Earl

[M. R. Bober]

Keep a weather eye on Earl. It is a definite qualified maybe for some of us. Double lines. Check ground tackle. Lower sails. Remove canvas. Charge batteries. Clear the decks. Leave town.

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/graphics_at2.sh ... e#contents

Mitchell Bober
Sunny Lancaster (where the Boy Scouts aren't the only ones who are prepared.), VA

[Cathy Monaghan]

Today's update (Aug. 30) is showing Earl's track moving even closer to the U.S. east coast -- looks like everybody from NC northward will be effected. Here in the NJ we probably won't get hurricane force winds, but they could blow in the 50s -- enough to knock down trees and power lines. I guess we'll be in for some flooding as well.

<a href="http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/tafb_latest/ref ... 123_sm.gif" target="_blank"><img width="600" src="http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/tafb_latest/ref ... m.gif"></a>
<a href="http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/" target="_blank">National Hurricane Center</a>

Start storm preparation.

[Neil Gordon]

... with possible Tropical Storm conditions in the marine forecast.

[gates_cliff]

Since this is my first hurricane with my Cape Dory, that needs lots of work, but I love, I thought it might be worthwhile to get some insight of the preparations some of you make. I just called the marina in Deale, MD where I keep my boat and they will haul the boat if things "get bad". I'd be interested in suggestions.

[Sea Hunt]

These are two websites I have found useful for determining anticipated path, strength, etc. for tropical storms and hurricanes.

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/

http://www.wunderground.com/tropical/

The NHC site has both charts (click on chart to enlarge chart) and discussion sections. Click on the named storm or unnamed system and you will get a chart and discussion section. If you click on the chart again you can enlarge the chart to almost full screen.

The NHC has become very good over the years at more accurately predicting a storm's track/path. They are still working on improving programs to more accurately assess storm strength (increases, decreases, etc.).

The Wunderground site has several different sections for each weather system, including maps, charts, computer models, discussions, etc. I find the computer models section to be helpful because it is long range. Obviously, the farther out the prediction model the less accurate, but it still gives a fairly good prediction.

As with all such programs, none are infallible.

[Neil Gordon]

Since this is my first hurricane with my Cape Dory, that needs lots of work, but I love, I thought it might be worthwhile to get some insight of the preparations some of you make. I just called the marina in Deale, MD where I keep my boat and they will haul the boat if things "get bad". I'd be interested in suggestions.

I'm in a slip at a marina with over 600 boats. There's no hauling and no escape so preparation is all I can do. For really big wind (and a related storm surge which will submerge the breakwater):

Double up the dock lines and check for chafe protection.

Extra fenders

If possible, run lines to an adjacent slip or boat to keep from pounding against the dock

Remove sails and dodger

Stow any loose cockpit and/or deck items items

Remove life sling

Deflate and stow dinghy

If it's really a hurricane, once you've done the best you can, leave the boat and don't come back until after the storm.

[Kevin Kaldenbach]

At our marina we are required to attend Hurricane preparedness classes yearly. Here is a link to their website and also I think Boat US should have something in cyberspace. http://www.corpuschristimarina.com/?fus ... &page=2495

[M. R. Bober]

A nod to Al Golden of International Marine Insurance Service for this little gem: If you routinely drop the eye of your dock lines on the cleats/pilings of the dock, and secure the boat end with half hitches on your fine Spartan bronze cleats, reverse the arrangement. It may be possible to adjust the lines during the storm, but no one will risk life and limb going aboard to do so.

Another tip: If you see Jim Cantore in your town, leave!

Mitchell Bober
Sunny Lancaster (where we are beginning to think about getting ready), VA

[Neil Gordon]

If you routinely drop the eye of your dock lines on the cleats/pilings of the dock, and secure the boat end with half hitches on your fine Spartan bronze cleats, reverse the arrangement. It may be possible to adjust the lines during the storm, but no one will risk life and limb going aboard to do so.

And vice versa. I wouldn't be on board during a hurricane, but I've been there for several days of serious Nor'easter. Getting from boat to dock (and back) in the worst of the conditions would not have been easy, so better to be doing the adjusting from the boat.

FYI, one friend tried to make adjustments from the dock as did one of the marina security guards. Both ended up in the water and were lucky to be spotted because their screams didn't rise above the noise of the wind. Neither could get out of the water without considerable assistance.

Best would be to get the lines correctly adjusted in advance and watch the storm on tv.

[Jack & Jo Chamberlain]

Another tip for anyone who anticipates having to go out onto a submerged dock to check on things. Attach a long line to a tree or piling on shore and run it along the edge of the dock as a guide to show you where the edge of the dock is/was.

Test the footing as you move forward to be sure boards haven't been dislodged, consider tethering yourself to the line, and by all means wear a life jacket.

And, to all the macho guys out there, have a buddy spot for you!

Jo Chamberlain, in sunny Lancaster County where we made our list and started moving kayaks and such today.

[Sea Hunt]

Since this is my first hurricane with my Cape Dory, that needs lots of work, but I love, I thought it might be worthwhile to get some insight of the preparations some of you make. I just called the marina in Deale, MD where I keep my boat and they will haul the boat if things "get bad". I'd be interested in suggestions.

I agree with Neil about removing all sails, dodgers, etc.

One of the things I have observed over the past few years is that some sailboats do not remove their furling jib. They just wrap the jib sheets around the furler and some wrap some additional line around the furled sail. They think that because it is tightly wrapped and secured with extra line that it will not unravel during the storm.

From my observations, THIS DOES NOT WORK. In any kind of a good steady blow the wind will rip the wrapped sail off and shred it. What is not immediately ripped off will fill with strong winds and move your sailboat with great force - docks, pilings, mooring chain, etc.

At the sailing club, when we are required to move our sailboats from the mooring field, 95% of the owners remove all of the canvas from their boats - furled jib, mainsail, bimini top, binnacle covers, etc. Any and all cloth above deck is completely removed and either stored below or taken home.

On my little S/V Tadpole I am fortunate to have hank on headsails. I do completely remove the mainsail and boom and, because it fits easily, I store it in the cabin.

[ronkberg]

I also have to get my cockpit drains flowing better as they have clogged during the summer. I tend to get a lot of hull growth and some little critters build homes within the drains. I will be taking all sails down, adding another mooring line, removing my outboard and hoping for the best.....maybe a few prayers too.

I am moored in a river and might move up river into the salt flats. However, that brings other challenges as there are no trees to tie off to and thus just my little Danforth anchor to hold the Ty. Also water level drops below my keel depth at low tides thus laying her down in the muck. Sounds too dangerous so the mooring will have to work.

Ron

[Zeida]

Folks up north from the Carolinas and up... l

Looks you may all be in for serious trouble. DO NOT WAIT FOR PFREPARATIONS. If on a slip... REMOVE all sails and canvas... remove the rollerfurler genoas... shut off cowl vents wherever you have them. Lash down dodger/bimini hardware securely... remove all possible things from deck and stow below... double up on lines and make sure you have chafe protection on all. Move boats -if possible- back away from the front of the dock... add the Big Boat fenders wherever possible, auto tires, anything that can help protect the hull when it hits the dock -it will!- Tape all above-the-water thruhulls to prevent suction water to flood the boat... tape around the cockpit lockers where water can come into the bilges... shut off all seacocks inside... boats will heel to the point of mast and spreaders in the water!!! --- mine did--- use the truck-type canvas straps to secure the boom in place... consider the possibility of the dock being under water and how that will affect the lines holding the boat.... remove or stow dinghies somewhere else... Earl is a major hurricane. There will be big surf everywhere.

If on moorings, make sure they are secure. Double up with your anchors. We had a huge disaster in our marina during Wilma because the mooring field had several big boats that came loose and crashed against the boats on the docks. We had 17 boats sunk on their slips!
If you can move your boats up rivers, into marshes and lash them securely, by all means, do so.

We are keeping our fingers X here in So.Florida, but as of today I am stripping Bandolera II and putting her in storm mode for the next two months. Good luck for all of you.

[Zeida]

This is Bando prepped for storms.





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[gates_cliff]

Thanks for all the advice. Even though I think I'll have the boat hauled, if Earl continues to threaten, I'm going to take the addtional steps to stormerize the boat.