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almost lost the boat in storm

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SEAN
Admiral

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USA
772 Posts

Initially Posted - 09/04/2006 : 19:50:19

My mooring lines broke this past weekend.
they broke at the line chauks .
there were 9 boats that broke free during
remnants of a hurricane that hit CT.
there where winds up to 50 i think.

what saved the boat was a safty line I bought that
day . I tied it the the bow eye then mooring.
and even that was starting to chafe at the bow eye.

I am going to make a safty line with a metal eye
at both ends ,so I could shackel both ends.
and Im thinking not going to use the line chauks anymore ,
I guess.

Just thought I would share the story,
it is the season.

Edited by - on

Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 09/04/2006 : 20:44:24

Sean, I'm thinking the boat will hunt a bit more even on a mooring if it is secured by only the bow eye. A bridle to each bow cleat tends to retard the hunting. Be sure you and your neighbor moorings can't hunt into each other.

As to wearing through the mooring lines... they must have chaff protection to weather a hurricane. The winds are too high and too long of a period without.

Good going on adding the safety line. For greater peace, next time prepare it with good thimbled eye splices and use quality shackles to make it to the mooring and bow eye.

Edited by - on

At Ease
Admiral

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672 Posts

Response Posted - 09/05/2006 : 11:54:13

Re chaff protection...I've been using pieces of old hose for years. Don't last forever, but do the job.

Edited by - on

aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 09/05/2006 : 17:46:00

Sorry to read about your near accident. I've been using a bridal mooring made of 5/8" three-stand anchor line for about 6 years now. As others have said, the bridal retards sailing around the mooring. I have experienced very little chafe on my lines however. In fact, I am finding that I will have to replace my mooring chain (between anchor and ball) before the mooring line. I will replace the whole system next year however because the 5/8" line is becoming stiff and difficult to use. Incidentally, my mooring has withstood winds to 50 mph and 3 foot waves. I have 50 feet of chain in twenty feet of water and a 20' mooring line.

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SEAN
Admiral

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USA
772 Posts

Response Posted - 09/06/2006 : 21:21:45

my lines were big they barely fit in the chauks.
so I couldent use chafe gear.
they were stiff too . I asked the guy that does the moorings if they were good he siad one more year repace them.

useing a bridle that means you have only one line
going to the mooring ?
run a line from cleat to cleat ,then a single line to the mooring ?

I am in around 20 ` of water too I have 40` of chain 12` lines.
the boats are pretty tight together .
I have a trailer Ill probably just pull the boat next time .
Or you can pay to spend the night at the town dock.
they probably wont let you stay during a storm.
this past stom was tuff because there was no protection
from the wind it was straight up river.

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 09/06/2006 : 22:02:47

Hi Sean... From what I've seen of the C-250 (I was a C-25 owner), I wouldn't use the chocks for mooring lines. I'd make a bridle from the mooring to the two bow cleats, which should minimize if not eliminate chafing there. Just make sure the connection of the bridle to the mooring or mooring line is chafe-proof. Your "safety line" is a good idea, however. Use twisted (not braided) lines for all of these--it gives you more shock absorbtion.

A dock is generally not a safer place for a boat in 50+ winds unless it's very well protected--the boat is usually safer when it can move freely and stay head-to-wind. A trailer is good for sub-tropical winds, but not necessarily in a hurricane--a well-maintained mooring can be better. Hopefully, we in CT won't have to deal with hurricane winds any time soon, but you never know...

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 09/06/2006 22:04:42

Andiamo
Deckhand

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USA
17 Posts

Response Posted - 09/07/2006 : 00:09:38

Hi Sean - Just wondering where you are in CT.

I have my 250 in the CT river outside of North Cove in Old Saybrook. When the wind comes from the East or Northeast, it can get pretty rough in the river. All but 3 of the 13 boats moored in the river hooked up to empty moorings inside the cove where it is well protected I moved my boat inside the cove.

The storm was interesting because the forecast escalated quickly. I called the harbormaster for advice on Friday afternoon and left work early to move the boat. Most of the other boat owners at work thought I was over reacting.

The 3 boats in the river and the 100 or so in the cove came through with out damage and did not break loose. One dingy swamped, several trees fell and there were many wet cushions.

Glad you came through it ok.

Edited by - on

aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 09/08/2006 : 08:35:42

I should clarify that my boat is a C25 which does not have chocks. I use the two bow cleats to attach the mooring bridal.

The bridal is one I fabricated by splicing a short length of 5/8" line with loop to a 5/8" dock line. To minimize chafe I have added pipe insulation where the bridal makes contact with the hull.

Edited by - on

SEAN
Admiral

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USA
772 Posts

Response Posted - 09/08/2006 : 09:57:27

I used a 3/4 twisted line for a safty ,
I had a new one with meatal eyes on both sides
spliced in .
that was as big as the marina had.
my new mooring lines are a hair smaller than my old ones . the old ones I barely got through the cleat .
So I will beaf those up.
I would think 2 lines and a safty is
better than 1 line and a safty.
but I am still learning , it is only my
second season with the boat.

I just hope the chain holds up .
we had it inspected last month he said
it looked good .
the whole thing was new 2 years ago .
Im figureing Ill need a chain next year.

we did have a little damage my batteries
are not screwed down so they slid forward
and broke them litte tabs on the acsess door,
easy fix.
I still cant beleive 9 boats broke free,
and many sails shreded by furrlers comeing undone.
IT felt weird sailing the next day
we drove by all the boats on shore.

people that lived in land a little ,
didnt think the storm was that bad ,
it was all on the coast.

and I dont think it was rated as a tropical storm.
scary to think what a "real" storm would
bring.

hey Andaimo I am in westport,
Have you ever been to Shelter Island ?
it looks nice around there lots of coves to anchor.
we went to port Jeff for 2 nights that
was fun, big sand dunes

Edited by - on

aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 09/08/2006 : 19:20:32

I was fishing near my neighbors 40 ft Beneteau a few years ago when a squall hit us.I watched my neighbors furling headsail unfurl and tear from head to foot. When I put a furler on my boat last year I decided that to avoid that happening to me I would secure the sail with a velcro strap. It's worked in some pretty hihng winds thus far, though nothing like the squall experience, or your storm experience.

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 09/08/2006 : 21:07:08

Three things are important for preventing problems with furled sails:

1. Keep the sail filled and the sheet tight while furling to get a smooth, tight wrap. Don't furl with the sail luffing.
2. Roll it up till you have a couple of wraps of the sheets around the sail.
3. Tighten and cleat the sheets and the furler line. All three should be taut.

That should take care of you up to gale-force--if tropical storm warnings (or worse) are up, take the sail off the furler!

BTW, that storm was much worse toward the western end of the Sound than here in eastern CT.

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 09/08/2006 21:11:36

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