Vessel Preparedness

[Caribsailors]

Just Curious....with Gustav starting to take aim on us south of Cuba.

I just curious as to actions taken by others, to prepare their vessels for hurricane force winds?

Thanks in advance for sharing your thoughts.

Cheers

[Hud3]

I've got mine on a concrete pad in a boatyard on Antigua, strapped down to yard anchors, with all the sails and canvas removed and the dorade vents plugged.

[marc2012]

Got mine up a canal everything tied down or removed,if it can fly or flap it will.On the hard is supposed tp be better.

[stevensc]

Marc where are you now?
Steve

[marc2012]

Industrial seaway gulfport/biloxi area.Made it to nola but the industriak locks closed.Returned to biloxi for storm.How is it there,they are giving you as landfall?marc

[Sandero]

Hud,

Did you consider securing her in the water in the Mangroves? That seems to be a rather workable solution. I've head of one boat toppling and taking a few adjacent. It happened up her in New Rochelle 2 years ago and when they pack them in it's like dominos.

[Hud3]

Defjef,

There's really no good place to keep the boat during hurricane season in St. Kitts and Nevis, which is why it's in Antigua. I'd much rather keep it here, but we have no suitable boatyards nor any mangroves at all here.

The boatyard I'm using in Antigua has a concrete slab yard with yard anchors set in it. The boats are on jackstands welded together with rebar, and the boats are strapped down to the yard anchors with heavy-duty ratcheted webbing straps, the kind used by truckers. I'm hoping this set-up will handle a direct hit, if we have one.

[Soft Air]

Good luck Hud, I did the same with my boat in Tortola. Secured on the hard and hoping for the best.

[speciald@ocens.]

Which yard in Antigua? I may be keeping my boat South next year.

[ssullivan]

I've often heard that Hud's way is the most protected, assuming the storm surge doesn't submerge the marina and your boat.

[Soft Air]

My captain is saying he wish his boat were in the BVI (where mine is on the hard) rather than where his is right now, Fort Lauderdale.

Still a few weeks to go before the season is over, let's keep our fingers crossed.

[opsailor]

We and other boats at our yard in St Augustine are trying to add to the security of our boats on the hard. We have purchased and installed six or eight "earth anchors" and cargo straps to give some additional stability to our boats.

The straps are rated at 5,000 lbs and the anchors at two tons plus. We figure that anything that helps keep a boat from swaying will help. All of the above was purchased for less than $150 from the local Tractor Supply Company. Seems like a small price for any additional security.

[Therapy]

Originally Posted by opsailor

We and other boats at our yard in St Augustine are trying to add to the security of our boats on the hard. We have purchased and installed six or eight "earth anchors" and cargo straps to give some additional stability to our boats.

Remember to twist those cargo straps a bunch to "make em' round". If not when the wind really gets up they start vibrating badly. This sets up harmonics that can be transferred to the boat and wear the straps too.

Making them "round" reduces this problem though folks will think you messed up when installing them.

IMO

[Vasco]

Got mine on the hard in FL sitting in a big steel cradle. At least it's not on jackstands. I think the yard is going to anchor the cradles.

[Hud3]

Originally Posted by speciald@ocens.

Which yard in Antigua? I may be keeping my boat South next year.

Doc,

It's at Jolly Harbour this year. We kept in at Bailey's Boatyard in Falmouth last year, strapped into a steel cradle. Pretty secure, but also more expensive. The fact that Jolly Harbour boatyard is paved with concrete gives me some confidence the boat will remain upright in a big blow.

Sully, the boat is in the upper yard, at probably 25' elevation, so should be above any storm surge.