zigzag930
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jun 16, 2020
- Messages
- 519
- Status
- OWNER - I own a Hatteras Yacht
- Hatteras Model
- 58' LRC (1975 - 1981)
If there is already a thread on this subject, I ask the moderators to remove this one and point me to the other one....
Anyway, having now successfully made it through Irma (2017), Ian (2022), Helene (2024) and numerous other Tropical/other storms - I thought it would be a good idea for those of us on the site to share their thoughts on what works and what doesn't work to protect our boats from storm damage. As I have been fortunate so far, I hope the information shared here will help others.
I will start the list with some things that I have learned and hope others will pipe in with their thoughts and experiences so that we can all learn.
Clearly each storm is different. Understanding "Surge" and why one storm pushes a surge when others don't would be very helpful information. This last storm was a good example. While Ian was predicted to have 10-12' surge in my area - we saw very little surge. Same with Irma. These storms started off by sucking all the water out of our canals, then when the surge came - it wasn't bad at all. This last storm (Helene) wasn't even close to us here in Punta Gorda, but it created storm surge of at lest 6-7 ft (more than forecast) and it was a real issue for us. Water never left the canals - only kept building up.
I'm sure there are many opinions on leaving the area, cross tying in the canals or hauling out but that isn't what this tread is about. I'd like to focus on those of us that will keep their boats at the dock/slip and want to do whatever we can to protect our babies. FYI we are side tied to a concrete dock with pilings that are about 8' above the dock.
So to start the discussion, here are a few things I learned that work:
1) Obvious - extra lines everywhere *(See what doesn't work about this below). I tie the lines medium low on the pilings so the pilings won't snap or pull over under load
2) TURN OFF the dock power. If you don't and the pedestals, etc go under - you will fry all the receptacles, breakers, plugs, etc.
3) Biggest fenders you can find. I use 36" wide x 13" horizontal fenders placed one over the other to spread the load on the pilings and prevent one fender failure from causing damage
4) Remove all canvas
5) Turn off inverter and any electrical appliances (coolers, computers, routers, refrigeration, etc)
6) I don't trust pilings to hold our boat. During Ian, one pulled mostly out of the bottom. We installed 10' long galvanized augers with 12" diameter blades into the ground. Using 1/2 chain connected to the augers, then finally 1" rope to attach to the boat, which was doubled up - but provided some stretch to absorb shock.
7) Also probably obvious - but remove any and all items that you can from the dock - dock boxes, kayaks, hoses, etc.
8) For those with very tall antennas (VHF, SSB, etc) lower them down. I had one snap in Ian.
What doesn't work:
1) Trusting your pilings alone to hold.
2) Trying to adjust lines at the piling (they will be under water and difficult to untie)
3) When adding lines - Make sure they have enough length to provide for the anticipated surge and then some. *** Do not use the eye on your cleat. Tie the bitter end to the cleat so that you can adjust the lines as necessary. I thought I had enough scope on my spring lines in this last storm - but water rose very quickly and I had to add a new spring line and cut the old one as I could not remove it.
4) Not having a way to access the boat. If possible, rig some way (ladder, etc) to get on board the boat in case you need to adjust the lines or get on board for some reason.
Issues beyond control, haven't figured out what to do about these:
1) Boats on lifts that have not been tied down. We had dozens of boats floating around the canals and now up on lawns.
Anyway, having now successfully made it through Irma (2017), Ian (2022), Helene (2024) and numerous other Tropical/other storms - I thought it would be a good idea for those of us on the site to share their thoughts on what works and what doesn't work to protect our boats from storm damage. As I have been fortunate so far, I hope the information shared here will help others.
I will start the list with some things that I have learned and hope others will pipe in with their thoughts and experiences so that we can all learn.
Clearly each storm is different. Understanding "Surge" and why one storm pushes a surge when others don't would be very helpful information. This last storm was a good example. While Ian was predicted to have 10-12' surge in my area - we saw very little surge. Same with Irma. These storms started off by sucking all the water out of our canals, then when the surge came - it wasn't bad at all. This last storm (Helene) wasn't even close to us here in Punta Gorda, but it created storm surge of at lest 6-7 ft (more than forecast) and it was a real issue for us. Water never left the canals - only kept building up.
I'm sure there are many opinions on leaving the area, cross tying in the canals or hauling out but that isn't what this tread is about. I'd like to focus on those of us that will keep their boats at the dock/slip and want to do whatever we can to protect our babies. FYI we are side tied to a concrete dock with pilings that are about 8' above the dock.
So to start the discussion, here are a few things I learned that work:
1) Obvious - extra lines everywhere *(See what doesn't work about this below). I tie the lines medium low on the pilings so the pilings won't snap or pull over under load
2) TURN OFF the dock power. If you don't and the pedestals, etc go under - you will fry all the receptacles, breakers, plugs, etc.
3) Biggest fenders you can find. I use 36" wide x 13" horizontal fenders placed one over the other to spread the load on the pilings and prevent one fender failure from causing damage
4) Remove all canvas
5) Turn off inverter and any electrical appliances (coolers, computers, routers, refrigeration, etc)
6) I don't trust pilings to hold our boat. During Ian, one pulled mostly out of the bottom. We installed 10' long galvanized augers with 12" diameter blades into the ground. Using 1/2 chain connected to the augers, then finally 1" rope to attach to the boat, which was doubled up - but provided some stretch to absorb shock.
7) Also probably obvious - but remove any and all items that you can from the dock - dock boxes, kayaks, hoses, etc.
8) For those with very tall antennas (VHF, SSB, etc) lower them down. I had one snap in Ian.
What doesn't work:
1) Trusting your pilings alone to hold.
2) Trying to adjust lines at the piling (they will be under water and difficult to untie)
3) When adding lines - Make sure they have enough length to provide for the anticipated surge and then some. *** Do not use the eye on your cleat. Tie the bitter end to the cleat so that you can adjust the lines as necessary. I thought I had enough scope on my spring lines in this last storm - but water rose very quickly and I had to add a new spring line and cut the old one as I could not remove it.
4) Not having a way to access the boat. If possible, rig some way (ladder, etc) to get on board the boat in case you need to adjust the lines or get on board for some reason.
Issues beyond control, haven't figured out what to do about these:
1) Boats on lifts that have not been tied down. We had dozens of boats floating around the canals and now up on lawns.
Last edited:
