A question I have is regarding the cover and added wind resistance. I put my boat in stands and not in a cradle. A cradle might be more stable, at least insurance companies think so. But I get concerned being on stands and if there is a major wind storm, how much more does that add to the likelihood of the boat getting knocked down off the stands.i don't have the water concerns with my specific boat - even if the cockpit were to fill with water, I still would not get water inside my boat. My boat has a bridge deck. My side decks, while I do have a notable toe rail, the water would just pour over the top of it and also not invade my interior.
But it would be a major disaster if the boat fell over off the stands due to the wind.
Any thoughts on the added windage?
dj
Funny you should mention that. Exactly 14 years ago today I took this photo of my boat. Insurance covered the repair cost with no deductible and no one would tell me what the root cause of the accident was beyond the wind blew it over.
I believe the root cause of the accident was the marina's poor blocking and the jack stand design. On February 19, 2011 a strong cold front passed over Lake Ontario with winds in the 40-50 kt range. My boat was the first in a line of boats stored near the large barn on the left. The wind came at about a 45° angle to the west side of the barn. As it gusted and shifted it caused my boat to begin rocking on its keel, fore and aft. Eventually this rocking caused one or more jack stands to dance away from the boat. At some point the boat was so unbalanced it fell over.
The boat was inadequately blocked. This was the first year the yard used jack stands (made by
Hostar, an important factor), so they had little experience with jack stands. I do not know how much training they had on their proper use. There are 2 critical factors when blocking a boat, the keel must be supported in 2 places and the chain between the jack stand connected high on the jack stand.
Brownell stands are designed this way, Hostar stands are not. When the wind started gusting the boat began rocking on the single block. This caused the stands to start moving eventually at least one stand moved into a position that was not stabilizing the boat and down she went. The Brownel method of changing the stands together helps to mitigate stand movement, the Hostar stands do not. Those are the critical issues that set the stage for the accident.
Contributing factors were the boat's placement first in line next to the barn. Winds buffeting off the barn would be accentuate any rocking and boat movement. The cover provided increased windage, which didn't help things out. There may have been some ice beneath the stands which made it easier for the stands to slide out.
This cover had been used for about 6 or 7 years when the boat was on a cradle in roughly the same position and in the same weather conditions with no issue. Had the boat been blocked properly, the accident may not have happened. Had the boat not be first in line, it may not have happened, had the boat been uncovered, it may not have happened.
