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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Francis

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lcharlot
Master Marine Consultant

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Antigua and Barbuda
1301 Posts

Response Posted - 09/05/2004 : 12:00:36

I have been watching some TV news coverage of Francis, and it breaks my heart to see boats being smashed against docks and pilings, boats broken loose from moorings and adrift, boats aground and being pounded to death in the surf, and boats sunk with only the masts and maybe the top of the cabin showing.

Yesterday, I saw a clip showing two small sailboats at anchor somewhere in Florida, in a fairly protected waterway (obviously not the open ocean, maybe the ICU?), being lashed by fierce winds and choppy waves 4 to 6 feet, one had sunk, I couldn't tell what make/model, but it was about a 22-footer, and the other was definately a Catalina 22, mast still standing and hull still afloat, daring the storm to do it's worst. Frank Butler should be proud to have designed a small daysailer that's strong enough to survive that kind of punishment. This boat had the aluminum framed windows, making it a pre-'86 and therfore most likely a swing keel. I hope the violent motion, prolonged for two or three days, doesn't end up busting the keel pivot bracket loose, or that boat will sink too

My prayers go out to all of our Forum friends who have boats in the path of this storm!

Edited by - on

frog0911
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1349 Posts

Response Posted - 09/06/2004 : 13:45:31

Well Jax dodged another bullet, but we did have some damage all around. My neighbor lost two trees, luckly they fell in the wetlands and we lost one also fell in wetlands. We had some damage to quite a few sail boats in marinas around Jax. One had a house boat, not occupied, that broke loose from the hook and slammed into a bunch of sailboats doing some major damage to docks and boats. Lucky for the PennyII household the wind, clocked at 68 mph gusts, was from the NE, straight down the lake on PennyII's nose so she just rock and rolled. The tide surge, four feet, lifted her pretty good and supposed to have another foot added today before it starts down. Took some pictures of it this AM an hour after high tide so not much difference.

PennyII normal high tide day finger dock at the gunnel.

PennyII four foot surge from Frances at high tide.

Notice the starboard stern line has come lose, but the additional line held it off the port pile. The line is about one foot to short to wrap the cleat after tieing off. Will replace it tomorrow when the stores reopen.

Suzie, hope you fared o'kay from Frances passing.

Edited by - on

thacket3
Navigator

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USA
101 Posts

Response Posted - 09/07/2004 : 10:19:49

Finnaly got the power back. NIce to take a shower. The week of worry is as sickening as the actual storm. My house faces east and the wind was from the west. It's a sick feeling to hear the back of the house creak and sound like its lifting, then a second later, watching the trees in the front yard bend to the ground, hoping that they won't snap and go through your's or your neighbors window. Last night, for whatever reason, I got my power back, but my neighborhood has not yet had the LUXURY of electricity. everyone joined together and we had a cookout in the middle of the street. My office in Palm Beach is indefinatly closed. Can't even get near it.

Spent three hours tying the boat down as best as I could. Made it through. I haven't been down to see it yet, but was told that all is fine. I had brought one of the boat batteries home to charge, and after the alkaline batteries died, I stripped the car cord battery for a radio I have and hooked it to the boat battery. worked great. I spent the day listening to how badly beaten everything was around town.

I love my boat, but honestly, the storm is kind of a religious experience. Makes you realize that being alive and unhurt is more important than any material object. This was my first hurricane and it truley is a (pardon the expression) sinking feeling to go through.

To all those who also went through it, my heart and the thoughts go out to you.
Tim

Edited by - on

sailgal
Captain

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USA
400 Posts

Response Posted - 09/07/2004 : 10:37:25

Jerry, and Tim good to hear you are both fine! We in Sarasota made out lucky again ( our day is coming

) My marina tied down for hurrican conditions and all went smoothly. I don't believe the wind gusted over 75 in my area, but needless to say that hearing a steady 35 mph wind for more than 18 hours was stressing (with 45 gusts on an off all day). I ventured out a few times over the weekend to check my boat and all was fine, the boat next to me forgot to double one of his rear cleats, and the one chaffed down to a core string, I threw another line on fast. The tide came to the top of our dock, thank goodness that was all! I've heard many boats in downtown Sarasota broke their moorings and a couple of larger boats slipped in Marina Jacks sunk ( bashed against docks). We only lost 5 trees on my condo property. Still windy at this time and it is days later! UGh hope Ivan dies out!

Edited by - on

atgep
Master Marine Consultant

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1009 Posts

Response Posted - 09/08/2004 : 21:15:57

Hi All,
My yacht was safely parked under a huge oak for the storm here in Jacksonville. We moor the boat on the St Johns river. It is located on the west side of the river with about 2 miles to the east shore. The marina is in ruins. at least 10 sizable yachts are on the bottom at the docks. As for the mooring field. All the moorings that had boats on them are in new locations. There are 10-20 boats lying on the shore with varying degrees of damage. I find all of this remarkable since the hurricane missed us!
I got power back today after 4.5 days. Everyone forgets when complaining about the power here, that the water stayed on! The house, and boat are fine. My new 3/4 ton Burb took a few pinecone licks and the adjuster is on the way. Just remember, priorities. FEMA by the way is ramping up here big time. Help is on the way.

Tom.

Edited by - on

Ben - FL
Admiral

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880 Posts

Response Posted - 09/08/2004 : 21:57:12

WOWZERS!! I Can't believe that storm was a 150 miles away. J'ville took a beating. My power and phone just came on today. Lost it on Sunday morning. We have about 40 trees in our yard and the only big limb that fell just happened to be on my '03 Silverado. But it only put a few dents in it. The limb was as big around as my leg and covered the truck and my work van. So I feel fortunate. We did a lot of prep for this. I had cranked up the generator and bought a sump pump in case the creek rose and had the solar charger off the Chick-a-pea here for the 12v LCD TV. Lots of propane and 2 deep cycle batteries. Tons of water including disinfecting the 500 gallon Jucuzzi. But when the power went out my generator was only putting out 90v

My frig is only one week old. So I unplugged it because I wasn't sure the low voltage wouldn't ruin the compressor. The tide never came higher than the little dock. The phone was out at Amity Anchorage. So Monday afternoon I braved the 30 mile drive on roadways deprived of traffic signals to look in on Chick-a-pea. When I got there the first thing you notice is a huge oak tree down on the restrooms and the old chandlery, and the powerline too. But Chick-a-pea is just as I left her, the bilge bone dry and only a little dampness on the aft berth under the companion way hatch. Amity is on the east side of the St. Johns R. that was the weather side. So the trees took the stress off the boats. They were all fine. Sure am glad I dropped the mast though. I think I will leave it down until we see what Ivan is up to. My prayers to all of you further south.

Edited by - Ben - FL on 09/08/2004 22:02:21

Ben - FL
Admiral

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880 Posts

Response Posted - 09/08/2004 : 23:19:02

Here is a pic of my truck & van

Edited by - Ben - FL on 09/08/2004 23:20:21

Lightnup
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1016 Posts

Response Posted - 09/08/2004 : 23:31:44

Ouch - Looks like you lucked out (relatively speaking) with the thicker part of the limb landing behind the trucks.

Steve

Edited by - on

lcharlot
Master Marine Consultant

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Antigua and Barbuda
1301 Posts

Response Posted - 09/09/2004 : 08:07:12

Has anybody in Florida heard if the wind actually knocked a Catalina 22, 25, or 250 (or similar size trailerable sailboat) off of it's trailer? I was just wondering if a boat would really be safer riding out a hurricane on it's trailer or left in the water on a strong mooring? On a trailer, it could be hit by flying debris or smashed by a falling tree as so many cars and homes were. May be the only "safe" place is a deep cellar, located on high ground above the storm surge.

Edited by - on

Mark Loyacano
Navigator

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USA
247 Posts

Response Posted - 09/09/2004 : 08:52:57

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by lcharlot
 Has anybody in Florida heard if the wind actually knocked a Catalina 22, 25, or 250 (or similar size trailerable sailboat) off of it's trailer?<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I've seen a Catalina 25 blown off its trailer during a day of high, straight line winds. During Kansas Winter and Spring seasons the weather gets very interesting. The trailer was anchored, too. It got twisted up a little as the boat rolled off. The hull cracked.

Edited by - on

atgep
Master Marine Consultant

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1009 Posts

Response Posted - 09/09/2004 : 17:08:22

I picked up a couple of mobile home anchors for the Yacht. I figure worst case, the boat gets crushed under the oak. It will be really easy salvage. Not the same story at my marina.
Funny thing, all the Catalina boats came out ok. There was a Cat 42 sitting in her slip with 6 sunk boats around her. The only Cat at the marina with any trouble was a 27 now on the lawn(mooring failed).
Is is the Cat or the Owners? I suspect both.

Tom.

Edited by - on

Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 09/11/2004 : 15:51:30

<center>Storm Report</center>

Hello all,

I just got electrical power back on at my house after hurricane Francis.

During the storm, I evacuated about 20 miles inland to Port Saint John on the mainland at where the winds weren't quite as strong, and the option of moving further inland would have been more viable. There was a mandatory evacuation of all the barrier islands, and even residents weren't allowed back for a couple of days after the storm passed. Even then, the local police set up road blocks to verify local ID, and enforced a curfew to discourage looting.

The cats and I are fine. The house is fine, having lost only a couple dozen shingles and a couple porch screens, which is rather miraculous. Buildings on the east side of the island sustained much worse damage. (I'm on the west side.) Lots of damage to awnings, porches, roofs, some windows, etc. Beach sand was blown around like drifted snow, but with more of a sand-blaster effect on east-facing surfaces. Sustained winds here were mostly catagory 1, with a few gusts to around 120MPH or so beach side.

My boats are fine. I had the C-25 lifted onto its trailer before the storm arrived, tied it down to the trailer, and parked it in my driveway with jack stands steadying the trailer chassis against gusts. I tied the smaller boats to trees in my back yard. Other tactics that worked, were tying off in the middle of a canal (motor yachts), and tying up in a slip with a spider web of lines (a C-22). Several of the many boats that anchored out in the rivers were driven ashore onto rock breakwaters.

My street lost electrical power for about a week, but water, sewer, and phone lines continued working. (Cell phone service has been spotty.) Most of my banana trees blew down, along with my Bird Of Paradise palm. No big deal, those things grow fast in this climate. My two shade trees are stripped of their leaves.

Generators were a hot commodity on my street for the past week. I'm giving more thought than I had previously to whether I should invest in a larger one.

Hurricane debris clean up is ongoing. A vacant lot across the canal from my house has been pressed into service as an intermediate refuse collection site. The public workers are piling up what I'm coming to think of as Mount Francis there. I expect the next step will be to bring in industrial strength chipper machines, and grind the whole mountain into mulch a couple hundred feet from my back yard.

I hope everyone else faired at least as well as I did.

-- Leon Sisson

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Ben - FL
Admiral

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880 Posts

Response Posted - 09/11/2004 : 16:25:36

Glad to hear you are OK and back online! I was kinda worried 'bout ya. I think I will pull my boat next time. And here it comes.

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Lightnup
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1016 Posts

Response Posted - 09/12/2004 : 12:59:13

http://www.boatus.com/hurricanes/charley_frances_photos.asp

BoatUS compilations of CHarley and Frances aftermath. Awe inspiring.

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