RIP Steve Jobs *****. Bon Voyage…Boats prep & Hurricanes....
Here some info for the boat on a trailer:
ON THE TRAILER
Brian Cunningham, general manager of Vero Marine Center, a boating supply store, said to be sure to remove or secure all loose items on a trailered boat and be sure the trailer will not move.
"Boats can actually float away if not secured to the ground," he said. "We saw a presentation following Hurricane Hugo where a boat floated a mile inland from a boat dealer's lot with the trailer attached to it."
Here are Cunningham's tips for keeping a trailered boat secure:
Haul boat to a safe area: Be sure to check all trailer maintenance points to prevent break-downs of the trailer while moving the boat to safety.
Lash boat to trailer: Place blocks between the frame members and the axle inside each wheel. If the boat is lightweight, the owner might consider letting half the air out of the tires and filling the boat one-third of the way with water to add weight.
Secure boat and trailer to fixed objects: Use heavy lines from four directions if possible or tie down to screw anchors in the ground.
Keeping your boat or yacht safe during a hurricane...
Historically, individual hurricanes have caused the loss of thousands of lives and billions of dollars in damage as they ran their course over populated areas. If you know that a hurricane is approaching your area, prepare for the worst. The important point is, GET OFF THE OPEN WATER AS FAR AWAY FROM THE STORM AS POSSIBLE! If this is impossible, keep in mind that the right front quadrant of a hurricane usually, but not always, produces the most violent weather.
With todays modern communication net to warn them, people have a better chance to reach safety before a hurricane hits their area. Even so, you may have little more than 24 hours advance notice to get your boat secured against the storms full force. Check the weather often.
If your boat is easily trailerable, store it ashore, far from the danger of high water. Follow these tips:
If you must move your boat, first inspect the trailer to ensure that it is in proper operating condition. Check tires (including spare), wheel bearings, tow hitch and lights.
If you can, put your boat and trailer in a garage. If they must be left out, secure them to strong trees or a "deadman" anchor. Strip off every thing that could be torn loose by a strong wind.
Increase the weight of your trailered outboard boat by filling it with fresh water and leaving in the drain-plug (inboard boats must be drained to avoid motor damage). Insert wood blocks between the trailer frame and the springs for extra support with the added weight.
If your boat must stay in the water you have three options:
1. BERTH at a dock which has sturdy pilings and offers reasonable shelter from open water and storm surge. Double up all mooring lines but provide enough slack so your boat can rise with the higher tides. Cover all lines with chafe protectors (double neoprene garden hose cut along the side) at points where the line is likely to wear and put out extra fenders and fenderboards (the more the better).
2. ANCHOR your boat in a protected harbor where the bottom can allow a good anchor hold. An advantage to anchoring is that the boat can more easily respond to wind and water changes without striking docks or other boats than when moored. Heavy and extra anchors are needed for this option and enough line should be on hand to allow a scope of at least 10:1 for each anchor.
3. HURRICANE HOLES are ideal locations to moor your boat during a hurricane. These are deep, narrow coves or inlets that are surrounded by a number of sturdy trees which block the wind and provide a tie-off for anchor lines. The best location for a hurricane hole is one far enough inland to avoid the most severe winds and tides, yet close enough to reach under short notice. You may want to scout out a satisfactory hurricane hole ahead of time!
Remember:
Never stay with your boat.
Your boat should be stripped of anything that can become loose during the storm. This would include unstepping the mast in sailboats.
Boat documents, radios and other valuables should be removed from the vessel prior to the storm, since you never know how long it will take for you to get back to your boat once the storm passes.
Hurricanes are among the most destructive phenomena of nature, their appearance is not to be taken lightly.
Advance planning cannot guarantee that your boat will survive a hurricane safely or even survive at all.
Planning can, however, improve survivability and is therefore certainly worth the time and money to do so.
General Weather Tips
Before Setting Out:
Obtain the latest available weather forecast for the boating area. Where they can be received, the NOAA Weather Radio continuous broadcasts (VHF-FM) are the best way to keep informed of expected weather and sea conditions. If you hear on the radio that warnings are in effect, dont venture out on the water unless confident your boat can be navigated safely under forecast conditions of wind and sea. This link will take you to up-to-date marine weather information.
While afloat:
Keep an eye out for the approach of dark, threatening clouds which may foretell a squall or thunderstorm.
Check radio weather broadcasts periodically for latest forecasts and warnings.
Heavy static on your AM radio may be an indication of nearby thunderstorm activity.
If a thunderstorm catches you afloat:
Put on a Personal Flotation Device. (if not already wearing one)
Stay below deck if possible.
Keep away from metal objects that are not grounded to the boats protection system.
More things:
Supplies to have handy:
Duct Tape
Plywood
Extra Trash Bags
Extra Rags
Bilge Absorbers - "diapers" most boaters will know what I am referring to. They absorb oil & not water
****If you need to absorb water consider a box of disposable diapers! Yep, you heard me! They are great for soaking up water from a leaking window & can absorb lots of water!
*********
Check with your Marina to determine what Preperations they do & what the expect you, the boat owner to do:
Evaluate your Marina
(compiles from several sources)
Marina Hurricane Preparation Symposium
Your entire plan begins by evaluating the storm worthiness of your marina. Things to consider:
• Natural barriers may or may not offer protection from breaking seas. --Boats that are likely to be exposed to breaking waves will have to be stored ashore or moved to a hurricane hole.
• The height of the marina facilities and boat storage areas above the likely surge. --High ground is good; low-lying marshes are bad.
• The type of docks (floating vs. fixed) and pilings. **With floating docks, pilings must be tall enough to accommodate the surge.
**With fixed docks, wide is better; boats in narrow slips are more vulnerable than boats in wider slips.
**Concrete pilings lack resiliency and have proven to be vulnerable in storms.
• Boat storage racks.
--Newer racks built in the last three years are more likely to have been built to a higher standard and are more likely to survive hurricane-force winds. Conversely, older storage racks are likely to have been built to a more relaxed standard and will also have time to corrode and “work.”
Excellent Info Here for Prep & past history of Hurricanes & Boating
You may LYAO at this, but you know those $1.99 ring floats kids love??? They make great fenders for your pilings... Just blow them up and drop around pilings. They are cheap and come in pretty colors!!! LOL
visitors location counter
Here's to hoping the "dancing pickle" works as well as the "dancing baby"......... LOL
Reader Comments
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Time has a nasty habit of sneaking up & grabbing control! I must admit that I have fallen prey to the "snatcher" and owe many of you long time WU Friends a hello.
*Big Deep Breath* For some strange reason this year I have felt like I've been running on "short" time. There never seems to be enough time in the days to get everything done....
It sounds like a good thing - but actually, it is not. I miss my "free" time, the time I had to pop in on WU and visit my WX friends. Where this "time" has gone??? I do not know, but it seems to have evaporated from my everyday life! Magic, it must be magic!
All I know is I seem to be missing time! and I want it back! LOL
Ho, Hum................
Miss everyone & will try to find an extra minute or two here & there to pop in to see how everyone is doing!
Carpe Diem!
YOLO
PEACE
Anyhow - I do hope all is well, that your trip was fab, and etc. You know whatever time you have for us will be just fine!
FYI,
JOEALASKA is shutting down his blog. I will miss all his wonderful Alaskan Pictures.
glad you stopped by your blog. I know I see you from time to time on FB but seems I can only really do FB on Sun or Mon...sometimes every other Wed morning! LOL
this year has flown by so fast I just cannot believe it is already time for the holidays again; seems we just had them a few months ago! YIKES!!!!
Take care and catch you later.
I totally get what you are saying. Really thought that by this point in life I'd have a little free time and some spare cash. Just chill out and have fun, right?
What the heck happened?
Seems I run my butt off just trying to stay in one place.
Spare time and spare money never occupy the same point in space.
And October?
Hey wait a minute...didn't it start just a few days ago?
Whaddaya mean it's almost over?
Yep, I think it's some grand conspiracy. Time is contracting around us. If you figure it out, pleas let me know!
Big Huggs my friend!
I definitely can appreciate and commiserate with your time shortage. Like Rob, I have no clue what happened to October. Or September. Or August. Even after hiring more help, I can't seem to find the time to take a vacation from work. The harder I go, the behinder I get.
But I haven't forgotten or stopped thinking about you and my other WU friends. Have a lovely fall (at least what's left of it) and take care.
YOLO!
Wool of bat, and tongue of dog,
Adders fork, and blind-worms sting,
Lizards leg, and owlets wing,
For a charm of powerful trouble,
Like a hell-broth boil and bubble.
William Shakespeare
Happy Halloween Pictures Comments - Photobucket
Happy Halloween my dear friend. Have a wonderful day.
From Me-n-Roxie :-)
I know I've been speaking to you all weekend on FB but still... just saying...WU first!!!
Happy Halloween my WU Friend!!!
Enjoy your evening!!!
HUP TWO THREE FOUR, JUMP RIGHT OUT AND COUNT TO FOUR
Oh, sorry, forgot it was only 0400 hours, have to take my Happy Pill every six hours so my time clock has been out of whack for the last four weeks. :)
I discovered the third interesting little item about the new Titanium Prosthesis that was not discussed in the handy little brochure that Dr. Frankenstein gave me before the knee operation last month.
Check out my post on Rob's blog #116 for the latest funny installment of the ongoing saga. And I swear to you, there had to be invisible rocket flames because if there weren't, that would mean that I have learned how to levitate and that would be even scarier. :)
Ok, happy pill is kicking in, time to go horizontal again, this is how I sleep now, one hour after taking the happy pill I can sleep for two hours. Four pills a day, eight hours of sleep taken in two hour increments. A little odd I must admit, but seems to be working for me.
See you on Rob and Orca's blog. :)
Shame on me! Shame, shame, shame!
My friends here - you know who you are - you are so very special to me!
Oh my! I promise to visit more often! and not only during bad weather!
Most of you have moved to FB, but those who have not...... please join us!
But after all the Halloween messages here................. I promised to never, ever neglect WU again! If I do, I will cast a spell upon myself! LOL
Love & hugs to all!
and
PEACE
YOLO
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