HERE COMES IRENE!

[Bob23]

   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

[rdcvsmith]

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

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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.
. .

 

[Bob23]

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

[Wiggs]

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

[ltmatthews]

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.

[HideAway]

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

[Shawn]

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

[Bob23]

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

[CaptRon28]

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?

[brackish]

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

[Salty19]

Wish you guys in the path good luck with riding out the storm.   Geez, and earthquake and hurricane in the same week!!!

[Shawn]

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

[rdcvsmith]

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

[jthatcher]

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

[Bob23]

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