Hurricane - stay onboard?

[wavedancer38]

Hi,
Wondering if it might be a good idea to stay on the boat during Irene so that we can adjust lines if need be. Or is that a bad idea? Is it best to just adjust lines as best you think they need to be and go home to ride it out there?

We would obviously take all precautions if we had to go on deck in the storm.

[CaptainForce]

I'm in Baltimore too and expecting to stay aboard as we did for Isabel; however, the choice is dependant upon the track and the position of the boat. We're at a position in the Anchorage Marina with a maximum of a mile fetch to the south. I'll feel pretty good about the propects if Irene remains to the east. This should present winds from the east and backing to the southwest. Our choice will be to remove our sails and other windage tomorrow. As our boat is our only home and we've stayed aboard for several previous hurricanes, we feel pretty good about our location and expect to persevere. As we are on a floating dock we will have less adjustment to be made. If your location is on a fixed dock, more attention may be necessary; however, if Irene stays east we shouldn't have the water rise like Isabel. Bottom line...there will be risk. Take care and joy, Aythya crew

[remetau]

At a dock? Cat 3 or above I think it is a bad idea. I guess it depends on your acceptable level of risk.

[Tempest]

Captain, Just curious... How much float do you have...before you're over the top of the pole?

[wavedancer38]

Hi,
We have about 6 feet off the pier and the pier is about 4 feet off the water. My biggest concern is not due to wind but due to storm surge and having the lines get too tight.

Any ideas how to accomplish this without being on the boat?

Also some people are removing their sails, do you find this absolutely necessary?

Thanks

[CaptainForce]

Originally Posted by remetau

At a dock? Cat 3 or above I think it is a bad idea. I guess it depends on your acceptable level of risk.

"at a dock" is too little information to make any such judgement. Fetch, surrounding elevation, expected wind direction, form of dock, height and security of pilings, size of slip, windage aboard and the potential for surge are all important factors. It is not responsible to use one factor such as "at a dock" to evaluate risk. Take care and joy, Aythya crew

[wingNwing]

Currently, we're in a slip 50x18; our boat is 33x11, so we have lots of room. Pilings are about 12" diameter x 8 feet tall, and about 3 years old ... so we're feeling pretty confident staying. But not sure we'd stay in a less-substantial dock, or a bigger predicted storm.

Like Capt Force, this boat is our only home and this (sadly) is our 3rd hurricane aboard.

[Tempest]

Originally Posted by wavedancer38

Hi,
We have about 6 feet off the pier and the pier is about 4 feet off the water. My biggest concern is not due to wind but due to storm surge and having the lines get too tight.

Any ideas how to accomplish this without being on the boat?

Also some people are removing their sails, do you find this absolutely necessary?

Thanks

If I understand you correctly, you are at a "fixed" dock. If so, I'm not aware of any tricks to manage that..without being there to adjust your lines and fenders as you ride it up.

[CaptainForce]

Originally Posted by wavedancer38

..............Also some people are removing their sails, do you find this absolutely necessary?

Thanks

Certainly not absolutely necessary, but I am accustomed to preparing beyond what might be necessary. I stripped my boat for Hurricane Hugo when in north Florida and watched a leaf fall undisturbed straight to the ground while Hugo was pounding SC. I took precautions to anchor in a protected hole for Hurricanes Charley and Floyd with no actual need in hindsight. We've prepped for three hurricanes that hit and we were favored by our extra work. We might not continue to come out without damage. but we will continue to "over-prepare". As the common phrase is stated, "Prepare for the worst and hope for the best." I fully expect to incur storm damage at some time, but we are in our fortieth year of living aboard with no significant damage yet. I'll be working far beyond by neighbors in preparation tomorrow and my greatest concern will be debris breaking free from my neighbors! Take care and joy, Aythya crew

[svHyLyte]

Originally Posted by wavedancer38

Hi,
We have about 6 feet off the pier and the pier is about 4 feet off the water. My biggest concern is not due to wind but due to storm surge and having the lines get too tight.

Any ideas how to accomplish this without being on the boat?

Also some people are removing their sails, do you find this absolutely necessary?

Thanks

It's a little late but, assuming your boat survives, next time try TideMinders: freedom from line adjustment during storm surges, tidal changes and high-winds.