Hurricane Sandy Preparations.

mixman

mixman

Livin' the life.
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Normally, I keep my boat in the water all year. But Sandy has made me change my mind (at least for the next week until I launch again). Hopefully, this will be enough storm preparation. Better safe than sorry considering I already own the trailer.

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Best possible solution to protect your boat from a tropical weather event, as long as you are in a location with an elevation higher than the highest predicted storm surge you should be good to go. If not move up the hill until you are above possible storm surge and not below big trees. Make sure the hull drain plugs are open to drain rain water and make sure the drains are protected from wind blown debris (IE: Sticks, limbs, leaves, pine straw) that could stop up the deck/hull drains. Go buy plenty of beer, booze and gasoline, those commodities will be in great demand if the storm strikes your area. Good Luck!
 
I'm on the top of a hill off of a Chesapeake Bay tributary. I'm guessing at least 25' above sea level. If it floods up this high, well, I think I'll have bigger issues to deal with! :-)

If the storm stays on the projected path, all strong winds are north. That will actually result in blow-out conditions on the Chesapeake and there shouldn't be any tidal-related flooding problems like we had with Isabelle a few years ago.

I have no drains on this catamaran (Cat B rated ISO, so water shedding is not an issue). But I am considering taking the canvas down. Here's the latest marine forecast for the impact days:

Sunday: NE wind 15 to 17 kt. Showers. Seas 1 ft or less.

Sunday Night: N wind 16 to 20 kt. Showers. The rain could be heavy at times. Seas 1 ft or less.

Monday: N wind around 30 kt. Showers likely. The rain could be heavy at times. Seas around 2 ft.

Monday Night: N wind 32 to 36 kt. Showers. The rain could be heavy at times. Seas around 2 ft.

Tuesday: N wind 46 to 49 kt becoming NNW 52 to 55 kt in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 65 kt. Showers. Seas 3 to 4 ft.
 
My boat is hauled and is just south of Chesapeake City. I am not too far above the sea level in the parking lot. I'm hoping the bay does get sucked out and I won't have to worry about flooding or the the boat lifting off the stands.
 
I'm hauling tomorrow as previously scheduled. She'll be on the trailer in our yard which is about 65' above the water level of Still Pond Creek. I'll pull the plug, probably put the trailer cover on and set the trailer in a bow high configuration. Not much else to do.
 
Mike, I have a feeling you'll be able to walk across the creek come Tuesday. :-)
 
I had damage on 2 boats, 33 miles inland.
For Rita, I had it on a lift, but my clutch went out on my truck when I was evacuating my tractor from the coast.
I could not go back in to get the boat trailer. So I just put it as high as possible and hoped for the best.
The surge was about 1' too high.
For Ike, I came in from work too late to get my Chris Craft out of the water, so I put it in a higher stall.
The surge from Rita was 8.5 ft. and it was a direct hit, so I figured I was safe. The top of the boat shed
was 11 ft. Ike hit in Galveston, Tx., 150 miles to the West, and we got 11.5' of surge. Go figger.
I will not leave a boat in the water again, even if it is not a direct hit.

I have been evacuating from hurricanes for 48 years, and the only 2 times I had issues with the evacuation,
I had damage to boats.
Being 33 miles inland didn't help, the surge came up the ship channel and did the damage.
 
Kurt,
Yep. We'll be renaming it the Still Pond Mud Flats.
 
I am staying in at the marina, however a marathon to take canvas down tomorrow. I sure hope it blows out for the house. High tide today at 3pm was right to the stringers on our pier, which means Annap. was seeing water from the storm drains.
Mike, if it surges over our pier, I'll release the jet dock, and land it on the driveway. A good blow-out might make it possible to find my lost mooring in the creek !

Good luck to all.
 
Dusty, yes, protect the jet dock!! ;) We'll get it out of there sometime.
 
Even on a trailer tie the boat down. Overturned boats don't fare much better ashore than at sea.
 
My boat was set on blocks and jack stands by the marina on marina property. If it falls off because of the storm will insurance cover it?
Jim
 
quote:
Originally posted by dancerscap

Even on a trailer tie the boat down. Overturned boats don't fare much better ashore than at sea.

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Gusts to 60mph aren't going to flip my boat over. It's a catamaran. Look at the first post and see how it sits.
 
quote:
Originally posted by 32carv

My boat was set on blocks and jack stands by the marina on marina property. If it falls off because of the storm will insurance cover it?
Jim

Click to expand...


That will depend on your policy. You need to drink 2 cups of coffee and attempt to read through all the disclaimers :-)
 
The neighborhood "team" pulled 5 boats today, including mine. Kind of tough getting boat to the ramp and onto the trailer straight without a properly working helm control. Well, at least its on the trailer; I'll get it straightened out later.
 
I removed my canvas, taped all the seams up, lengthened the lines, doubled up the lines then added 3 spring lines. Then bought a bushel of crabs and a case of beer.
 
In La., you can't buy alcohol between time they call evacuation till it is over.
 
In La., you can't buy alcohol between time they call evacuation till it is over.
 
FYI Here in eastern NC, Morehead City, about 350 miles NW from the storm center, it is now 30mph sustained and 45 mph gusts from the north. And building. So don't take anything for granted!
 
Looks like they toned down the impact along the Chesapeake Bay a bit. Still calling for a lot of rain and tropical winds gusting to 50 but the storm surge is only predicted at 2' and that will be on the western shore.
 
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