It only takes one storm.

If it lands on you it's a bad year.

The Farmers Almanac is what NOAA and the NWS uses

 

[JamesG161]

Put Simple forecasting is in the NHC's charter.

We do our best for the Forecasting part at

Weather and Forecasting

We have many behind the scenes information on both.

Phil asked me to do this and I replied only if @jssailem was my comic sidekick.

Jim...

 

[capta]

If I'm going to be in an area for hurricane season, I will often take my dinghy out at several tides to check out where I plan to put the boat in a cat 2 storm, or above. I prefer to be off the dock, as many docks take their boats with them to calamity, as they break up or go over their pilings.
My favorite place to put my boats is bow into the mangroves with at least 3 anchors out astern. The last thing I want my boat to do is creep into the mangroves as the water rises. This may leave one broadside to the wind and possibly put the spreaders in the water, but that beats beating herself to death at a dock.
Always remove all sails and covers, and if it a cat 4 or above, I suggest laying your boom (s) in the scuppers to reduce wind resistance. Chafe is the reason most boats are lost in storms. I use carpet remnants to wrap my lines at the chocks and any other place they might chafe, and at least 3 spare snub lines if anchored.
I've stayed aboard every boat I've owned (but 2) and operated, and even been hired to move other boats, if necessary. I'm 50/50 on those 2, but 100% on all others.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

in the meantime I am in fact patiently waiting for Florida home port sailors thoughts.on the topic of my original post .

joking aside, I assume you know insurance underwriters for boats in Florida and probably elsewhere require a hurricane plan. If your intent here is to elicit ideas, there are numerous sample plans you can search.

 

[Roland5048]

To those who with sailboats over 35 ft, who feel their sailboat is vulnerable, what is your plan this season?

Well, my boat is only 30 ft. but my response might be the same as it always was. Strip the boat and tie up securely with additional lines. If we take a direct hit here, I'll be more worried about my house getting destroyed but I will be long gone outta here before that. I'll pick up the pieces, whatever is left, when I can and carry on.

 

[LydieBP]

If I'm going to be in an area for hurricane season, I will often take my dinghy out at several tides to check out where I plan to put the boat in a cat 2 storm, or above. I prefer to be off the dock, as many docks take their boats with them to calamity, as they break up or go over their pilings.
My favorite place to put my boats is bow into the mangroves with at least 3 anchors out astern. The last thing I want my boat to do is creep into the mangroves as the water rises. This may leave one broadside to the wind and possibly put the spreaders in the water, but that beats beating herself to death at a dock.
Always remove all sails and covers, and if it a cat 4 or above, I suggest laying your boom (s) in the scuppers to reduce wind resistance. Chafe is the reason most boats are lost in storms. I use carpet remnants to wrap my lines at the chocks and any other place they might chafe, and at least 3 spare snub lines if anchored.
I've stayed aboard every boat I've owned (but 2) and operated, and even been hired to move other boats, if necessary. I'm 50/50 on those 2, but 100% on all others.

Thanks for sharing , very useful info . i never thought of using carpet remnants.

 

[LydieBP]

joking aside, I assume you know insurance underwriters for boats in Florida and probably elsewhere require a hurricane plan. If your intent here is to elicit ideas, there are numerous sample plans you can search.

Yes , I know about those samples, thanks for pointing them out . Model plans like model house plans always a good place to start.

Personally, I find it useful to hear what people have been doing that worked for them, what they usually do, or just to say, they're not going to do anything and just let it roll.

It's all food for thought .

 

[LydieBP]

Well, my boat is only 30 ft. but my response might be the same as it always was. Strip the boat and tie up securely with additional lines. If we take a direct hit here, I'll be more worried about my house getting destroyed but I will be long gone outta here before that. I'll pick up the pieces, whatever is left, when I can and carry on.

Good plan and of course, People and pets first. I'm located in an evacuation zone A , with sailboat at my dock so I too will be away.

 

[Rick Webb]

I'd respectfully submit if it's the last week of May and you do not have a fully articulated plan.

You are grievously behind the power curve.

 

[JamesG161]

You are grievously behind the power curve.

Plus this is the list from SBO members and more

BOAT PREPARATION IDEAS for Storms

Also this list.
Hurricane Safety Tips and Resources

Jim...

 

[LydieBP]

So nobody is moving their boat out of the area of hurricane risk ? So nobody is hauling their sailboat out onto dry land or to a hurricane proof facility ?
But that's just what the sample plans found online suggest first and foremost. So hearing from the perspective of the real life sailing yacht owners experience is helpful.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

So nobody is moving their boat out of the area of hurricane risk ? So nobody is hauling their sailboat out onto dry land or to a hurricane proof facility ?
But that's just what the sample plans found online suggest first and foremost. So hearing from the perspective of the real life sailing yacht owners experience is helpful.

Don’t jump to conclusions based simply on a lack of responses. Many people down here dont focus on this until June or July and take precautions beginning then if not later.

We usually wait to move south out of the hurricane area in June/July but did so last month more for convenience than risk avoidance sake.

 

[LydieBP]

Okay. Thanks