Gale Warning and Hurricane plans?

[rbryn]

This will be the first season that we've owned a boat that we don't have a trailer for (or have a vehicle that can tow it). And I'm curious about what to do when/if a hurricane or tropical storm comes to town. I'm curious about two things...

1. What are your experiences with your boat and hurricanes? When do you get concerned enough to move it to another anchorage up the coast? Right now my thoughts are not to be too concerned about it until the storm is a Category 1 hurricane. Tropical storms and depressions are no big deal but will still require some careful dock planning and extra lines.

2. We usually close up the boat and put on the camper top when we won't be on it for a few days. In the event of a non-tropical event (gale warning). When should I be worried about taking down the camper canvas so that it won't be torn to shreds by the wind (our marina is exposed to a bay with no wind break on it - we'll get the full force of the winds)

Thanks for your input?

Robb

 

[sprink56]

I always made preliminary plans to pull and block mine out of the water. Most marinas have a plan for that if they have a travel lift. If they don't...locate one nearby that does and make arrangements with them NOW.:thumbsup:

 

[FSUDave]

Robb
The biggest thing is to make sure your insurance is paid, and you have adequate coverage. Living on the west coast of Fl and growing up on boats that were in the water, I have delt with this my entire life. Really the only safe way for me to move my boat would be to haul it out of the water and with a 320 that would be a chore. For us when the hurricane hits the Gulf it could go anywhere. I have seen people evacuate an area because they were told the Hurricane was going to hit only to evacuate into the path of it because it changed directions at the last moment. So I am not comfortable moving my boat with the limited areas I have available to me. I just take down the canvas, put my cockpit cover on, make sure the batteries are charged, turn all the fridges and accessories off, so that the bilge pumps have full batteries to work with, tie up with extra lines and lots of fenders and finally pray. So far we have not had any hurricanes hit us. We have had a few close calls and a couple of tropical storms, but nothing major.
As far as when to take down the canvas, If we are forecast for a tropical storm, I will take it down, other than that I leave it up. I figure the boat runs about 35mph at top end so the canvas has to be able to sustain at least that.

Dave

 

[tobnpr]

Far too many variables depending on your type of boat and location to cover here.
Suggest you do some research online, plenty of good information. Boat US has a lot of reference material for you, here:

http://www.boatus.com/hurricanes/?WT.mc_id=400027

My boat is docked at my residence and not a marina; much of the usual concern with storms is damage from other vessels at the marina so that doesn't apply to me. My new piling installations, oversize and extra long, and equipped with Tide-Slides will accomodate my boat safely for up to an 8' storm surge.

If the storm threat is real enough that you're making preparations, it's time to remove the canvas. It's not just where your boat is, or where you move it to- there's also plenty to do on the boat itself to prepare it to weather the storm.

 

[RonF]

I second what FSUDave said, for the Florida east coast. We are renting a secluded slip in a canal in a residential area, and have madi it through four direct hits years ago. I also tape some visqueen (sp?) plastic sheet over the cabin door and instruments, and tape over the cockpit floor hatches, just in case the cover blows off.

 

[rbryn]

Far too many variables depending on your type of boat and location to cover here.
........

If the storm threat is real enough that you're making preparations, it's time to remove the canvas. It's not just where your boat is, or where you move it to- there's also plenty to do on the boat itself to prepare it to weather the storm.

That I understand pretty clearly. I guess I was looking more at a "when" should I pull it from the water.

Right now my thought is to leave the canvas on up to a 45 mph sustained wind event. The only concern I have with the canvas is if it will hold when it's blowing from either of the sides or towards the rear of the canvas. It's designed to sustain higher winds but it's designed to be taking those in a single direction. Anything above 45mph I was thinking of taking the canvas down.

I was thinking of leaving the boat in the slip up to a Cat 1 hurricane. I'm not sure yet of how I'de get it out of the water or where I could store it. Just asking around at the couple of boat yards, no one wants to take on a boat prior to a storm and have it in thier boat yard when we don't use thier marina. My other option was to rent a F350 to pull it out of the water but I still have to find a trailer for it somewhere.

 

[rbryn]

I second what FSUDave said, for the Florida east coast. We are renting a secluded slip in a canal in a residential area, and have madi it through four direct hits years ago. I also tape some visqueen (sp?) plastic sheet over the cabin door and instruments, and tape over the cockpit floor hatches, just in case the cover blows off.

That's a good idea. I'll add that to my storm preparedness plans. Unfortunatly, our slip isn't as protected and has no sort of wind/water break from the ICW, and the ocean is one short (and low) uninhabited barrier island away.

 

[Sea Gull]

Check your insurance policy. Many will help pay for a professional to move and/or haul your boat in the event of any named storm in the area.