Storm watch… when to pull boat?

[talismansigns]

Hi All,

I have a 22’ sailboat. It has a 23” keel. I am on a mooring in a somewhat protected harbor. Duxbury harbor in Massachusetts. This is my first season in the ocean with a sailboat. I am concerned about the upcoming storm. See below.

Would you pull your boat based on the weather predictions? My launch guy said I was good in 40 mph winds based on his experience.

I have a trailer.

Thanks,
Joe


ANZ200-041930-
403 AM EDT THU SEP 4 2008


.SYNOPSIS FOR MASSACHUSETTS AND RHODE ISLAND COASTAL WATERS...
A WEAK COLD FRONT WILL MOVE ACROSS NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND TODAY AND
STALL ACROSS MASSACHUSETTS THIS EVENING...THEN MOVE NORTH AGAIN
TONIGHT. WEAK HIGH PRES WILL FOLLOW FRI. THE REMNANTS OF HANNA WILL
LIKELY MOVE UP THE COASTAL PLAIN OF THE EAST COAST THIS WEEKEND.
PLEASE REFER TO THE LATEST FORECASTS AND DISCUSSIONS FROM THE
NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER CONCERNING THE POSSIBLE EFFECT OF HANNA.

FOR INFORMATION ON POSSIBLE HAZARDOUS WEATHER BEYOND THE 24-36 HOUR
FORECAST PERIOD...PLEASE VISIT Homepage of The National Weather Service Forecast Office in Taunton, MA. AND FOLLOW THE
HAZARDOUS OUTLOOKS LINK AT THE TOP OF THE BLUE BAR ON THE LEFT.



________________________________________


ANZ250-041930-
COASTAL WATERS FROM MERRIMACK RIVER MA OUT 25 NM TO PLYMOUTH MA
OUT 40 NM...INCLUDING THE STELLWAGEN BANK NATIONAL MARINE
SANCTUARY-
403 AM EDT THU SEP 4 2008


TODAY
SW WINDS 5 TO 10 KT. SEAS 2 TO 4 FT.

TONIGHT
SW WINDS 10 TO 15 KT...BECOMING 5 TO 15 KT IN THE LATE
EVENING AND EARLY MORNING...THEN BECOMING 5 TO 10 KT AFTER
MIDNIGHT. SEAS 2 TO 4 FT.

FRI
S WINDS 5 TO 10 KT...INCREASING TO 10 TO 15 KT WITH GUSTS
UP TO 20 KT EARLY IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 2 TO 4 FT.

FRI NIGHT
SE WINDS 10 TO 15 KT. GUSTS UP TO 20 KT AFTER
MIDNIGHT. SEAS 2 TO 4 FT. SHOWERS LIKELY AFTER MIDNIGHT WITH VSBY
1 TO 3 NM.

SAT
S WINDS 10 TO 15 KT WITH GUSTS UP TO 20 KT. SEAS 3 TO
5 FT. SHOWERS AND TSTMS LIKELY. VSBY 1 TO 3 NM.

SAT NIGHT
S WINDS 10 TO 15 KT WITH GUSTS UP TO 20 KT...
BECOMING SE 30 TO 40 KT IN THE LATE EVENING AND EARLY MORNING...
THEN BECOMING E 40 TO 45 KT WITH GUSTS UP TO 50 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT.
SEAS 4 TO 6 FT. SHOWERS AND TSTMS LIKELY. VSBY 1 TO 3 NM.

[camaraderie]

On a mooring your boat will point into the wind and you should see nowhere near the seas that are predicted in a protected harbor UNLESS the harbor is open to the east/se and has a long fetch to the sea.
The major things I would be concerned with are removing all canvas including any roller furling sail and getting some safety lines on the mooring and protecting against chafe on the lines.
The other thing to consider is other boats around you. If they are neglected and look lke they could break loose...perhaps a trailer would be a safer bet.

[talismansigns]

Thanks camaraderie,

Great idea with the canvas. That is an easy one to do too. I have a double pendant and it is new this year and it has chafe protective sleves. The mooring set up is new also.

I was the 2nd to last mooring issued this year so I am at the very south eastern end of the mooring field. Only one other boat could make contact with me if it came free with the predicted wind direction.

I was also considering using my halyards as an extra set of side stays.

[jimmalkin]

A very effective device to hold a boat to a secure mooring is to run a section of chain encased in firehose at the chafe points (bow roller/chock.) Run from the mooring ball to the boat and you can shackle on a loop or line for cleating off at your samson post or bow cleat. With a capture pin to keep the chain from jumping out of the roller or chock, your boat will never "saw" through the chain. Then you only have to worry about other boats and the security of the mooring itself.

[Brezzin]

[quote=talismansigns;363104]Thanks camaraderie,

I was the 2nd to last mooring issued this year so I am at the very south eastern end of the mooring field. Only one other boat could make contact with me if it came free with the predicted wind direction.

[quote]

No disrespect but you obviously didn't meet Murphy. In 1986 (Hurricane Gloria) I had a Starwind 223 in Noank CT. I was on a mooring with only one boat that could possibly hit me. Guess what. Take nothing for granted. And I mean nothing. If you know the owner of that boat, go talk to him/her see what precautions they are taking. I would just prepare for the worst and hope for the best.

[JohnRPollard]

Talismansigns,

I'm familiar with the mooringfield where you keep your boat. Based on the forecast you cited, I would be sitting on the fence as to whether I'd leave my boat there.

You probably will be okay if you strip the boat down (remove all sails, canvas, etc). However, there will be a fair bit of fetch from the SE, and even the East, given the forecast wind direction. I think the SE fetch will be the worst, but even out of the East there's a pretty good patch of water between you and the barrier beach. A big variable will be the tides at peak storm intensity - - low tide will greatly reduce the amount of fetch, and increase your scope.

I would stop in and speak with the harbourmaster's office, and hear/defer to what they recommend. One option might be to put the boat out on one of the heavy-duty moorings on the NE side of Clarke's Island -- I think there would be much less fetch/wave action in there. I might even anchor over there if a had good ground tackle.

Good luck with your storm prep. Here's hoping it stays more seaward.

[justified]

Brezzin a slight correction Gloria was September 27th 1985- My wedding - My brother-in-law's boat sank that day- the eye went over Ct. around 5pm during our vows - Yes we are still married

Justified

[rperret]

IF you have a trailer and easy access to getting boat on the trailer - pull her out.

Concur with removing all canvas, sails, remove the boom, take anything of value with you. Use some duct tape to seal any ports or hatches. Set up some extra lines to the mooring chain (assume you have proper sized ground tackle and adequate scope at high tide...). Some folks will actually lead lines to stern cleats and the mast to provide extra measure of security.

Good luck - I live in CT - but there is a marina where I winter store - its in a protected area and they let me store the boat on a dock - so that's where I'm going (have done that several times over the years...)

Rick

[talismansigns]

Thanks all.

JohnRPollard, you called it. I am dead middle on the fence as I type this. I have a call into the harbormaster and will act on his recomendation if it is to remove the boat. If he says it wil be fine, I will still have the decision to make.


Brezzin, thanks for murphy reminder....

[Brezzin]

Originally Posted by justified

Brezzin a slight correction Gloria was September 27th 1985- My wedding - My brother-in-law's boat sank that day- the eye went over Ct. around 5pm during our vows - Yes we are still married

Justified

85.. 86 you get the point. My wedding was 9/25 only in 82. still married