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How to deal with a Hurricane?

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Shauneen
1st Mate

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USA
27 Posts

Initially Posted - 08/23/2011 : 19:17:39

Good Evening All
With a storm possibly affecting southern New England this weekend I am unsure how to proceed. We are in a fairly exposed mooring field close to the opening of Naragansett Bay East passage. Anticipating a possible problem we removed the sails and lashed the lines on the mooring cleats. At what projected wind speed or storm surge would you pull your boat? If you decide to leave the boat on a mooring would you run a second line through and tie off to the stanchions?
What are the rest of you NorthEast boaters doing?
As Always thanks for your input
Shauneen

Edited by - on

Novi
1st Mate

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Canada
59 Posts

Response Posted - 08/23/2011 : 19:37:53

I'm not taking any chances. The last hurricane that hit Nova Scotia (Juan in 2003) dragged boats AND their moorings more than 600m. Also the shore was littered with boats that broke free. That was a cat 1 storm with 110km/h sustained winds.

That was before I had my own boat but I'll never forget just how much power the storm had.

If it looks like the storm is coming to Halifax, I'm taking my boat out of the water and strapping it on to the trailer and then strapping the trailer to the house.

Edited by - on

SEAN
Admiral

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USA
772 Posts

Response Posted - 08/24/2011 : 03:26:08

Were on a mooring ,

in addition to the mooring lines , i add a 1/4 chain from the mooring to the bow eye .
also run it up throw the anchor roller and attach it to that with a shackle to back up the bow eye if that breaks ...

Edited by - on

JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 08/25/2011 : 07:38:20

IMHO, you should pull your boat out if you want to sail next month! Your mushroom mooring may drag all the way to any of those lee shores in the East Passage. You don't want to find your boat wrecked and grounded on Gould Island next week!

I had my boat hauled out because of the possible storm surge on the Chesapekae Bay. My fixed docks may be under 10 feet of water.

I think that if we take extreme precautions and then the storm misses any of us, we will be laughing about it. And if we get a direct hit, we will still have our boats next month for a nice, peaceful, September, sailing adventure. Personally, I can't afford to repair a totaled sailboat.

Edited by - on

islander
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4024 Posts

Response Posted - 08/25/2011 : 08:00:52

Any chance of getting a transient slip in a protected Marina near you would be my choice over a mooring. I'm not so sure having the boat on jack stands in 100mph wind is the best way to go ether. Heck my boat last spring while on stands was shaking pretty good in 40mph wind. Personal choice I guess.

Edited by - on

JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 08/25/2011 : 09:08:38

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Shauneen
 If you decide to leave the boat on a mooring would you run a second line through and tie off to the stanchions?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"> Please do not tie any lines to the stanchions. Use the 2 bow cleats with double lines to each cleat. The stanchions are not strong enough to hold the boat in a storm. They would break right off.

If I were on a mooring in a hurricane, I would use the mooring mushroom as an anchor and add chain and a 2nd anchor then more chain and a 3rd anchor 10 feet apart in a straight line away from the mooring, then more chain, an anchor rode swivel, and finally heavy anchor rode to a bridle attached twice to the port bow cleat and twice to the starboard bow cleat with chafe protection on each of the 4 lines. I would want to predict the main wind direction during the hurricane (northeast?) to line up the anchors downwind from the mooring.

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9080 Posts

Response Posted - 08/25/2011 : 09:23:45

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by JohnP
 [quote]Originally posted by Shauneen
 ...I would want to predict the main wind direction during the hurricane (northeast?)...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">The direction will depend on where the center of the hurricane is relative to your location, based on the hurricane's counter-clockwise rotation. If it is moving S->N and passes directly over you, the wind will start and accelerate from the east, go to dead calm (and bright, clear sky), and then start up and accelerate from the west. If it passes east of you (going S->N) the winds will shift from NE to NW. If it passes west of you, then the winds will shift from SE to SW.

So it all depends on the part you don't know until it's too late. Most of the rain is generally on the north and east sides of the hurricane, and the winds are stronger on the east side because the speed the storm is moving is added to the speed of its rotation.

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 08/25/2011 09:28:21

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4304 Posts

Response Posted - 08/25/2011 : 09:35:00

After seeing what Ike did here 3 years ago I would not leave my boat in the water unless I was in a well protected marina with GOOD floating docks.

The best bet would be to pull it and get it as far inland as possible. The boat yard in my marina had some big boats on the hard and they ALL ended up floating off the stands and getting pretty much trashed.

If you put it on a trailer be sure you put at least 6 car jack stands under the frame to help keep the wind from blowing the boat and trailer over. I'd also lower the mast to lower the center of gravity and reduce windage. Be sure to lash it securely to the boat or trailer.

I'd also strip the boat of everything that's of any value in case the worst happens. If it does you can EBAY the things you brought home to help repair or replace the boat if it's lost.

I'll see if I can find some of my aftermath pictures and post them tonight.

Edited by - GaryB on 08/25/2011 10:04:32

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3466 Posts

Response Posted - 08/25/2011 : 10:24:02

Right now, it looks like the hurricane as it passes the area parallel to Washington, DC will be touching or hugging the east coast shoreline just east of the Chesapeake. If it does not turn further west, "I should be okay". My boat is in a well protected marina with very good floating docks. I have Fort McNair to my west side and USCG Hqtrs to my east side but my dock is very close to the Ft McNair retaining wall and bldgs (~ 50 feet away) and on the inner part of the marina which all contribute to wind/wave protection.

But you have to respect Mother Nature...so it's a waiting game. I plan to put addl dock lines on later today or tomorrow. I may also add a fender to the finger slip side.

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5902 Posts

Response Posted - 08/25/2011 : 14:16:03

I'm staying in my slip. My docklines are all doubled, I removed the dodger and bimini, wrapped and tied a line around the roller-furled genoa to ensure that it will not unfurl accidentally. My aft docklines can be adjusted from the dock, without getting on the boat, and I believe the forward docklines have room to float through a range of about 9 feet without adjusting them. I wrapped a long line around the mainsail and boom, to ensure they won't come loose, and put out extra fenders. I removed my whisker pole from the boat, and all throwable safety gear, and everything else loose. I secured all halliards to the mast base, instead to the lifelines, where I normally keep them, and pulled them taut. The only thing I can't control is if something breaks, or if a boat breaks loose and drifts down on mine. Now I just have to find someplace safe to put my motorcycle.

Edited by - on

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 08/25/2011 : 14:39:12

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Steve Milby
 Now I just have to find someplace safe to put my motorcycle.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">They say Kettering is nice this time of year?

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5902 Posts

Response Posted - 08/25/2011 : 15:13:15

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by John Russell
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Steve Milby
 Now I just have to find someplace safe to put my motorcycle.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">They say Kettering is nice this time of year?

I'd be going there now if I wasn't having so much fun here in Maryland. This has been a really good year!

Edited by - on

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4304 Posts

Response Posted - 08/25/2011 : 17:20:04

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Steve Milby
 I'm staying in my slip. My docklines are all doubled, I removed the dodger and bimini, wrapped and tied a line around the roller-furled genoa to ensure that it will not unfurl accidentally. My aft docklines can be adjusted from the dock, without getting on the boat, and I believe the forward docklines have room to float through a range of about 9 feet without adjusting them. I wrapped a long line around the mainsail and boom, to ensure they won't come loose, and put out extra fenders. I removed my whisker pole from the boat, and all throwable safety gear, and everything else loose. I secured all halliards to the mast base, instead to the lifelines, where I normally keep them, and pulled them taut. The only thing I can't control is if something breaks, or if a boat breaks loose and drifts down on mine. Now I just have to find someplace safe to put my motorcycle.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Steve,

I strongly suggest you remove the boom and put it in the cabin. I'd also strongly recommend you remove your headsail. I saw numerous heavily secured roller headsails shredded during Ike. The wind works on the top part of the sail where you can't reach to secure it and eventually rips the top half out of the sail.

I'd also recommend that everyone tape every opening around all the hatches, and hatch boards to keep rain out. I used a big part of a roll of duct tape taping each joint in the hatch boards, around the sliding hatch, forward hatch, etc... My boat had very little water in it after Ike. Irene is a MUCH larger storm than Ike.

Good luck to all of you in the path of Irene! We'll keep you in our prayers.

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9080 Posts

Response Posted - 08/25/2011 : 18:00:41

I agree on removing sails--both of them. 100 mph winds grab at the tiniest of edges of anything and will likely chafe them against the lines you've wrapped around them--if that's all they do. Think of the tightly-secured tarps you see on car-top carriers traveling at a mere 70 mph--they look like flags in a 50 knot wind. An hour or two taking the sails off and stowing them below should be worth it, and will reduce your overall windage by a lot. Better yet, those who prepare the best are those who most often "get lucky."

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 08/25/2011 18:05:38

redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3476 Posts

Response Posted - 08/26/2011 : 04:21:08

<< Please do not tie any lines to the stanchions. >>

The stanchions have 4 bolts, two more than the cleats. Backing was no different than the cleats on mine. You certainly can use the stanchions if you are tied to the bottom of the stanchion. If you cannot get your line through the support at the bottom, then it would be a bad idea.

Your damage to the deck is greater if the stanchion pulls out, but then it is also a greater chance that it will not pull out.

Edited by - on

redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3476 Posts

Response Posted - 08/26/2011 : 05:15:39

I'll bet they are runnin from the outer banks right now...

Edited by - on

redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3476 Posts

Response Posted - 08/26/2011 : 05:24:25

http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?station=41004

15 foot waves.. Hmmm...

http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/radial_search.php?storm=at4

Edited by - redeye on 08/26/2011 05:27:04

PCP777
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1225 Posts

Response Posted - 08/26/2011 : 06:36:20

Prayers to all of you on the east coast in the path of the storm.

Edited by - on

bostonsailor
Deckhand

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USA
5 Posts

Response Posted - 08/26/2011 : 08:22:30

As a new boat owner I'm hoping for the best, expecting the worst. This will be my first hurricane.

My boat is currently moored in Salem's Hawthorne Cover Marina (owned by Brewer YY) and it will remain there for the storm. I'm thinking over tying the mainsail cover tight with extra line, removing the jib, chafe-guarding the mooring pendant, and sealing everything with duct tape. An employee at West Marine says he loops a line from the mooring around the base of the mast so even if the mooring ties go the mooring will be holding onto the mast. Is that a good option?

As I said before, I'm new to this. What should (and shouldn't) I be doing?

Edited by - on

Davy J
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1511 Posts

Response Posted - 08/26/2011 : 08:36:12

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">As I said before, I'm new to this. What should (and shouldn't) I be doing?<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
I not sure about the line on the mast base, it might be functional on a keel stepped mast but less useful on a C25. During past hurricanes here in Florida, I tie off the boat the best that I can, then I remove everything from the boat. Both sails, boom, outboard, tiller/rudder, bimini, electronics and even the cushions. When we evacuated for hurricane Charley my boat was basically a stripped hull.

Edited by - Davy J on 08/26/2011 09:17:32

SEAN
Admiral

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USA
772 Posts

Response Posted - 08/26/2011 : 08:36:47

I would take the main sail down ..
plus the boom .. if your not comfortable taking the boom off tie it to the backstay .

and dont tie anything to the mast ..that only works on boats where the mast goes all the way through to the keel .
use your bow eye if you have one or the eye in your anchor locker for the back up .

good luck

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5902 Posts

Response Posted - 08/26/2011 : 09:30:01

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by JohnP
 Please do not tie any lines to the stanchions. Use the 2 bow cleats with double lines to each cleat. The stanchions are not strong enough to hold the boat in a storm. They would break right off.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Good advice! My friend tied a spring line to a stanchion on his Pearson Triton, a very ruggedly built old boat, and it ripped the stanchion out of the deck, leaving a 10" hole where the stanchion used to be. It didn't rip the bolts out of the deck - it ripped out a piece of the deck itself.

Edited by - on

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3466 Posts

Response Posted - 08/26/2011 : 09:37:59

Many years ago, I was on a mooring when I had an ODay23 in Huntington Harbor, Long Island. I had no bad experiences the 5 years on the mooring but I was sensitive to the issues regarding moorings from others. The two things that are hard to gage but can happen when winds pick up to significant levels is that some of the moorings are extremely old moorings and under severe strain my either move or the chain may snap if there are some heavily corroded links. The other thing also hard to gage is when moorings move and they sometimes do, the concern is then what about the boats adjacent to you that may start bumping into your boat and this may go on for hours until wind abates.

There are obviously always addl conservative measures that could or should be taken. Each of us has to evaluate our situation and what risks willing to take. For example, I am leaving my sails on the boat but I intend to head down to the marina today and double up on my docking lines, install a snubber and at least one addl fender. My main sail has a cover on it but I am going to wrap a line tightly around it extending from mast to end of the boom and will also lash down my furling rig which has sheets already wound around it (normally) at least 6-7 times on it. I will not be taking it down. Right now, winds are predicted to be around 50mph max in the upper Potomac River/Wash,DC area and Saturday the high tides are expected to be 2-3 feet above normal. I think I will be okay...but obviously my boat is at some risk but floating docks are in good shape and I am in semi-protected waters of the marina.

Edited by - on

Davy J
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1511 Posts

Response Posted - 08/26/2011 : 09:49:32

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Right now, winds are predicted to be around 50mph max<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
One thing to keep in mind, the wind speed may not be hurricane force, however, it will probably last 18-24 hours straight. It is the one thing I remember about slow moving hurricane Frances, the wind strength was consistent for about two days. Good luck to everyone.

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5902 Posts

Response Posted - 08/26/2011 : 10:31:53

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by GaryB
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Steve Milby
 I'm staying in my slip. My docklines are all doubled, I removed the dodger and bimini, wrapped and tied a line around the roller-furled genoa to ensure that it will not unfurl accidentally. My aft docklines can be adjusted from the dock, without getting on the boat, and I believe the forward docklines have room to float through a range of about 9 feet without adjusting them. I wrapped a long line around the mainsail and boom, to ensure they won't come loose, and put out extra fenders. I removed my whisker pole from the boat, and all throwable safety gear, and everything else loose. I secured all halliards to the mast base, instead to the lifelines, where I normally keep them, and pulled them taut. The only thing I can't control is if something breaks, or if a boat breaks loose and drifts down on mine. Now I just have to find someplace safe to put my motorcycle.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Steve,

I strongly suggest you remove the boom and put it in the cabin. I'd also strongly recommend you remove your headsail. I saw numerous heavily secured roller headsails shredded during Ike. The wind works on the top part of the sail where you can't reach to secure it and eventually rips the top half out of the sail.

I'd also recommend that everyone tape every opening around all the hatches, and hatch boards to keep rain out. I used a big part of a roll of duct tape taping each joint in the hatch boards, around the sliding hatch, forward hatch, etc... My boat had very little water in it after Ike. Irene is a MUCH larger storm than Ike.

Good luck to all of you in the path of Irene! We'll keep you in our prayers.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Removing the boom on my boat wouldn't be as easy as on my C25, and it would be too big a job for me, but I'm lowering the topping lift so the boom will rest on the gunwale, near the winch. That should reduce and lower the windage somewhat. I'll probably remove the genoa. I believe it'll be ok as it is, but I know it will be better to get it down. Everything becomes more difficult as we get older and the boat gets bigger, and we old guys have to do the best we can.

Edited by - Steve Milby on 08/26/2011 10:40:22

pastmember
Master Marine Consultant

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2402 Posts

Response Posted - 08/26/2011 : 12:49:12

A friend's boat burned in his slip, THEN he realized he had let his insurance lapse. I hope everyone has kept their insurance up during these hard times. Best of luck to all in the path.

Edited by - on

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