Marinette Boat Forum

So I might have an issue with a hurricane...

Any thoughts on what to do to protect the boat? Its not covered and I'm not really all that sure what to do to prepare.

Thoughts?

Boat US has hurricane preparation steps on its website. Of course the best thing to do is to move the boat out of the way of the storm--preferably on land.

Video runthrough for hurricane prep http://www.westmarine.com/hurricane-prep-page

More Hurricane prep info: http://www.boatus.com/magazine/2016/aug ... m-prep.asp


Covering is the least your protection in event of hurricane - it would get blown off with enough wind strength. Please go asap to the Boat US site. Because they are a large scale insurer, they want all their insureds and everyone else to know how to protect their vessel. First rule, though, is do not ride out the storm on the boat in hopes of keep it safe. Way too dangerous.

Next comes, take the boat out and secure it on land if possible. If that is not possible, tie off with multiple lines to sturdy pilings with extra long lines. That is, tie off to multiple distant pilings. Allow for a storm surge. If you tie with the ends of the ropes close to the water and there's a surge, the boat will be pulled underwater and/or the cleats will snap off.

Forgot to mention that moving the boat away from an exposed shore is a good alternative. You have to gauge your exposure. I was in a marina right off the Chesapeake Bay and got the boat hauled before the storm hit with a sizeable surge. Neighbors not hauled were not so lucky. A couple of boats broke loose and slammed into others, stoving in the hull. The docks themselves were wrecked in places. Power system was ripped out (so much for AC power pumps). Prepare for the worst and then be relieved when it doesn't happen. Oh, my boat was up on jackstands. The surge came within about two inches of floating the boat and many others off the stands. Would have been a messy scene when the tide finally went out a couple of days later. But we would have fared better than boats left in the water.

Now finally...you will be lucky to get the marina's attention if you must haul -- they will be in crazy mode with others in line to pull their boats.

Boat US/West Marine has much more. And good luck. Very good luck.

Gotta be really careful storing the boat on land. Unless the marina has really high ground, the boat can float off the blocks and be wrecked (or other boats can damage yours).

Leaving her in the water connected to a floating dock is the worst approach! In Isobel, the floating docks at my old marina could have floated over their pilings and wandered about. Lucky, the marina folks (who were super) added PVC pipe to the pilings and kept them in place. The Admiral and I were 2,000 miles away at the time, attending a friend's wedding, but we need not have worried. At least a foot of water approached where our big M was blocked, but she never moved.

Jeff

Thank you so much for the info! I'll be in that mode today. Thinking about removing the bimini top because it snapped in a much lesser storm. I'm going to charge up the batteries in anticipation.

I'm docked up river in a place called "Hurricane Cove" that the old timers say is the best place to be. Can't pull it so I'll put lots of long lines on it.

Tranquilo wrote: Thinking about removing the bimini top... I'm going to charge up the batteries in anticipation. I'm docked up river in a place called "Hurricane Cove" that the old timers say is the best place to be. Can't pull it so I'll put lots of long lines on it.

Bro, don't think about it, do it...the canvas will rip off early in the storm taking the support structures with it. If you are in a "hurricane hole" you are better protected but get her tied down well, either to a high point on multiple pilings and/or multiple, strong anchors. Do look at the Boat US videos and instruction sheets pronto!

Got her tied up with 2 sets of lines (one for higher than usual surge & one for "holy *%@!" level surge.

Bimini & solar panel removed, everything strapped to the back deck, tarped, netted. Lets see what happens

Spent the night on mine, at the slip, during a hurricane. Wasn't too bad until the power went out. Then it got a bit scary!

Jeff

Them hurricanes aint nothin to play with. We will be keeping y'all in our prayers. Being from Louisiana I kinda know how y'all feel!

Wife got all mad when I wanted to spend the night there. Probably a good idea not to