Tropical Storm Hermine

[gates_cliff]

I'm on the western shore of the Chesapeake and the wind was out of the NE which put the river where my marina is right in its path. So I went down Friday, doubled all lines added chafe protection and added another spring line and hung every fender I have. Went back on Saturday and the wind really danced Katie Girl around in the slip. Spent the whole day there so as to monitor two high and one low tide. With wind pushing water up the West River, the high tide was just about up to the level of the dock. So since the wind was pushing the boat into the slip, I added yet another spring line for insurance against bashing the bow against the dock. Went back today and everything was fine.

One interesting thing. I have/had two of the low profile cowl vents, the inexpensive (or rather the less expensive) ones. I had removed one, but the other one was either blown off, got a line on it and pulled it off, or someone borrowed it. I noticed it yesterday and of course the local West Marine didn't have any in stock. So, I covered the hole with some plastic and taped it tight to keep any water out. And even though my wife insists I'm a hoarder, especially with boat stuff, I just happened to have one of the deck plates so went over today and installed it. That said, it raises a question, does one usually remove the cowl vents? I typically have not.

[Jim Walsh]

I have three cowl vents. Two are for providing an air supply and exhaust of the engine space and have no dorade boxes. If it looks like wind driven spray could be an issue (typically offshore in heavy weather) I will pull the vents and insert the covers into the deck plates. My other cowl vent has a dorade box so I never remove it as it supplies fresh air to the main cabin.