[Stinky from USC]

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/afp/20040906/capt.sge.gzu41.060904070847.photo00.default-384x256.jpg

[LoopyGirdleSniffer]

Stinky that can't be Ivan.

I'm in Barbados and we're the first ones lucky enough to feel his wrath. Starting in a couple of hours!! YIKES!!!!!!!!!!!!

[non-registered guest]

Itch Not an Ivaan, Unlesh Youure Shubmerged.

[Stinky from USC]

That was the warpath carved by Frances,

Crazy Ivan is next

[Hammerhead]

Besides moving the boat out of the hurricanes path, what is the best way to protect a boat in the water. Seems hauling it and putting it on stands or trailer at sea level is not any smarter. I haved my boat at a mooring and think I would chain the boat to the mooring ball chain. The put up as many bumbers as I could find. Then pray?

[fairdinkum]

If it is a sailboat, I would seriously consider taking the rig out of it.... otherwise it will sail back and forth on that mooring like a crazy possessed witch on a broom stick... You will probably hook your rig on something and won't find it in the upright position when you return.

Take ALL canvas and sails OFF of the boat.

Other than that, add an additional bridal to the mooring with chafe guards. I would keep your bumpers in for less windage, and hope your mooring doesn't drag.

If someone breaks loose and heads towards your boat, scratches down the side will be the least of your worries.... two boats hooked up together on one mooring is a sure fire way to find your boat on the rocks...

Good luck.

[sailman]

Hammerhead, on Sep 7 2004, 03:00 PM, said:

Besides moving the boat out of the hurricanes path, what is the best way to protect a boat in the water. Seems hauling it and putting it on stands or trailer at sea level is not any smarter. I haved my boat at a mooring and think I would chain the boat to the mooring ball chain. The put up as many bumbers as I could find. Then pray?

Hammerhead,

As long as the mooring and ground tackle are sized correctly your boat should ride out the storm fine. Make sure that you have plenty of chafe protection on your mooring penants (clear plastic tubing works great). Put a safety line to the chain as a back up. And from the other thread.... remove the sails from the boom and stays!
:D
I have seen an interesting storm tactic used in Texas where the boat is placed on the ground with holes dug for the keel and rudder. I could not see but I assume they laid a tarp down to protect the hull. As long as the area does not flood it looked like a good idea (rig up too)

Good Luck!

Will Museler

[fairdinkum]

One advantage to putting you boat on the hard is that if it does get blown over it is only laying on the ground, where as on a mooring if it breaks loose or sinks, you can pretty much be guarenteed a total loss occuring.

[Mark K]

Just my add:

If you can add scope, do it! You're limited only by the proximity of other vessels.
If you can add some more weight to the line near the bottom that will help too.
A weighted line acts as a shock absorber.
Strip off all possible windage. If you can store the boom below, do it. Sky the halyards.

Strip off all valubles, hell strip off everything you can.
Make sure your insurance is payed up.

[1sailor]

Maybe I'm nuts here but aren't we forgetting about the whole concept of "Insurance Opportunity" ???

Just make sure you have really good insurance, and recent pictures showing how perfect your boat is. Leave the jib on the furler, tie the boat to a can just to weather of the biggest rocks you can find. Tie it to the mooring with your wife's 1/4" clothesline.

Wait for her to sink / wreck / whatever. Get insurance check and go boat shopping. What's better than boat shoopping ?

A little time on yachtworld.com while you're wainting for the storm ????

[Woolsey]

reduce windage! Will is correct: sails off, chafe gear on (old fire hose works well too). Boom off. Anything you can take off, do it.

As I recall from Andrew, the biggest danger is from other boats breaking loose. There was something like a 90 foot canal boat that broke loose and took out a whole (large) string of boats in its path.

I've got my boat way up river here in lauderdale, and we string it across the canal once the storm is close enough that there will be no more traffic on the canal. Other owners do the same, we can all work together and make sure nobody does anything dumb. Lots of slack on lines to allow for storm surge taking boat way up. Make sure insurance policy is paid.