Big Storm preparations

[windjammer56]

Interested to see some ideas on preparations that can be done in case of severe tropical storm or hurricane while boat is tied up in a boat slip. thanks, Mark

[timgoz]

Windjammer56

Check out www.yachtsurvey.com . They have a section on tropical storms/ hurricanes. I'd suggest (hopefully time permits) reading some good general seamanship texts and finding some books heavier on safety aspects such as storm preperation.

I would definetly do a thorough evaluation of the marina you are at. Find out it's history in previous storms and any improvements made. Get as many "expert" opinions as possible and then formulate an educated plan of attack. It may involve moving yor boat to a different location.

TGoz

[windjammer56]

Thanks for the link, will check it out. Looks like T.D. Chris is gonna fizzle. But it made me think what can I do to protect my Trimaran if one does come. My boat is in Port Isabel, South Texas or, as some might say, Northern Mexico.

[timgoz]

If you own the boat long enough it will inevitably go through, "or not" a hurricane. This is one area where it is crucial to the survival of your boat that you aquire substantial knowledge and proper tackle in advance.

Most people do not use enough lines, deploy them incorrectly, use to small of a diameter, and improperly use or under use chaffing gear. Stout connection points onboard and on the dock are critical.

As to the slip. Check how high of a storm surge the dock can handle before it floats atop the pilings and comes adrift.

Sometimes a tight canal with adequate protection can prove a godsend as can other simular places. Watch out for upwind craft seeking shelter as they may drag down on you. Investigating potential Hurricane Holes would give a sense of purpose to a seasons waterborne pursuits.

As to storm anchors, might makes right. Large, long anchor lines are in order with, preferably a substantial lenght of chain. Remember, the wind will shift as the storm passes. secure the boat accordingly.

Stripping everything possible & prudent from the deck is SOP. Double check pumps, hatches, ports, scuppers, cockpit drains, hatchways, ect...

Going through all the possible senerios mentally will help you tremendously when it comes time to impliment them physically. You are already one important step ahead.

There may be special considerations for a trimaran. Truthfully I've not spent much time researching them as I am a traditional full keel, heavy displacement guy.

TGoz

[ted655]

We choose to leave our boat in the marina during "Rita". Here is first hand observations;
Pull the boat or move the boat! Above ALL else, isolate your boat ! Where there is sand, some owners will dig a hole and sit their boat in it.
It was a MESS at our marina. Cleats ripped out, other boats CLIMBED on top of others and sank them, loose boats ramed & holed other boats, boards & timbers became missles, the storm surge lifted boats up higher than their rode lengths, boats were marooned on top of roofs, other boats, fuel tanks, docks and tree forks.
Strangely, the smaller boats left on trailers came out of it wuth little damage. Most had bouyancy to float their trailer and then set right back down. They were only damaged by boats left in the water and broke free. Masts left up acted like spears, causing UNIMAGINABLE mischef.
My one thing I will tell you is.... get off by yourself as far from others as possible. The center of a river or bay is your only hope. Anchors that are set deep(2 set accordingly to the expected wind change. A tough storm stasail rigged aft, pleanty of rode tied to a bow eye that is backed inside with a hufe plate. the other line on a bow cleat, rigged equaly stout. I will tell you, if your eye bolt AND cleat can't pull your car (with the brakes set) then you are NOT ready.
We were behind a sea wall, HAH!!, it wasn't the wind that got us. Stay away from other boats or you are just kidding youeself and wasting your time. Good luck.

[marshmat]

Biggest thing: Get the hell away from any vessel that is not fully prepared for the storm. Usually that means getting out of the marina into someplace safe and sheltered. The rest is a matter of locking everything down and deploying the best and biggest tackle you can get your paws on, in the appropriate manner.

[ted655]

You are so right. The dirty little secret is "insurance". Not that you have it BUT "because" the others around you have it. As a result, many of the boats were simply ignored.
"Get the hell away from any vessel that is not fully prepared for the storm. " Never were words so true. Some just figured, "let the insurance pay her off".
From our viewpoint, marinas are fair weather ports.

[safewalrus]

Totally agree, no matter how you prepare if the other guy can't give two hoots he'll ram you sure as eggs!

An old skipper of mine (their all bloody old now God Bless 'em) used the simple couplet

"if in danger or in doubt
up your rev's and f*** off out"

Basically along the lines of getting searoom, but it also included leaving the company of others - normally tis' nice having other boats and people around but in heavy weather 'tis better to be well clear of em in a well found vessel! Crude I agree, but well worth thinking about

[ron17571]

Ive heard of people running there boat hard ashore or on the beach and filling it up with water to a point to hold it down.This is from a catamaran sailers view.

[ted655]

Hadn't thought of that. It makes sence in a worse case situation. What appeals to me is the idea that you eliminate a few steps in salvage, & a lot of money. Finding, diving, rigging, lifting, floating, hauling. Just drain and fix, I love it!

[longliner45]

we used to take our fishingboats up to the yellow river in joes bayou in destin fla ,I was going to put my boat in chesepeke bay ,that way I could go up the sasquahanna during a good storm, and always tie up ,, real good both stern and bow....we would tie to big trees

[ted655]

Our boat had eight 1"ropes (varied, poly & nylon) tied. 4 bow,4 stern. None broke. Everything they were tied to broke. We were UP the river. About 5mi. from the Gulf.
We could have (should have) gone farther. Hindsight.... Oh well, next time.

[Crag Cay]

Act early. There will probably be good secure places upstream, but you need to search them out now and be ready to move to get there before the others. Your shallow draft will help. If necessary have the rig droppped so you can get upstream of bridges.

As the hurricane approaches, there will be loads of macho blokes telling you how many hurricanes they have been through and how its 'no big deal'. They will tell you the most important thing is to have plenty of beer and ice at the house...etc,....etc. By hurricane, they mean being side swiped by a tropical storm and getting a bit wet in 40 knots of breeze. If you are wondering what a hurricane is really like, get a mate to drive his pickup across a ploughed field at 100mph whilst you stand up on the roof of the cab and try to do something fiddly. Then imagine it twice as bad and you have fairly bad storm.

As has been said, it's the storm surge that transforms your chances of surviving. Try to imagine everywhere with an extra 6 to 10 foot of water around at high tide. Places that looked sheltered will suddenly be wide open. If you are going up a muddy creak for shelter you may have to mark the edges of the mud banks with long thin poles (withies) so you can keep your bearing when everywhere tops out and it becomes one expansive sheet of water.

Its not only other boats who are a danger to you, but all the debris in the water, especially as the water retreats after the storm. Try to aviod being in a main channel.

If you are not a live aboard (and even then it's questionable) don't stay on board if it's a big one. Get out and go inland. There is very little you can do on board once it kicks off. If you do seek shelter ashore, make sure it is proper shelter and high enough to escape the surge. Be very wary of corregated tin sheets. They fly around like tissues and seeing the effects on a man will stay with you for ever.

Finally, never let a 80 foot chinese fishing junk raft up alongside your 40 footer at the hight of a Cat 5, even if they have lost all their anchors. You will both go on the beach. Actually if you know how to stop a 80 foot chinese fishing junk rafting up alongside, could you email me, as I failed miserably.