Whatdo my fellow boaters prepare for Hurricane or major storm

[Capt Robbie]

I am curious as to what other boaters do to prepare for a hurricanes and bad storms
When you are in the water or on the hard.
I have my own prep check list for each Scenario that must do.

My hope here is to maybe learn something from my fellow boaters in the ways that you all try to combat Mother Natures furry. Now I know that nothing is fool prof, I don't want anyone to take anything anyone post as here as preparation law.
The goal here is to stay safe and do the best to protect our boats, that all.

 

[Benny17441]

#1 Make sure that insurance is current.

 

[jviss]

#1 Make sure that insurance is current.

Exactly.

 

[Capt Robbie]

Here In the north east I have tied pieces of carpet between old car tires to both sides the hull as fenders. The tires are placed the full length of the boat with out any gaps between the tires. Then placed one tire tube fully inflated under an old truck tire, then place both over the top of the piling as a heavy duty fender. Also added more dock lines and adjusted them for storm surge along with removed all sails and anything to reduce effects of wind.

We also hooked up 2 additional temporary bilge pumps to two separate batteries and suspended the batteries high from the ceiling in case of a hull breach. My thoughts are if the main battery shorts out I have 2 back up pumps. Note I used smooth hose instead of currugated hose, this increases flow rate.

Weathered quite a few storms this way and so far have been quite lucky, just had to remove a few black marks from hull.

 

[Capt Robbie]

On the hard
Here are a few things I do

1) If possible face the boat into the projected wind direction as opposed to broadside.
2) Placed plywood under jack stands to distribute waight better.
3) Empty water tanks.
4) Chain jack stands, if possible add more stands that is needed to combat winds.
5) Drive large tent stakes into the ground and use trailer straps to cleats and ratchet boat tightly.
6) Try to clear and yard debris such as 2x4 boards away from boat they can become projectiles at 100 mph.
7) Remove sails, Bimini, and flags.
8) If possible drive your anchors into the ground on both side of the boat attach them with two lines to both forward and aft cleats in a v pattern.
9) Take lots of videos and photos to document.


In the water

1) double up lines and chafing gear.
2) fenders old tires
3) close thru hulls
4) if possible add additional lines to adjacent pilings
5) if possible add another temporary bilge pump
6) remove any electronics , sails, and gear you can
7) set an anchor/ anchors
8) tape a sign inside cabin/ to hull with you contact info should the boat break free.
9) photos/ videos to document
10) try to tie up somewhere that gives you the most protection from the wind and elements, take note of wind direction.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

One of the best piece of advice, always respect the advice of the locals vs. the weekend warriors.. A lot of truth to that. A good example was anchoring boats in the Pamlico with 100% success in hurricanes. Never lost a boat. Attention to the anchors style and wieght, chain, chafe gear, size of line, which direction to throw, back up and so on.

 

[Maine Sail]

#1 Make sure that insurance is current.

Bingo!

Cat 1, 2 & 3 - Do your best
Cat 4 & 5 - Make sure insurance is paid, and in-effect, then put your head between your legs and pray..

Even the hurricane hole on Tortola, Paraquita Bay, was destroyed by Irma and this is perhaps one of the best hurricane designed systems to protect the large charter fleet. I have been into Pariquita and can't think of a better hole in the Caribbean. They use 8' long Helix moorings and the system had been quite well engineered. It has worked well in smaller hurricanes but Irma (Cat 5) made a mockery of it..

After Irma