Yup. I guess all you southern sailors are getting mighty jealous of us northerners. First, we have a 5.9 earthquake centered in Richmond, VA and now it looks like this weekend Irene is gonna drop in for a little chat. I'll be moving "Koinonia" to a protected slip in a marina and removing all her sails.
I'll keep ya'll posted as she gets closer. We don't get hurricanes up here too often that threaten to make a direct strike. Now I understand what you Floridians go through.
Bob23
As you all know, I'm a newbie at all this (including now my first possible hurricane pass over my boat). My marina has sent some emails. I did a copy and paste of some of the major points they suggested. I'm sure many of you know or read this stuff before, but for me it's all good first time advise.
-Ray
- - - - - - - - - -
Decide EARLY whether you want your marina to haul your boat and place it on land. As a storm gets closer, the number of phone calls for hauling increase dramatically.
If you decide to leave your boat in the water, double and triple tie your lines and use ample chafe gear. Remember that longer leads are always better than short ones and if your cleats are not bolted through, consider tying to your mast, winches or something else that is.
Anticipate a storm surge. If your boat is tied to anything that will not rise and fall with the tide, leave plenty of slack in the lines. Surges of more than 20 feet are not uncommon with hurricanes.
Deploy as many fenders as you can.
Remove as much windage as possible. Remove canvas, all sails (even roller furling sails), flags, cushions, dinghies, boat hooks and anything else that can increase "sail area" or become a projectile in heavy winds. Lash down anything that cannot be removed (tillers, wheels, booms, etc.).
Make sure that all dinghies, kayaks and other small boats are removed from the marina and stored ashore.
If you have any loose materials on your boat or on the docks around it, please be sure to remove those as well. These might include boarding steps, potted plants, mats and rugs and chairs, tables, etc.
Fill your tanks to increase the boat's weight and lower it in the water.
Contact your insurance company. Many insurance policies have sections that cover expenses related to protecting your boat when a hurricane watch or warning is issued. Make sure your policy is current and find out whether there are any special instructions you ought to observe.
Other precautions include making sure batteries are charged and bilge pumps are in good working order, closing and sealing all hatches (with duct tape if necessary), and moving all heavy equipment on board to a low position inside the boat so it does not fall.
Disconnect all shore power cables so they cannot be damaged and start a fire. Close all seacocks except those which provide cockpit drainage or serve a similar purpose. Also check to be sure you have registration and ownership papers with you and have not left them aboard.
. .
Thanks, Ray:
I must say I've never had to prepare for a direct hit hurricane before. And unfortunately, up here in NJ, the time of her arrival coincides with a new moon, meaning astronomical high tides.
I guess removing the mast might not be a bad idea. I'll probably wait till Friday to do that.
Bob23
Removing the mast is a good idea. I had both a 16 and a 19 when Charlie's eye came right over our heads. Lost both masts, big hole in the side of the 16.
Wiggs
Hi guys, Im in north fla. and trailer my com-pac 16. as a precaution to high winds , i went to harbor freight and bought (4)18 '' ground augers and 2 rachet straps and strapped the trailer to the ground, going across the frame (the boat is strapped to the trailer). I feel for you guys in the water and hope you come thru fine.
The augers are a good idea. The City of Gulfport, FL requires them at our sailing club so HideAway is always tied down. Even so I am amazed at how much she rocks around in just 20mph wind. We're not getting much from Irene - just a little wind and rain. In fact the biggest effect has been a drying out of the humidity.
When we had HideAway in her wet slip we used four spring lines, eight bow and stern lines, two sets of fenders with boards and then set all of our other fenders out. I always dropped the rudder and tied tiller straight then lowered the motor into the water. I have never dropped the mast but we do wrap the main sail with rope and tie down the bimini. We do not have roller furling but if we did I would remove the sail. If the storm is bad enough we strip the boat to equip the new one. Irene would be in this class.
The most important lesson we have learned over the years and we learned this the hard way - HideAway, no matter how much we love her, is not worth risking our lives trying to save during the storm. Go early to secure the boat the best you can then go home and stay there. Stay safe my friends Matt
Here is hoping my slip is as protected as it seems. Heading down Saturday to add more lines and reduce windage.
Anyone raised/dropped a 23's mast at the dock? Might do that to reduce windage further.
Thanks,
Shawn
I'm probably lowering mine today. It shouldn't be too hard- I've got the boat in the slip bow first.
I removed all sails, the boom yesterday. Today will be the gas tank and cover, and duct taping all the hatches shut and adding lines and springlines.
Let's hope that Monday morning sees all our families, homes and sailboats intact and undamaged.
Bob23
The Horizon is in a large slip at the upstream end of Toms River, about 5 to 6 miles west of Barnegat Bay and perhaps 8 miles north of Barnegat Inlet. Plan is to loosely center 20 x 8 foot boat in my 40 by 16 foot slip using eight 5/8 inch dock lines from a much larger boat I sold 4 years ago. Windage is not really my problem - mast will be lowered today and the low boat has virtually no exposure to the wind considering the height of the adjoining boats, docks and bulkheads. It's an end slip - I've got bulkheads on 2 sides (starboard beam and stern), with the stern facing east.
My main concern is storm surge. Seven feet or more could be a problem. Some of the forecasts are calling for 10 to 15 feet of surge. Normal tidal range up Toms River is around 1 foot. Marina says that the water has never gone above the docks (maybe plus 4 feet) - but ?? Anyone on Barnegat Bay have a memory of what can happen in a northeaster or hurricane on the bay, especially way up some of the rivers?
I have lowered my mast at the dock, by myself. You just have to have enough clearance aft, and you need to do it when it is somewhat calm. The biggest problem with doing it while the boat is in the water is the possibility of losing the mast laterally if you don't have lots of help or a good baby stay system.
In Mississippi, been there, done that many times over the years. Good luck to all in the path. Agree with Matt, do the best you can for your boat then get yourself to a safe place. If you are not in a surge area, in my opinion that is not out on the road running, but in your home with the hatches battened down. In a surge area, get yourself on down the road...
The Admiral is scheduled to fly into Philadelphia on Sunday. That probably won't happen
Wish you guys in the path good luck with riding out the storm. Geez, and earthquake and hurricane in the same week!!!
Bob,
"I'm probably lowering mine today. It shouldn't be too hard- I've got the boat in the slip bow first."
That is how I am normally but the owner of the marina has asked that everyone go in stern first as it reduces windage along the edge of the dock. I will probably lower mine before I swing it around.
Good luck to all.
Shawn
It's a nice day up here today in southern New England, I may go out for an afternoon sail, come in and then start the process. The "stern first" comment is good. I will lower the mast and ask marina if I can put it inside somewhere (one less thing to tie down) , borrowed some extra fenders from a friend, have plenty of extra dock lines , . . . Thanks for the idea of duct taping aft lockers!
Ray
hey bob,
i called the marina - on the list, but, as you can imagine, the list is very long, and it is likely that they will not get to my boat.. i was thinking of coming down very early on sat morning - arriving around 6:30 in the morning - to take the motor off and collect it and the gas can and all of our stuff that is still below and bringing it home.. maybe putting the boom below .. i won't be able to get the mast down at that point.. what is the weather outlook for early tomorrow? do you think that the roads will be overly congested with folks trying to move inland? are you guys going to evacuate? jt
I think the Parkway southbound may be closed but check out a website pertaining to that. Rt 72 Eastbound is closed...I'm not sure what route you take. I'd advise going to the marina early, putting away what you can, double lines on everything and pray.
I'm gonna try to get the marina to haul my boat tomorrow early am...otherwise she stays in the slip. Problem with this storm is the storm surge which is forecast at 5 to 8 feet.
Bob23
thanks for that good info.. i just checked the parkway site and found that they are closing southbound lanes as of 8 this evening - that is 6 minutes from now! ... looks like maybe we just waited too long :( i guess that i should have come down today.. well, maybe the trip idea just was not meant to be.. I see that the governor is losing his patience with folks who are still hanging around the beaches.. sure am glad that i opted for the full coverage rather than just liability like i was considering earlier in the summer :) but, i hope that i don't have to see how the insurance game works... jt
Wish all of you good luck. Another reminder of who's really in control :)
It might be too late for some of us to do much about it, but I found this storm surge link at the National Hurricane Center -
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/psurgegraphics_at4.shtml?gm (http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/psurgegraphics_at4.shtml?gm)
Another good one showing the projected path of the storm -
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/graphics_at4+shtml/091823.shtml?gm_track#contents (http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/graphics_at4+shtml/091823.shtml?gm_track#contents)
Both are interactive. You can scroll and magnify.
hi Ron, interesting site.. thanks for posting it. we are at shore point marina.. maybe you will have a better time of it further up the toms river... do you live in the immediate area? jt
I guess that the mighty Beagle will have to weather the hurricane at the dock. We got home yesterday to discover that five neighbors up the lagoon had already spider-webbed their boats to pilings on both sides of the lagoon and there was no exit. The option of leaving to get hauled was out. We doubled up on bow, stern, and spring lines, easing them to allow the boat to be eight feet from the dock, and ran three anchor rodes from the boat to the opposite side of the lagoon to keep Beagle from banging on the dock and pilings. Now, my biggest worries are the other boats breaking free and crashing into the Beagle or more than five or six feet of storm surge. Thanks Bob23 for stopping over when we were away and checking out the situation!!
Quote from: jthatcher on August 27, 2011, 06:40:57 AM
hi Ron, interesting site.. thanks for posting it. we are at shore point marina.. maybe you will have a better time of it further up the toms river... do you live in the immediate area? jt
We live in Freehold, about 20 miles from Toms River. I think most of us should be OK. With the stength of Irene starting to decrease, I'd be surprised at a storm surge greater than 3 feet making it that far into Barnegat.
Long Key Marina refused to pull my boat today even though they were done hauling by 10:00 am. Strange. Koinonia has more lines on her now than ever...I'll be down tonight to check on her. Gotta babysit the old girl
PeterG;
No problem but I was disappointed that no beer was to be found anywhere! I hold no grudges...looking forward to the Beagle and Koinonia coming through unscathed and a victory pizza dinner soon.
Ron: Thanks for the links...I may sleep a bit better tonight!
Bob23
I just now got off the phone with my favorite uncle, Jim, who lives in Wilmington, NC. They experienced little damage with only some minor debris in thier yard. Among a love for a few cold ones from time to time, he loves storms and radical weather...always has. He's been though hurricanes in Florida many times and at age 12 while visiting him, I experienced my first eye in Hurricane Cleo. (might have got the name wrong). It was really cool and eerie.
While on the phone with him, the sun had begun to come out. His general view of this storm was that the forecasters are overblowing it. That's comforting but the storm hasn't passed us yet. But I do value his opinion. We'll see how Irene enjoys her visit to the Garden State.
Bob23
Well Gents & Admirals, I have had the great pleasure of sitting through two days, with one remaining, of Mold inspection license continuing education required by the Great State of VA. My beautiful wife, back at SML, took the time to enjoy a fresh breeze from the east, and ENE which allows us to reach up and down the lake.
We are in the SW part of VA just SE of Roanoke, so there are no problems, Mon.
She picked up our widow neighbor at her dock and they spent 3 hrs under sail. She bragged that she reurnted to our dock single handed under sail.
Green with envy.
For those of you that remember Rick ( Ick) from 2008 & 9, say a little prayer for him and all the others on Long Island NY.
TG
I do remember Ick and wish he was back here. Do you stay in touch with him?
Irene has visited NJ, decided she didn't really like it here, and left in a huff. Here in Southern Ocean County, I've seen no damage and only a fraction of the storm surge that was predicted. Of course I'm right across the bay from Barnegat Inlet and we have a small tidal range normally anyway. My boat was weathered the storm thanks to stout workmanship by the Hutchins, many lines by yours truly, and protection from above. Thank you!
All in all, we were spared no more damage than from a typical nor'easter. Maybe less because nor'easters last about 3 days. I haven't been on Long Beach Island yet to check on my customers homes...I'm sure there is some beach erosion. It is a sand bar, after all.
I hope all you Compac-ers out there have come out unscathed from this potentially dangerous storm.
Bob23
Before the storm:
(http://i617.photobucket.com/albums/tt260/Bob23_photo/BeforeIrene3.jpg)
After:
(http://i617.photobucket.com/albums/tt260/Bob23_photo/AfterIrene1.jpg)
Not much difference, huh?
Hi Bob,
Glad to hear you made it through OK.
Fingers crossed for Serenity. I'm on a finger dock so hopefully the bumpers hold up and I don't need to test out the doubled lines. The weather got too nasty yesterday to drop the mast so that stayed up. I took rudder, boom and everything else off though to cut down on windage.
Shawn
Let's hope we ALL such have such great before & after pictures!
Thank God it's ONLY tropical storm Irene here in CT.
Don't know if I'll get down to the Coconut T. later today or not. Only small twigs in my yard so far, next door neighbor has 2 trees down in his.
Ray
hey bob, we were without power for a few hours up here in north east pa.. and the internet just came back up.. good to hear that you weathered the storm well. I have not heard from anyone at the marina, so I am hoping that means good news. we have quite a few trees down in this area and roads closed due to flooding. we are just sitting tight for now. thanks for keeping us all updated! jt
Irene was really something - if nothing else - huge I shot this video late Saturday afternoon looking out on Boca Ciega Bay from our sailing club about the time Irene was in North Carolina - - Then today we have had heavy rain this morning then about supper time both are from the trailing edge of Irene over a thousand miles from here - wow
And if that wasn t weird enough our low temp Friday night was 86 - - - the highest low ever recorded for Tampa
The Cape Dory 28 in the video is where one of our club members call home - - No thanks
http://youtu.be/U88TVeUxz68
Have CP27 along Wilmington, NC coast about 3 mikes South of Wrightsville Beach (Masonboro Boatyeard). We had some pretty high waters but I believe winds were under 70mph here. Eye passes about 100 miles east of us. intracoastal came up about 4-6 ft and the low tide was extremely low the next day. Word from Oriental and Pamlico Sound was extreme surge along the western side and damage to a number of boats in just the one marina that report came from. There will certainly be many reports coming in from other areas and marinas. On my boat lines doubled or tripled and hatches locked securely. Only water appears to have been wind driven through hatch boards. All in all I feel very lucky. Where I live that says it all.
CT reporting in:
All is fine with the Coconut T., just a little wind driven rain through the hatch here as well.
Can't say the same for most of the trees and power lines in the state! Looks like I'm out of power here at home for at least a WEEK, this is truly NOT FUN.
Internet only through 3G for a while, sketchy at that.
Must sail tomorrow to clear the mind
Ray
I have been told Serenity is fine though I have not been down there yet.
Power went out on Sunday and is still down. Estimates for up to a week to get the lights back on as about 85% of the city is dark.
We are in good shape though. About 4 years back I bought a 5000 watt generator and wired in a transfer switch. I am cycling that to keep the fridge happy and to fire the furnace for showers. Till now it had maybe an hour if real use on it. Up around 28 hours now, using about 5 gallons a day.
I have a couple of Aladdin mantle lamps for light and wired in a couple of Bebi boat leds bulbs to 9v batteries for night lights for the kids. Cooking on an Origo stove....... Making popcorn in a pot.... Really roughing it. :)
Shawn
Iv'e done the same thing. Had my electrcian wire a small gererator sub panel into the house, I plug my Honda 3500watt in and can power the well, fridge, some lights and recepticals and the coffee maker. Never have had a chance to use it yet.
Like Joni Mitchell sang all those years ago; "Don't you know it seems to go, that you don't know what you've got till it's gone."
bob23
Bob,
Power came back a few hours ago. Really I was getting into sync with the loss of power and just running the generator as needed. With all the lights out it made the nights very quiet and peaceful.
When the day comes you need the generator you will be glad you did the work. It along the with the other preparations let us really take the power outage in stride.
Shawn
Ok, I'm into DAY SIX with no power . . . . . my life has become somewhat routine.
No job this week (school district that I teach at postponed the start of school until at least Tuesday after Labor Day.
Morning routine:
*Wake up & breakfast
*Heat water on the camp stove and do the dishes from the night before
*Go the neighbors house with buckets, fill buckets from their pool and come back and ready toilets for another day.
Afternoon routine:
*Go sailing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LH_1oDGP9Oo
Evening routine:
*Listen to Yankees/Red Sox with radio in my lap, sitting in the dark.
*Go to Bed
.... OK, the sailing part in the middle of the day is never bad (out with daughter today .... tells you how bored she is without power, she is hanging out with "dad"!) See Youtube link above for short clip from todays sail, gave me something to do on my iPad while listening to my Red Sox lose tonight!
Lots of Utility Crews in town today, power should be back on tomorrow.
-Ray :)
Great video clip. Some of the most meaningful times with my kids have been sailing. Hope your power comes on soon. While Irene spared the Jersey Shore, she sure wreaked havoc many places elsewhere.
Bob23
hey there.. great video clip. on her 16th birthday, earlier this summer, my step daughter took the helm for the first time. most kids would rather be behind the wheel of a car on that day, but she seemed pretty thrilled to take control of a 23 foot sailboat instead.
so you guys got an extra week off from school! it sounds like you are making good use of that time :) we started a day late, but today is our fourth day back, and i guess that I am back in the groove. we are going to go down to jersey to check on the boat on sunday, but it looks like my sailing season is about over.. keep sharing the videos! jt
Power / Electricity / Cable / High Speed Internet . . . . .all on in the middle of the night.
Life is good
Ray
Hey all you Jersey guys,
Sorry you took a walloping from Irene, but from your reports your boats seemed to hold up well. Hopefully everyone will have power by the weekend. Although I live in Levittown, PA (a trailer sailor am I), many of us lost power for a few days. I was lucky with power being down for just under 24 hours. Invested in a 3250 watt gen a couple of years ago; really has paid off. Provides enough power for my needs and some for my neighbors for their fridges and freezers.
On a happier note: I'll be making my first real sail in my CP16 Saturday in Barnegat. Be launching from "Up the Creek" marina and trying to keep up with my friend's 33' sloop "Aquila". Hopefully, I'll meet up with some of you guys on the bay if you're not still recovering from Irene's wrath.
Marty K.
Just spent the day on Barnegat Bay... WOW! More in the Lounge!