Hello everyone,
I keep my CP16 on a trailer near an estuary where storm surge could be a problem. In the event of a hurricane, the typical advice is to get it out of the way. However, there are chains anchored to the ground. My question is this:
In the event of a hurricane, what if I were to fill the boat with water, and chain the trailer to the ground? Would the combined weight of the trailer and excess water keep the boat down so that she doesn't float away?
Thanks in advance.
If the boat is full of water and you are in the water the stresses are neutral. However, filling it with water on the trailer may cause some stress that it is not designed to handle. Additionally, you are likely to get water intrusion into the keel ballast area that would be difficult to dry out and possibly have inside out osmotic blistering or freeze heave problems. I would tow to higher ground or set it up to rise and fall with the surge. Just an opinion.
hes is 100% right...
i would never fill it with water, especially our hull design. the only safe bet is to remove it from the area, I wouldn't be too concerned with cat1 stuff if it is secured down properly and flooding would be at a minimum, at that point I would be more worried about flying debris damaging the boat if its left outside. If something like a cat 3 is coming, the only 100% safe option is getting it out of there...
Leave the trailer tilted bow-up so that the cockpit will drain. Check the drains. If you suspect they may clog up with storm debris, put the trailer hitch way high so some of the damned up water will flow over the transom. I latch my aft hatch which now has a water tight seal. Don't let water get into the cabin or through the aft hatch or you may have a later problem of water in the concrete ballast. I would also cover the cockpit and cabin slide hatch area with a tarp.
In the mountains of VA with no storm surge, likely.
During Sandy, our16ft fishing boat floating off her blocks and rode out the storm tied to the house! It was interesting getting her back on the trailer. Perhaps you could raise the trailer onto risers of some sort if you know the predicted surge height? If it was me, I find a person willing to let you trailer it away from the storm surge, even if they charge you. Good Luck! Hoping she makes a quick turn out to sea.
During Sandy, my other boat-a 1974 Sabre 28-was stored on stands in a marina yard. I had removed my knot meter through-hull for use as a drain. The yard flooded, and at least two-thirds of the boats floated or were knocked off their stands and were damaged/destroyed.
My boat filled with about a foot of water through the "drain" and stayed upright on the stands. Luckily (or maybe because it wasn't a new 40 footer), it was in the last row, so it was not "hit" by other boats. The Atomic 4 engine had to be "pickled," and oil scum had to cleaned up, but the boat survived.
Based on this experience, if I couldn't move my 16, I'd either fix it to the trailer and disconnect the cockpit drain pipes so that the hull could fill, or tie down the boat and trailer with some slack to keep them from floating away.
of course there is ONE more option... =)
Bahamian moor it with some big ass anchors, take down the mast and put it inside somewhere....
Lash tiller down lightly to keep it generally straight, let her rip...