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Hurricanes season returns

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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5376 Posts

Initially Posted - 08/17/2009 : 05:26:09

Three new named storms in one weekend, the season is now underway. What preps do we need to make?

Bruce Ross
Passage ~ SR-FK ~ C25 #5032

Port Captain � Milford, CT

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 08/17/2009 : 06:58:12

Depends (on everything)... Bill looks menacing to the NE--forecast to come inside Bermuda as a "major" hurricane (>110)--could arrive here next Monday.

If he does, Passage definitely shouldn't stay against that end dock. What other options do you have?

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 08/17/2009 06:58:55

NautiC25
Admiral

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USA
957 Posts

Response Posted - 08/17/2009 : 08:07:46

I've been praying for hurricanes after the lack of wind we've had this past season. Could also use the rain to fill the lakes up. Canyon 14ft. down. Medina Lake is like 40 ft. down.

Edited by - NautiC25 on 08/17/2009 08:09:25

DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2015 Posts

Response Posted - 08/17/2009 : 09:01:34

It looks as though you're right Bruce. I feel really lucky that my brother has the perfect little hurricane hole for me to hold up in if we get any coming this way.

Edited by - on

John Russell
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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 08/17/2009 : 09:40:45

Edited by - on

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5376 Posts

Response Posted - 08/17/2009 : 10:42:46

Dave
If we have enough warning, I will pull little Passage out. If not, I can put her up against the bulkhead, but that will pile up all the 40 and 50 footers right on top of her, along with the docks!

If I had to bail, I'll remove the mast and move her up into a hurricane hole further up in the Housatonic River and anchor her in. Problem is, I'll have a lot of company with the same idea.

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 08/17/2009 : 12:56:50

Well, if one of those hurricanes gets across the entire continental US then I guess I'll put on another dock line.

Really, it must be a hassle watching those storms and then decding to hide or take the boat out - just when everyone else is wanting to do the same thing. Thank goodness for the moderate weather we have in the PNW.

Best of luck to all you East-coasters! We're pulling for you.

Edited by - Nautiduck on 08/17/2009 12:57:43

DaveR
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USA
2015 Posts

Response Posted - 08/17/2009 : 13:56:20

But at least we're not sitting around wondering when Mt. Rainier is going to explode

Seriously though, it's always something (Roseanne Rosanadana). If it's not hurricanes it's tornados or Volcanos or Earthquakes. Then there's mud slides and wildfires not to mention severe cold or heat (wait, I just mentioned them

Edited by - on

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 08/17/2009 : 18:13:35

Anybody in a hurricane path feeling like a little vacation time in Tennessee, we've got a nice lake and plenty of transient dock space.

Edited by - on

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4304 Posts

Response Posted - 08/17/2009 : 18:16:48

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by NautiC25
 I've been praying for hurricanes after the lack of wind we've had this past season. Could also use the rain to fill the lakes up. Canyon 14ft. down. Medina Lake is like 40 ft. down.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
I used to do the same thing until Ike hit last year. We only had minimal damage but the hassles of dealing with the insurance companies have made me resolve to never pray for a hurricane again!!! As did the days of 100%+ humidity and only a generator for power, not to mention the cold water baths.

Edited by - on

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5376 Posts

Response Posted - 08/17/2009 : 20:25:19

The preps - and there are lots of them - this is the time to get all your equipment together.
Figure out what you need like batteries, bottled water, gasoline for the generator (or for the car), cash, a battery or crank-powered radio, prescriptions, extension cords, evacuation plans, telephone numbers and emails, critical papers (birth cert, passport, deeds, titles, SS card) and what to do with pets.

Buy camping equipment in case you have to bail - coleman lantern, stove, sleeping bags, tarps, eating utensils, water carriers, etc.

Check your generator to make sure it'll start and run. If you don't have them, get compact fluorescent lamps to save power so you can run your fridge and other critical high current equipment

There will be specific things for each person to do as well.

Edited by - Voyager on 08/17/2009 20:26:28

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5902 Posts

Response Posted - 08/18/2009 : 06:34:29

My marina is generally a great hurricane hole, and my boat has, so far, ridden relatively quietly through the named storms. I usually tend the docklines, to allow for the storm surge, until the wildest part is over and then check into a motel for the rest of the night. Boats in my part of the marina usually aren't hauled out for the storms. At my marina, the greater risk seems to be that a boat on the hard will be blown off it's jackstands, so those of us in the best sheltered area usually stay in the water.

Edited by - Steve Milby on 08/18/2009 06:35:53

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5376 Posts

Response Posted - 08/18/2009 : 20:56:58

Steve
You make a good point about the boat falling off the jackstands.

I might look to see whether I can hire a trailer and bring the boat to my yard. While the marina is at 10 feet above sea level, my house is at 280 feet.

I heard a report on Hurricane Bill at 5pm, and the NWS said that the only mainland US location in the cone of uncertainty is SE Massachusetts, Cape Cod and the Islands.

As of 11PM, they revised the forecast further east, missing the US altogether.

However we are still five days away from any action on this (Sunday 23-Aug).

Edited by - on

hinmo
Navigator

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USA
248 Posts

Response Posted - 08/19/2009 : 00:54:13

Bruce, I hope so....this being my first year in many with a keelboat, and here comes a hurricane in August, I'm on a mooring in a wide-open SE facing harbor!

I've lived this for 35 years, and its a lousy feeling. I vowed never to worry about it again (yeh - right!), and never have a boat that's not trailer-able. There's a 1000 boats in Mattapoisett harbor on moorings, what a scramble it will be Sat/Sun if its imminent.

Edited by - hinmo on 08/19/2009 00:57:00

redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3476 Posts

Response Posted - 08/19/2009 : 05:14:21

Bigger lines, bigger snubbers, more lines, more cleats.

Bigger Fenders, more fenders.

Cleats are easy to install.

Replace old worn dock lines.

IMHO

Edited by - on

redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 08/19/2009 : 09:18:24

As the resident cruiser here, I can tell you what our battle plans are. Number one: Strip the decks. No jerry cans, no sails - drop the genny on the furler too - remove dodger and bimini, drop boom and strap on deck, line up all 7 anchors and anchor rodes, affix bumpers everywhere, climb mast and remove wind instruments, fill fuel and water tanks. Provision and then proceed to hole and spider out the anchors.

Number 2: after vessel is as prepared as possible, go to shore and deflate dink. Get into rental car and hang out until stupid, then go to motel.

Number 3: retunr quickly after storm has passed. If you can save it, that would be the time.

sten

Edited by - on

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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5376 Posts

Response Posted - 08/19/2009 : 19:18:43

John
I just looked at your harbor on the charts, and a beautiful place it must be. Wow! I am jealous!

But with the current predictions of tropical storm force winds at 20% probability, you've got a few options.
1. Take Sten's advice, or
2. Get in the boat on Friday morning and head west. Narragansett Bay may have a few places to hide out from an easterly fetch, or
3. Just to make sure, keep on going onto Watch Hill harbor.

At five days out, we can never know what the perturbations of the storm track will be, but according to my local forecast for Connecticut, the cold front should pass here late on Saturday, and should push Hurricane Bill further east (fingers crossed).

But, being where you are located, what do you do about the ocean swells? I'd imagine being right on Buzzard's Bay you'd get chop and swells continually.

Edited by - on

hinmo
Navigator

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USA
248 Posts

Response Posted - 08/19/2009 : 23:00:09

Bruce - it is one beautiful harbor and town. Come on up anytime, I can get you a free mooring for several nites anytime. With its prevailing SW, its off the hook and a single tack to Woods Hole and the Vineyard.

With a strong SE, its 1000 boats moored in 6-10+ waves....not pretty. So, we'll cross our fingers, with the most action possibly heading to West Island or New Bedford (hurricane barrier).

Edited by - on

redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 08/20/2009 : 05:54:22

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Voyager
 2. Get in the boat on Friday morning and head west. Narragansett Bay may have a few places to hide out from an easterly fetch, or
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Here's the best hole I know of on Narragansett Bay. The Kickamuit River just off of Mount Hope Bay, right behind Bristol. Or continue on into South Swansea and either anchor or pick up one of Swansea Marina's mooring balls. Tell Harry I sent you. His moorings have held our 40 foot thru some nasty stuff, and we have anchored well in the protected cove.

A word of advice about storm anchoring - two hooks are better than one, but three and some more chain is a smarter idea. On one rode, set a hook with another hook attached to say 20 feet of chain. So two hooks on the first rode - which should also be your longest rode. Let a bit of the first rode out, then drive a few degrees to port or starboard and drop your second hook. This hook should be set well behind the first two hooks. Hang for awhile on the second hook and slack the first hook/s rode. After you are convinced the second hook is set, play out both rodes such that the load is distributed evenly. Roll on back to like a 12/1 or something, then install a lot of chafing gear.

The idea here is that the two hooks will bury, and the third hook is insurance. The third hook can't foul the first two, and the first two can't foul each other becasue they are seperated by so much chain. I have seen folks anchor with two hooks on two rodes of equal length and the two hooks come together and become one big sliding mass of metal that can't bite.

This method will protect your vessel if one rode chafes thru, or if one of your cleats gives way. Another tip: run a rode bitter end OUTSIDE of the lifelines and attach to a stern cleat. If both bow cleats rip out, you still have a chance.

sten

Edited by - redviking on 08/20/2009 06:13:55

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 08/20/2009 : 08:41:32

Good stuff, Sten... I'll add (repeating some of the earlier): Get the sails off--the roller furled genny and the main. Then remove the boom and stick it in the cabin. Wrap your halyards and topping lift around the mast, shackle them to the mast base and cinch them tight on the mast cleats or with your clutches. Remove the rudder. All of this takes very little time.

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 08/20/2009 08:44:22

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5376 Posts

Response Posted - 08/20/2009 : 18:53:44

John I will certainly take you up on your kind offer -- Next year --

This year my plan is to take 5-6 days the week before Labor Day to sail out east of LI Sound (Watch Hill Passage) and out into Block Island Sound all the way to Point Judith.

Next year I will try to get up to the Narragansett and Buzzards Bays for a visit.

According to the Weather Channel, the cold front will be pushing the Hurricane offshore on Saturday evening, so only the western edges of the storm should impact the Cape (we hope).

Winds should be northerly by then. Obviously, timing is crucial.

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 08/20/2009 : 21:31:07

Bruce: Why Point Judith instead of Block Island? PJ is a "drinking town with a fishing problem" (mostly commercial)--as a destination, BI is more fun.

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redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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1771 Posts

Response Posted - 08/21/2009 : 05:43:26

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Dave Bristle
 Bruce: Why Point Judith instead of Block Island? PJ is a "drinking town with a fishing problem" (mostly commercial)--as a destination, BI is more fun.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Probably so that he is only Coastal hopping and not going "offshore."

Personally, I like Montauk too although it's similar to Pt. Judith in terms of stinkpotters and beer. Liars saloon - a must do and dinghy tie up if you buy a beer. Great anchorage - We rode out Ernesto in our C25 there a few years ago...

Block - is fun, just very New Yorker... It's like they think they took it from Rhode Island. Yankees hats and attitude just about everywhere. And then there is the annoying coffee guys in the boat shouting "Coffee on Board!" at o'sleep thirty!

sten

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 08/21/2009 : 09:53:21

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by redviking
 ...And then there is the annoying coffee guys in the boat shouting "Coffee on Board!" at o'sleep thirty!

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">That's Aldo's pastry boat on Great Salt Pond--they yell "Andiamo, andiamooooooo", which supposedly means "let's get going" or something like that. You know you're at Block when you wake up to that famous refrain--or when a boat comes by at midnight shining flashlight into the water, looking for signs of discharge.

Edited by - on

Voyager
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USA
5376 Posts

Response Posted - 08/22/2009 : 21:45:11

Aside from the local "points of interest" at Block, I'd like to take it cautiously on my first trip "out" of LI Sound and stay close to shore. We've been visiting South County for years as land lubbers, so now I'd like to see it from a sailor's perspective.

Montauk, Gardiner's Bay and/or Block are for next year.

You can also get some fine lobsters, steamer clams and quahogs in Point Judith. I should be able to anchor up and paddle in for "refreshments".

Edited by - Voyager on 08/22/2009 21:51:29

hinmo
Navigator

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USA
248 Posts

Response Posted - 08/26/2009 : 17:39:04

aaannnnndddd, HERE COMES DANNY

30-40% chance of Tropical Storm Force winds by Saturday on Cape Cod

and, no insurance

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