Sam's is your source for Hatteras and Cabo Yacht parts.

Enter a part description OR part number to search the Hatteras/Cabo parts catalog:

Email Sam's or call 1-800-678-9230 to order parts.

Hurricane Hanna and my Hatteras

  • Thread starter Thread starter rswirtz
  • Start date Start date
  • Replies Replies 18
  • Views Views 6,230
rswirtz

rswirtz

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 27, 2006
Messages
218
Status
  1. OWNER - I own a Hatteras Yacht
Hatteras Model
38' FLYBRIDGE DBLE CABIN (1972 - 1978)
Hi, This is Kate from my husband Rick's account. We are in the Charleston Harbor Marina and are buttoning up and tying down for the pending arrival of Hurricane Hanna. We are keeping her in the Marina since all the local boat yards are full and moving her down the river is a poor option because of the traffic and the inexperienced boaters.

Does anyone have any information they can share? Has your Hatt ever been through a Hurricane? Are there things you can suggest we do to keep her protected outside of removing all the canvas and eisenglass, spider web lines, and securing everything inside?

Thanks so much for any information you can share.

Kate Swirtz
Rooky ...
 
I got stuck at the municpal marina maga dock in may with a minor spring system which sent all of us scrambling for more fenders. VERY exposed. Charleston Harbor Marina seems to be even more exposed with a long fetch from the south and south west. If the storm makes landfall south of Charleston, chances are this is where the wind will come from.

it's all floating docks there, and i wonder how the outer rim of dock that seem to serve as breakwater woudl fare. if they go, the marina and it's boats is history... now, if hanna remains a weak system, as expect, that would be ok other wise, say anything over 70kts, I'd get out of there.

I know... easier said than done...

if the storm comes at a fairly open angle to the coats, you only need to move 50 miles to avoid the brunt of it. it's an easy run in the ICW especially since there are no low bridges around there that will be locked down as we get in sofl.

if you do stay there, make sure the pilings are tall enough more the docks to remain in place with the storm surge (at least 10/12') and wait to see where the storm will land to put the boat either bow in or bow out depending on the winds. Being bow in the prevailing winds (assuming no direct hit and 180 shift) helps a lot.
 
If yours is secured properly then you only need to worry about everyone elses. They break loose and tear up everone elses boats.
 
Hey Kate,

I hope this makes you feel a little better. I'm in S.C. and directly involved in evacuation efforts. Currently, there are no plans for an evacuation in the Charleston area. The lastest update from our State Emergency Management Agency is that our efforts are shifting North to the Georgetown/ Myrtle Beach areas.

I guess our "experts" feel that the storm is head more in that direction, and still a relatively small storm.

Take for what it's worth. Now where is my boat? Myrtle Beach of course.


Good luck to all.

Dan
 
I have had great luck while in my slip, putting out my backup Fortress anchor off the bow in the direction I think the worst winds will come. I set it out about 100 feet, with 3/4 three strand nylon rope and set it using my small boat. Then I weight the line down to stay out of other boats way. Right before the storm gets bad (after the other boats are not coming or going) I tighten her up using my windlass and tie her off. I also put out my delta plow and chain, just not as far. Several years ago, the Fortress really took a lot of pull off of the piling I was tied to. Tight as bowstring. After the storm it took me 10 minutes in my small boat to break it free of the bottom. A Fortress will really stick good...Two would probably be better. Some boats at my marina run lines all the way across to the next finger pier. Chain on the dock cleats keep the chafe problem away. We use chain all the time at my marina because of the constant movement. Tape up all your boxes / hatches etc uptop with the blue tape.

Good luck!

Captned
 
Kate, don't forget to drop and bungee-cord all of your antennaes, along with bimini frame, etc. During Hurricane Francis I used duct tape and other tapes may be paper-based and soak up and deteriorate. Remember to wrap your lines around things, don't just use the dock cleats. I saw many cleats give-way at the height of Francis, ripping out of the floating concrete docks. Also, lightweight fenders tend to fly horizontal in the extreme winds. ANything you can do to secure them down as well as up helps. I ran 20 mooring lines across all docks, using 2 cleats per line. I also bugee-corded my deck boxes all the way around in addition to their hasps locked. If things get bad, use your deck/seat cushions insided up aganst salon windows. Flying debris was my largest hazard and I feared something coming through a windshield or salon window - no you won't save the window but as I was on-board throughout Francis for 9 days, I feared the flying glass. Also, don't trust little hook'n'eyes to keep doors closed. Duct tape them or bungee cords the inside door knobs to something. The winds can be extreme!
Someone already mentioned other boats. I watched as floating docks broke loose from the shore with 20 yachts tied to them swinging around. I also watched fiberglass floating docks penetrated and sink - again with 20 yachts tied to them. No pretty and not fun. Good luck.
 
I keep my Hatteras, FatBoy, at the Ripley Light Marina, over by California Dreaming. You may want to see about moving over here for the weekend. This marina is very well protected and surrounded by buildings. There are several empty slips as many have already had their boats hauled out. If you are interested, you may give me a call at 843-696-0207 and I'll give you a name of someone to contact about space. You would be much better of here than at the Hilton.


Allen
 
btw during Katrina which was a minor storm here in miami, i didnt put the boat bow in. the winds were blowing from the SW on the aft deck, rain was coming horizontal so strong that the aft deck teak doors (10' from edge of the hard top) were leaking between the panels, where i could not see any gaps!

and that was a small storm, 80kts...
 
Looks like Hanna is going to miss Jacksonville... Dang it...

I've been on a "13 day on, one day off, 12 hr day" since before Fay came by thanks to AT-T. Had this past Sunday off (had to work the holiday) and my next day off isn't till a week from Sunday.....

I do NOT need anymore storms to come this way.....
 
If you're on the MegaDock there and have a chance to move to another marina, do it. There's too much "fetch" across the river bend there and the waves on the MegaDock can really build up and batter you, and you'll only be tied from one side. If you havr to be on the MegaDock, try to go to the back side, particularly closer to the walkway dock where the double dock will give you more protection. It would be much better if you could get into a slip where you can spider line in between the some nice tall pilings. Then, you have to decide if you're going to stay aboard to adjust your lines for any storm surge.

Doug
 
I second Ripley Light. A friend of mine had 2 boats there that weathered Hugo with only a couple scratches.
 
If this posts twice, sorry. I'm not really used to the format of this site.

I just wanted to thank EVERYONE for the all the information and experiences. I thought we were ready, but after reading through the threads, I learned that we were not. I spent last night and this morning incorporating as many suggestions as I could.

After Hanna blows through, I am sure we will try to get to Ripley Light. That sounds like a safe option. Thank you.

I am chicken little and am leaving this afternoon to go up north. I'll be back on the 10th.

Everyone in the path of the storm, please stay safe.



Kate
 
Kate,

All good advice, but here’s some from a female perspective. On our boat, we have the Frances Rule. We had owned Slow Lane for three weeks when Hurricane Frances blew through Jacksonville. We had stayed onboard for Charlie which had very little effect on Jax, so we figured no big deal. We were wrong. We were on board during Frances for three days because there was no way to safely get off the boat. I can’t say that I felt in danger, but it was very uncomfortable and not a pleasant feeling knowing that if things went south quickly, we would be in trouble. When there is a threat now (Jeanne, and then Fay two weeks ago), we check into a nearby riverfront hotel where we can keep an eye on the boat and can adjust lines as necessary. We suffered some damage during Fay – broken mast and damage to aftdeck enclosure, but nothing substantial and nothing that we could have prevented. Of course if we take a direct hit, we’ll evacuate the area. Do all you can do to secure your boat (and your neighbor’s), and walk away. There is no sense putting your life at risk. We love our boat, but we’re not in love with her. There is no need to apologize for being chicken little.

Stay safe,

Julie
 
it's a tough call, i'm not sure you're putting your life at risk in a marina... i stayed aboard for Wilma and Katrina and that allowed me to adjust my lines as the winds shifted and the tide changed. In a narrow slip, there are no alternatives... fenders dont' work in hurricanes. you may also have to run the engines if a line, cleats or piling fail...

good point about being able to get off the boat. During Wilma i had to get off the boat to help a neighbor across the dock who had lost a piling near the peak (75kts), tide was so high that getting down to the dock was an acrobatic act... I almost wasnt' able to get back on!

one issue with leaving the boat is not being able to come back and prevent possible damage because roads are closed or damaged areas off limits. for instance... with power off if you have a slow leak for whatever reason, you may need to get on the boat to fire up the genny and recharge... or whatever needs to be done.

to me, that's a HUGE argument for staying on board... I/ve heard the "a boat isnt' worth your life" but the risks are real low in a marina...
 
Pascal makes a good case for staying aboard.. Just be sure you're up to the task and you have an emergency departure plan.

Many years ago my son and I ran up a river a couple of miles to ride out a hurricane and we used a couple of anchors as well as some long lines to some trees. We also kept the engines running and when the brunt of the storm hit we engaged the trannys and gave it a little throttle to lessen the stress on the ground tackle. While we survived with very little damage, it could have been a disaster. I have questioned my sanity since then.

I too love my Hatteras, but not enough to risk my son's life and even mine. Things can be replaced lives can't.

Use good judgement and good luck.

Walt
 
Walt,

get the extra lines on? We are missing one on a stern to the piling, but I can move a line if needed to cover.

Noel
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
38,156
Messages
448,759
Members
12,482
Latest member
UnaVida

Latest Posts

Trending content

Back
Top Bottom