Wind

[tartansailor]

Our thoughts and concerns reach out to all our Cape Dory friends
potentially in the path of Erma the witch. We have serious cause for concern.
Say in the extreme a 175 mph blow makes landfall.
Now according to my calculations PSF = V squared divided by 383.6
so If you were carrying a 4X8 sheet of plywood to board up a window
the force would be 2,554 lbs. perpendicular to the board.
No man made structure can withstand that.
All that remains is prayer.
Dick

[gates_cliff]

Considering wind, what is the best strategy for securing your boat? Best to keep it in its slip, doubled lines with good chafe gear or to have boat hauled and stored on land?

[Sea Hunt Video]

Cliff:

BoatUS has done a lot of research on this issue. They strongly recommend hauling out your boat if at all possible. They feel so strongly about this that will pay a portion of your haul out fee (I think 50% but I am not sure of the exact amount). GEICO now handles BoatUS insurance. I think all is still the same but ..........

In August 2011 S/V Bali Ha'i was sitting comfortably in a marina in NJ. I had just purchased her in July 2011 and was waiting for the end of hurricane season in South Florida. A hurricane (I think Irene) then managed to work its way up the East coast in late August (I am not positive about the dates). The marina hauled out all of their boats!!! I received an email from BoatUS reminding me that my policy covered a portion of the cost of haul out. I was not then aware of this. I sent them the invoice from the marina and BoatUS promptly sent me a check.

[Oswego John]

Roberto
I kept my boat at a slip in a local marina. When a storm of great size threatens, I would haul the boat. An owner could secure his boat to the nth degree of care, but it always seems that it is the careless neighbor's boat that snaps its mooring and runs amok through the mooring field.

For me, it is better to be safe than sorry.

O J

[gates_cliff]

Roberto/JOHN

Thanks, if Irma looks like it's moving up to the Chesapeake, I'll have it hauled.

[Neil Gordon]

>>Best to keep it in its slip, doubled lines with good chafe gear or to have boat hauled and stored on land?<<

If the storm surge takes the docks and fingers over the tops of the pilings, doubled dock lines and chafe gear won't help much. I've seen lots of pictures of whole marinas tossed inland.

By the way, a big surge will also float boats off of their stands in the yard.

[Joe Myerson]

I'm getting worried up here in New England. Looks like we'll get a pass from Irma, but who knows about Jose? Will probably haul this week, sadly.

My thoughts go out to all those who are enduring this apparently record-breaking hurricane season.

Best of luck to all,

--Joe