Storm Warning!

[Gary Wyngarden]

Our marine forecast for the San Juan Islands tomorrow calls for an "arctic intrusion", northeasterly winds of 35-45 knots, 6-8 foot waves and snow showers in our "protected" waters. My slip opens to the north about 200 yards off the end of Crow Valley which runs in a northeast to southwest direction on Orcas Island.The good news is that there's very little fetch to allow any kind of waves to build up into my slip. The bad news is that northeasters always get funneled and accelerated through Crow Valley and out onto the water. This means a fairly high probability of winds in excess of 50 knots through my slip tomorrow.We turned Wanderlust around today so she's bow into what's coming. We removed the dodger and stern rail clutter like the grill, the Lifesling, and the stern line reel to reduce windage, and put everything below decks that we even thought might blow away. We left the sails on though they are well secured, and secured the aft end of the boom with a pair of preventers. The dock lines are doubled and all the fenders are deployed.Just kind of wondering what other folks do in preparation for a storm? Any thoughts?Gary WyngardenS/V Wanderlust h37.5

 

[John Nantz]

Good Move!

Gary, you done good! The paper this morning said this one will have the coldest temperatures in the past decade so I put on a couple small heaters - those 40W or 60W (whatever) round ones with the holes in the top so this should help protect things from freezing unless the power goes off - which it might.For the docklines I've got snubbers on the ones that go north so this should help with the surge. We took the sails off last fall (main and jib) so the rigging is clean. Still have the dodger off so that's not a problem either.

 

[Gary Wyngarden]

Thanks, John

I usually keep two heaters going on low so that's all set. Now if only the AC power stays on. Our marina has a habit of losing shore power when the docks get roughed up in a storm. I may have to run the diesel heater for awhile to keep things from freezing if it gets as cold as predicted.Gary WyngardenS/V Wanderlust h37.5

 

[Stu Jackson]

I thought John's title in his response

would mean something else.I thought he'd say -- Move the BOAT If, only if, you had the time, it would be an idea to consider. When you're cruising, as you've done, you usually choose an anchorage that is protected.A guest berth in another marina that is protected would be an option.All the best, looks like it's headed our way, too, and this is the one weekend when our kid's supposed to be gone and we were planning to go anchor out somewhere for two days. Dagnabbit!Stu

 

[Lyle]

Snubbers do help

I moor my Hunter 35.5 on an end tie just North of you in Ladner, BC. We have had our share of storms this winter including at least 3 occasions with 40+ kt winds. We don't have much fetch but it still gets pretty choppy with that much wind. I have rubber snubbers on the bow, stern, and spring lines and find it helps take the shock loads off the dock cleats and the boat seems to ride better.

 

[higgs]

Interesting

Here on L Mich we will get sustained winds in 35 - 40 range - sometimes more, once or twice a season. When T storms blow through winds can gust up to and sometimes over 60 knts. those T storms can come up quick so our boats have always be ready for that. I keep my dodger up all the time, and use 5/8 line on my 34.

 

[John Nantz]

News Forecasts Not Good

This mornings papers said this coming storm will be the coldest in over a decade and the evening news on TV said the winds could get up in the 65+ range and have the potential of getting even worse.Remember several years ago when a nor'easter came through and blew many of the trees down on the north side of Anacortes? And wiped out several marinas like Port Hadlock, Keyport, and Seabeck? It may not get that bad again but who knows?My wife just covered her rhodie tonight to hopefully keep the blooms from freezing.And .. I just sold my generator!!

 

[Fred Ficarra]

John, I've got two of 'em.

25KW! total. Plus a third 2.5kw in the camper. I'd offer you one but the neighbor has dibs. But you can come stay with us if things go to hell. Sure glad Brownsville has that new breakwater.

 

[Tsehum Pete]

Tsehum Harbour Winter

Normally the Victoria BC area gets two snow storms each winter. This year none. But at least 4 very big wind storms. Tula is in North Saanich Marina in Tsehum Harbour behind the breakwater. Apparently, waves were breaking over the breakwater at high tide and a couple of boats that were anchored out in the harbour went on the shore. Tula normally faces to the SE from where major winter wind storms normally come. Here in Calgary, after a very mild winter it is a tropical -27 C this morning with -39 C windchill.

 

[jprieto]

Storm warning

Gary: You mentioned removing a bunch of stuff "to reduce windage" but you are leaving sails on. They are a significant source of wind resistance. If you are worried enough about windage to remove other stuff, you should consider taking down your sails. 60 knot and up winds can exert quite an additional force on the boat via sails left furled on the boat. Lots of sailors pay no attention to this fact, as can be seen by the number of furled sails left on boats in pictures of East Coast hurricane-bitten marinas.

 

[Paul Akers]

Like we do for hurricanes

That is how we prepare for hurricanes here in the Northeast. Double lines, extra fenders, remove windage. Take a couple more turns on the roller furler and leave no slack on the sheets (or remove the jib, entirely). Wrap the mainsail with line to prevent "flutter" by the sailcover or loose ends. Finally, keep an "eye" on the boat during the event. Good Luck!

 

[Liam]

put on long pants

Here in Santa Cruz we prepare for storms by putting on long pants and reducing the amount of sunscreen that we use.It was really super cold yesterday, it barely hit 60 degrees.Brrrr.

 

[Franklin]

timespan

Yes, I'd take down the sails. We had several ripped head sails here from Rita but I think our marina only got about 60-75 knots for an hour. Your storm may last longer. Now if your head sail is old and you want to make an insurance clam, then go ahead and live it up.

 

[tom h]

Lake Erie fetch

If we get em from the North, it is a straight shot to my dock coming 50 miles from Canada. From the Nor'east, it's a fetch of 150 or more from Buffalo. In either case, the basin, which holds two marinas, can have white-caps and a raisein water level of up to 2 feet. Think what that does for your lines. My boat, a 37' sailboat, got beat to a pulp for two reasons. One was the larinas fault, which they refused to correct. The other was a learning curve on my part. I replaced my starboard 3/4" nylon dock lines with 1/4" coated stainless cable. My reasoning was that side held the boat from hitting the wall (I was the first dock). When the water rises, the boat moves further towards the wall with the push more constant towards that side, as opposed to the boat flopping from side to side. I know there is no give, which EVERYONE told me wouldn't work and would surely destroy my boat, ripping the cleats out and such, but after a blow of 50MPH she just bobbed nicely and I slept comfortably. There was no jerking, as I thought it out, because....the boat itself moves. If the top grabs, and there is no stretch to the lines, soething has to give. It does. The keel moves side to side. Get it? If you use nylon lines, the boat moves and the lines give, but the point is, the WHOLE boat moves. My way, the top stays put and the whiplash causes the bottom of the boat to move. Same result, sort of. With the nylon lines, they wore though in 50mph or higher sustained winds. Heck, they wore though anyway after time in any winds. The steel doesn't and contrary to the doomsayers, it doesn't saw your boat in half. No damage to the hawspipe or rubrail on the aft end with the steel. Next was to make a shorty stainless cable that ran about 2 feet past the hawsepipe. I connected a nylon line from there on out so that I have the stainless where it used to wear through, and nylon to absorb the blows. This has worked like a charm for me as last year I didn't have to replace one line. Any questions? tho52mas@netscape.net

 

[John Nantz]

Rebuttals and Weather Update

This mornings NBC weather forecast didn't mention anything about wind - just temperature - so a check with NOAA shows gale warnings to 40 knots forecast for the San Juans. http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/sew/ then click on the San Juans for the local marine forecast. This 40KS wind is a tad lower than what the media was saying yesterday so things may be looking up.A interesting Seattle NOAA link at http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/sew/ requesting feedback on their weather radio - in February??? Don't know that a lot of mariners are using their radio this time of year here!Sails: it seems the furling jib is the worst offender because they like to find some way to UN-furl and then things can get ugly.Fred: re Generators - 25KW??? Wow! What are you running with these things? That isn't for running your greenhouse grow-lights is it? Sometimes these growers try to avoid recognition by finding alternate means to keep the authorities from detecting them. Somewhere I read that boaters are the most likely to raise this cash crop in order to support their expensive pastime which has been made more lucrative due to border tunnel closings. 25KW - that's a lot of that green stuff!and Steve (Santa Cruz): Trying to rub it in, eh? Well, just so everybody else knows the REAL truth about the weather, as I remember the SUMMER temperature stays around 60 degrees too - unless the fog lifts! And besides, the only thing all that sun does is cause wrinkles.Steve in Boothbay: Whooooa! That is sommmmething!

 

[patrick]

I am still looking at property

in Texas. Ebay has some listings for real cheap but I would guess that it is in the middle of NOWHERE!Weather reports I heard were winds to 30 knots with higher gusts. That last wind storm with 40 knot gusts of wind from the east actually put a permanent bend in my dock. In 63 feet of dock, it is deflected about 2 feet in the middle. It was worse when the wind was blowing. I am not sure if the dock can be straightened or if I should worry about it.

 

[Seattle Scott]

Hey Puget Sound Heater Dudes

The first winter I left a small space heater on. Got the first elect bill of $90 for a month. Unplugged it and drained the water tanks and left all the taps open. I have wet cell batts, but what am I missing on risk of freezing?

 

[JC on Bainbridge]

Around here in the Northwest......

We normally don't get a very long and severe freeze anyway. Once in a blue moon, we get a bad one. I think I remember a long while back, maybe 15 years ago, we got a week or so of below freezing temp.When I turn on a heater in the boat, I put a timer on it. One hour on, and 2-3 hours off. If it gets really cold, I add a 2nd heater, one towards the bow, one towards the stern, and they alternate on and off. I don't think they really need 24 hour on time. I usually always open the lockers, engine compartment covers, etc, so the warm air will circulate.When I don't need to have the heaters on, I just use 2 of those big round air circulators thingies. You know, big and round, made of metal, with a bunch of holes on top, and you plug it in, and you can barely hear it or feel it. They do work though.As for other than water/holding tanks, how about the liquid in your head or waste hoses? I read somewhere that the water around your boat is going to keep the water in your boat from freezing. I am not sure if that is correct or not.

 

[John Nantz]

Save Electricity w/ Line Voltage Thermostat

Scott - this low might be able to cause a problem. They're saying 20ºF or perhaps a tad lower overnight and that *could* cause a problem somewhere.Head area as JC mentioned and perhaps the engine compartment since it's fairly closed off could be another. Since the sea water temperature is around 45ºF the hull portion in the water will pick up some heat to offset the cold air - whether this is enough to keep things warm in the cabin or engine room is a guess. Adding a heat source during this cold snap I think is good insurance and shouldn't cost that much. If a month ran $80 then a few days could be probably around $10 to $20 or so?Something one could do to save electricity is to put a line voltage electric heat thermostat between the heater and the shorepower side. I had one by Honeywell that's several years old with a low temperature of 40º so that during most of the day it would be off. A couple days ago I was on board and the temp was 58º but, granted, it was during the day and it was warmer then than what's coming our way, but with the thermostat the heater would have been off.Hopefully this will be the last really cold one for the season! On the other hand maybe we should enjoy it - NOAA says this summer will be warmer than average for the Northwest.