Rita Boats

[Trojan]

Where are all you Texas boat going? This doesn't look good for you. I wish you all good luck. Keep the green side down. Bill

 

[rufus mathews]

What a scramble it has been. My boat is normally moored at Port Aransas--out on the barrier island outside of Corpus Christi. Everyone that could get hauled out did. I could not get hauled out-- was too far away on the job at the time and all the yards are full. Moved my boat to Corpus Christi marina. My home is just north of Houston, I work south of Corpus Christi. Looks like the storm is going east of Houston---keeping my fingers crossed. Most boats in the Houston area will haul if they can or move into Clear Lake---some what protected. I would imagine some will try to head south to Victoria if time allows.

 

[Genesis]

If they're not out by now, its too late.

I saw huge marinas in the Galveston and Houston areas on TV the other day. This is going to be one huge mess in terms of boats being destroyed or severely damaged......

 

[Traveler 45C]

Good luck to all in Rita’s path. Let us know how you all make out.

 

[Docs Holiday]

Doc's Holiday was located at the Beaumont Yacht Club, Texas. We were fortunate that at the last moment the storm took a slight eastward tract which placed us somewhat on the west side of the 120 m.p.h winds. The storm was wide and for many days predicted to make land around Galveston--I could not decide to head east or west but had planned on moving the boat to Lake Charles, La(east of Beaumont) Time ran out and I knew I could not outrun the storm! I tied her up in her slip and drove the car to Naples, Fl to pick up the Admiral-just ahead of the mandatory evacuation of approx 3 million people!
I thought the boat would probably be destroyed by the winds,if not by the tidal surge pushing the boat through the roof of the covered slip. To make a long story short I picked up the Admiral and headed back the next day to find only minor cosmetic damage to the port side of the hull--needs scratch repair and paint only! and arrived prior to the anticipated high water and was able to pull the boat out before it touched the roof.
Apparently the storm surge in Beaumont--approx 20 miles from the Gulf was not as high as predicted because of us being on the west side of the storm and the high water in the Neches river was more do to the rainfall further inland which took a day to reach Beaumont.
We are extremely lucky! This storm was so big I had no where to run and the prediction for landfall off by 100 miles--thank God I did not run to Lake Charles--the marinas there were devastated!
NO one was allowed to enter Lake Charles or Beaumont---Police and now National Guard at every exit off of I10- electricity will be off for an estimated 4 weeks because of major trunk damage!
I moved the boat to Galveston for repair -it was time for a bottom job anyway. Hope to be back boating in 2 weeks.
Sometimes it is better to be lucky than good!

 

[Traveler 45C]

Glad to hear you did ok. Good luck to you and yours.

 

[Passages]

Sometimes it is better to be lucky than good!

It's always better to be lucky.

Glad to hear you made it through with only a few scratches.

 

[Trojan]

Glad to hear that every one is ok. I understand that all the damaged boats are going to be shipped to Orlando for auction. Bill