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Storm Damage

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Scott Shephard
Deckhand

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USA
22 Posts

Initially Posted - 06/25/2009 : 04:37:34

I've been sailing on Lake Oahe in South Dakota for over 20 years but this is the first year I've had a slip in a marina. As with almost everything in life, there is much to learn.

This past Tuesday morning, a storm front passed through while I was on the boat moored to the docks. The winds hit 60 mph and a large piece of the artificial breakwater gave way, opening the floating docks in the marina to waves that had built up over an 8 mile stretch of water. And my boat was in the front line.

Because I was staying on the boat, I hadn't centered her in the slip space and I hadn't tied her as if she might be weathering a storm. After all, it was dead calm and beautiful when I went to sleep the night before.

As you know, sounds inside a sailboat are amplified and you can imagine what it must have sounded like each time the bow of my boat slammed into the metal substructure of the dock. But Wandering Star and I survived. I have no scars. She has a few along the bow line. There is a chip out of the bow well under the water line which means that at one point her whole bow must have been on top of the dock.

My boat didn't suffer the worst damage, though all of the damage was minor. I did see many lines that had snapped from the tension, especially on the bigger power boats.

Lessons learned?

1.Tie up each and every time as if a major storm is coming through.
2.When it comes to dock lines, a size bigger than you think you need is probably better.
3.Lines with a little stretch and/or with snubbers are probably a good idea.
4.Being the only guy on a boat at the marina when a major storm hits makes you the center of attention. (But I'm not sure I like this.

)

I'm sure that the seasoned marina sailors in this group learned my lessons a long time ago.

Here are a few photos, in case you are interested:

http://shephardphoto.wordpress.com/2009/06/25/the-calm-before-the-storm/
http://web.me.com/sshephard1/Portraits/New_%26_Old/Pages/Storm_Damage.html

Edited by - on

windsong
Captain

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USA
318 Posts

Response Posted - 06/25/2009 : 04:51:12

Ouch! I'll keep your advice in mind as we go into hurricane season here in South Carolina.
Beautiful "before" pictures, Scott. I guess the adage "red sky at night," is not foolproof.

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 06/25/2009 : 07:21:50

Looks like your C-250 came out the winner against that dock. Now, about those tires... Somebody should mention that they only weigh a few pounds when submersed in water, and that they can and will capture air that makes them buoyant. No surprise they washed away! This is why the US and state governments are arduously dismantling "reefs" made years ago with thousands of old tires.

Interesting land feature across the water under that front...

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 06/25/2009 07:27:49

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 06/25/2009 : 08:16:35

Hey Scott, thanks for posting this.

I secure our boat with 4 lines every time. Bow & stern lines, and fore and aft spring lines. My slip neighbour has asked if I'm into S&M with all that bondage going on...

I try to tie off such that Iris can move laterally but very little fore-and aft. I try to keep the lines loose enough that she can drift about a foot out from our dock.

The trend in our marina is to use a bow and stern line, and a single spring line to kee the boats from wandering back out into the fairway. I have drawn some curiosity with my loose lines and forward spring line. My thinking is that if the boat wanders back thats bad, but in a storm, if she wanders forward, thats worse! I don't want to tie her off to the dock too tight for fear of popping the fenders out when a big wave hits, and having the FG against the dock (I use 3 fenders).

Our marina is very well protected, so these measures shouldn't be needed, but if they are... I hope I'm prepared.

Edited by - on

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 06/25/2009 : 10:41:02

Scott, glad you came through the storm mostly OK, looks like your boat's damage is largely cosmetic, but you'll probably want to replace that bent bow eye. Must have been a hell of a blow to bend it sideways like that. Nice photography too.

We keep SL tied up with bow & stern lines, port side spring lines, and a single starboard midship's line to keep us away from the dock. We share our slip with another 29' Ranger, so we can't get springlines to the dock except at the foot. The two boats share one cleat for pulling ourselves away from our respective docks. We can move fore & aft about 3' or so, and about 2' side to side. Since it's a forty minute drive to our boat, I always tie up like a storm's coming, that way I don't have to depend on a good Samaritan to tie up my boat for me.

We've got neighbors who just do the bow & stern lines with no spring lines. One Bayliner in particular is just waiting for a good blow to break loose, both their lines are frayed, which I've pointed out to them, and even offered to help make up new lines with proper eyes in them. Last time I was there (Sunday), their dinghy was floating out in the fairway on a frayed painter. I'm glad we're no longer right next to them, I don't want my boat beat up by theirs when it does break loose, and hopefully our outboard's in no further danger of them ramming it like they tried earlier in the season.

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 06/25/2009 : 12:21:52

Ouch! Be glad that your docks aren't concrete like the one we are on.

You must have tied off your furled jib well or it could have come loose during the storm as well.

I had some dings like that on my C22 and repaired them with Marine-Tex. It is easy to work with and blended in very nicely.

Edited by - on

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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.