Florida Hurricane Safe Marinas

[Bon Temps]

I am moving my Seawind 1160 from the Caribbean to Florida to sell it. Anyone have any recommendations on a relatively safe marina to store my boat in Florida while I sell it? I am leaning toward something in Tampa.

[smj]

Got a friend looking for an 1160. Is it advertised anywhere?

[Cheechako]

Probably anything with a full surround of land, no open water water to the marina, no big bay at the marina entrance adjacent is a good bet. Unitil you are hit by a major Cat lll or bigger I suppose. Once a storm gets too big the wind force alone tears things apart. But usually it's water waves etc that tear all the boats and marina apart. Harbortown Merritt Island near Canaveral is very enclosed, only accessible from the waterway. Indiantown way inland would be good. I dont know Tampa but that side seems to get less hurricanes.

[Bon Temps]

Thanks for the info. I will look at these. As for selling the boat, I have not listed it. I was demasted last year and am putting on a new mast and new 3D Northsails (which I always wanted) so I do not have it listed.

[gonesail]

are you talking about putting your boat on the hard and having work done? or a regular marina?

[Bon Temps]

We wiped up a web site. You can see the boat at www.bontempscatamaran.com

[Bon Temps]

I think I will put her on the hard. It depends on how safe the slip

[S/V Illusion]

Originally Posted by Bon Temps

I think I will put her on the hard. It depends on how safe the slip

As we live in Florida, the consensus is that your ability to move is the best defense against hurricane damage; leaving the boat on the hard is the LAST thing you should do.

Hurricanes are generally very local events in terms of damaging winds/water being that most severe weather is centered within 100 miles and often less. It’s relatively easy to move out of the target. If you pull the boat, it’s just ‘dumb luck’ if you escape the center which could have been avoided by a one day sail.

Furthermore, most marinas in Florida are within the typical flood plain obviating any safety by pulling the boat. And that’s assuming marinas have anyplace to store it which many do not.

[Sand crab]

I see the stuff you are doing to bring it to 2019 specs but what year is the boat?

[Bon Temps]

2006 but when I get done it will be 2019. I have even over hauled the generator and fully serviced the engines. I know I screwed up since we have decided to sell but we will at least sail it for a year.

[DreaminFred]

Originally Posted by S/V Illusion

As we live in Florida, the consensus is that your ability to move is the best defense against hurricane damage; leaving the boat on the hard is the LAST thing you should do.

Hurricanes are generally very local events in terms of damaging winds/water being that most severe weather is centered within 100 miles and often less. It’s relatively easy to move out of the target. If you pull the boat, it’s just ‘dumb luck’ if you escape the center which could have been avoided by a one day sail.

Furthermore, most marinas in Florida are within the typical flood plain obviating any safety by pulling the boat. And that’s assuming marinas have anyplace to store it which many do not.

That may be "the consensus" among your community, but it's not my insurance company's view. Much more expensive to cover if it's in the water rather than on the hard. I would think this would be even more true with a catamaran which has no risk of tipping over.

F

[Kita]

[QUOTE=S/V Illusion;2991225]As we live in Florida, the consensus is that your ability to move is the best defense against hurricane damage; leaving the boat on the hard is the LAST thing you should do.

Hurricanes are generally very local events in terms of damaging winds/water being that most severe weather is centered within 100 miles and often less. It’s relatively easy to move out of the target. If you pull the boat, it’s just ‘dumb luck’ if you escape the center which could have been avoided by a one day sail.

Furthermore, most marinas in Florida are within the typical flood plain obviating any safety by pulling the boat. And that’s assuming marinas have anyplace to store it which many do not.[/

Wow,lived in Florida all my 60 years on the west coast & all I can think is WOW! Your boat must be way faster than mine! I have learned from past mistakes trying to outrun the storms and sometimes it seems like you just run right into him no matter which direction you go they seem to be able to turn faster and when you just run into it. It's a whole lot easier to hunker down and make a stand in your best spot and take your chances hoping that you don't get a direct Category 5 because then it wouldn't matter anyway

[S/V Illusion]

[QUOTE=Kita;2993099]

Originally Posted by S/V Illusion

Wow,lived in Florida all my 60 years on the west coast & all I can think is WOW! Your boat must be way faster than mine! I have learned from past mistakes trying to outrun the storms and sometimes it seems like you just run right into him no matter which direction you go they seem to be able to turn faster and when you just run into it. It's a whole lot easier to hunker down and make a stand in your best spot and take your chances hoping that you don't get a direct Category 5 because then it wouldn't matter anyway

Sorry if you don’t agree with the message but don’t shoot the messenger - I was only reporting the consensus opinion. Also, I wasn’t suggesting you wait “until the last minute to move.

[Nicholson58]

[QUOTE=S/V Illusion;2993327]

Originally Posted by Kita

Sorry if you don’t agree with the message but don’t shoot the messenger - I was only reporting the consensus opinion. Also, I wasn’t suggesting you wait “until the last minute to move.

I agree. If you stay aboard you can’t run away. If you go on the hard it had better be out of the zone. We do Trinidad. If you are in the water, NOAA generally gives about five days of pretty good path predictions now. You only need about one day of sailing to avoid the path. Two years ago in the Caribbean, Barbuda was destroyed, Cat V, while 25 miles away in Antigua they experienced 45 knots, no damage. There are definitely US east coast places where you can’t scoot 90 degrees to the predicted path to escape but several days should be enough. I understand many insurers will pay your expenses to move away from named storms.

[Kita]

[QUOTE=S/V Illusion;2993327]

Originally Posted by Kita

Sorry if you don’t agree with the message but don’t shoot the messenger - I was only reporting the consensus opinion. Also, I wasn’t suggesting you wait “until the last minute to move.

Hey I ment no offense, just from past experience. I am in Tampa area & have tried to run north & the storm hook to the east & i had to hide in Swanee River. And if I was to head south the storms are always coming from the southeast so it kind of puts me heading right into that path. For me it's always worked better to hunker down in a good place and I've been lucky enough to not suffer a direct hit other than Irma while I was in Suwannee River. Fortunately by the time the storm got that far north it was beat up to a category 1 or 2 and was not a big problem but it was certainly educational.. but if I thought I could outrun one I would certainly give it a shot. Good luck to you guys trying that... I honestly mean that... but knowing when to run is definitely a very important factor. I guess I was just waiting too late to make that commitment because it's so difficult to tell which way the storm is going to go at that point