Earl Haul-Outs

[OBXTucker]

So I have about 6 hours to make a decision on whether to haul-out and get on the schedule for tomorrow morning.

So here are the choices:

A. Spend $1,000, haul-out, be safe and miss out on cruising this weekend (have a bunch of guests coming for Labor Day weekend)

B. Lash her down good and hope the tidal surge isn't too bad. Risk a denied claim from the insurance company if more than $5k in damage is incurred.

Anyone along the Outer Banks or Chesapeake have plans to Haul-Out??

 

[Skip]

Hi Jeff-
We are in Rock Hall, MD (Eastern Shore) and don't plan on hauling out. I may change my mind if the track gets closer but right now I'm going to just watch it.

 

[Pascal]

if i was on the outer banks i will seriously consider hauling out... up the Chesie, you should be ok in the water as long as you can prepare the boat to handle higher tides, unless the later forecasts are moved further west.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

Is there an option C? Maybe move the boat inland further to be safe?

 

[OBXTucker]

"Inland" is about 1/2 a mile further up the creek, which is where she may end up, if she's not secured properly.

My biggest concern is that the pilings on the dock (starboard) side are not very high. She's docked nose first alongside a dock. Storm surges will probably push her away from the dock and potentially lift the lines over the pilings. If the pilings were taller (and substantial enough), I wouldn't be concerned at all. We have a significant battery of large lines, chafe gear, fenders, etc. to secure/protect her.

Should she break loose, she would probably take out the entire port side pier and accompanying slips/sailboats, which are only about 30' away.

Decisions, decisions.....

tic toc.....

 

[Pascal]

how wide is the slip?

this is critical, if your slip is wide enough then you can use longer lines to make up for higher water level and you can also keep the boat off the pilings.

you also need to consider which way the boat should be facing. Prevailing winds should be coming from the ENE to E as the storm passes offshore so depending on the slip orientation, you may want to turn the boat around so that the bow faces E (or N).

if the storm stays offshore as forecasted, i woudn' anticipate a serious surge in the Chesie, winds shouldn't not be strong enough to push that much water on teh east side of the bay, at least not to be a serious danger to a properly tied boat.

you need to look at your slip, orientation, width, etc... adn decide what is best. lines will not slip up the pilings if properly tied, the biggest risk is rubbing against the pilings if the slip is too narrow and if the pilings are too low damaging the hull side since the pilings may not reach the rub rail

 

[rsmith]

Ya dont wana endup like this

 

[BlackPearl36c]

once they issue a storm warning for your state your insurance may cover hurricane haul out and splash coverage I would call your broker and have him find out for you better than paying ofr it by yourself

 

[Genesis]

If you do not have sufficiently-high pilings to prevent being impaled (that are in good enough condition that they will hold) AND a wide-enough slip so you can properly tie for the conditions without being smashed and/or impaled, OR if your location can be exposed to direct wave action over a material amount of fetch in a storm (at the maximum reasonably-expected tidal surge level), if the storm comes and you're there you're screwed.

If it were my boat and I was not safe under the above three conditions I'd move it. If I could not get upriver or otherwise to a secure location where wave action (e.g. surge, etc) was not going to be a factor I'd haul.

But that's me.

 

[OBXTucker]

Already spoke with Markel Marine and they are splitting the haulout fee, should I desire to go that route. Boat is 18' wide and we have a 24' slip, so plenty wide, although orientation is wrong. Incoming seas will hit her starboard side. If I can move her over to another slip (a T) and have the bow facing the storm, we'll stay put And ride it out.

Thanks for everyone's advice.

 

[OBXTucker]

Stayin' put and battening down the hatches.

More concerned about the ocean front property on the Outer Banks now...

Good luck to all in his path!

 

[Diver Down]

Good for you Jeff. Ocean Marine made this gracious offer (ha, ha) to haul us for $10/ft. They have 'ordered' the power boaters (not the sailboats) to leave this marina. We've opted to move around the corner to Tidewater Yacht on Wed. afternoon but may defiantly return on Thursday depending upon Earl's track. Regardless, we're headed for Cobham Bay across from Jamestown Island on Saturday morning for the 3-day weekend.
Regards,

 

[OBXTucker]

Thanks Mike. Stay safe. Looks like the latest forecast has him tracking slightly east of previous projections.

Looks like we may Dodge the brunt of this one. Good thing too. We have 10 people on board for a Sunday cruise and dinner!

Speaking of which, I need to start hiring a captain for these cruises. Its really cutting into cocktail hour!!

 

[TROUBLE]

My insurance company Boat US said if the storm is predicted to come near long island (They will know tomarrow) that they will pau 50% up to 1000.00 for my haul.
Art
TROUBLE

 

[StratPlan61]

I stayed aboard for 9 days during hurricane Frances in Ft Lauderdale, the rest of town was ordered to evacuate. If you have to spend $1k to keep the boat safe - I'm missing the decision point? 10 people coming for dinner? Give 'em a rain check date. Just my .02 worth, but why risk your boat - and risk the insurance claims process for a $1k bucks??? Even if your boat weathers the seas and wind - flying debris knows no home. I watched 30' palm trees flying past like lawn darts. I saw floating docks with 20 yachts tied to 'em break off and float into the next dock. I watched 6 2-story barge/condo boathouses sink in 35' of water. No decision here partner - secure your boat on the hardstand and meet your guests in another city. Watch it on TV.

 

[captddis]

I grapple with this every storm. I have a nice strong dock and pilings at my house. I also have a hurricane haulout available. For a wind only storm I like being on the hard. If it is a storm with a big storm surge, is the boat better on land and floating off into the hood? Or if it floats off the other way and gets loose into Salt Creek or Tampa Bay.

I take the Chris off the lift and tie it between my neighbors dock and mine. If I haul the Hatt, I will put the Chris in the Hatts slip.

It seems to me preperation is 10% and luck is the other 90% when dealing with hurricanes. Obviously you do all you can, but sometimes your efforts just don't matter.

 

[OBXTucker]

Fortunately, no flying palm trees around here.
And most of the boats around me have been hauled (small blowboats). We'll have plenty of pilings to tie off to and a couple of piers protect her from the bay side floatsum. Headed down at 0 dark 30....

I'll post some before and after pics....

 

[rsmith]

If you get hauled make sure the stands are chained together and all the boats around you are the same. Try to have them put you away from blow boats with tall masts. Several marinas here had the boats on the hard go down like dominos.
I didnt expect to stay on the boat for Frances as it was supposed to be a cat4. I flew one of the first relief flights into Homestead AFB after Andrew which was a cat5 and after seeing what Andrew did from the air I wont be staying for a cat5. Frances was then lowered to a cat 1 or 2. But then at last minute it was upgraded to a 3. The only yard I trust is run by a friend of mine in Stuart 5 lift bridges and 30mi away. By then they anounced that all bridges would be locked down but didnt give a time. My fear was to be caught between bridges with nowhere to go. So I was stuck. What ever your plan is stick with it and think it through.
Remember its just a bunch of plastic and metal that can be replaced.

 

[SereneWarrior]

Jeff, We are in Deale on Rock Hold Creek and I intend to put out some more lines, chaffing gear, etc and take down all the canvass. I am dockside with tall pilings outboard and plenty of others to tie off to. My biggest worry is with a couple of the sailboats berthed nearby that haven't been visited by owners in years. One doesn't even have cleats, but is tied off by its liferail stanchions. Nobody is securing them and my concern is that one or more will break free and become a battering ram under the wrong conditions. May have to take matters into my own hands.... Jeff

 

[saltshaker]

Jeff, We are in Deale on Rock Hold Creek and I intend to put out some more lines, chaffing gear, etc and take down all the canvass. I am dockside with tall pilings outboard and plenty of others to tie off to. My biggest worry is with a couple of the sailboats berthed nearby that haven't been visited by owners in years. One doesn't even have cleats, but is tied off by its liferail stanchions. Nobody is securing them and my concern is that one or more will break free and become a battering ram under the wrong conditions. May have to take matters into my own hands.... Jeff

I would speak to the owner of the marina about the liability of boats that aren't even tied to a cleat. All your efforts to protect your boat won't protect you from a loose boat.