What's everybody in Fla doing about Irma?

[rsmith]

Looks like things have stabilized over the last 12 hours as much as you could expect. Looking like Irma coming into Mia area as a cat 4 and buzsawing up the state. I'm in Pa headed back to VERO tomorrow night. My Co Captain Derek has the boat pretty well secure. I was wondering what Pascal and Ang are doing at Dinner key. Looks pretty exposed.

 

[Pascal]

I m not pressing the panic button yet but it s complicated. I have the Hatt which can't move under it s own power, I m booked for a haul out to repower on sept 29 which doesn't me any good.

As long as we don't get anything over 100kts we re ok here. That s what we got for Wilma and Katrina back in 05
But I was one the boat to adjust the lines... and I won't be able to this time as if the you know what hits the proverbial fan i need to move the 84 lazzara i m running

I also have my 26' classic gaffer on a mooring... I also shave a yard booking for that one (bottom paint and hull clear Awlgrip) next Monday which doesn't smoke any good either. I m going to step down the mast early which I was getting going to for maintenance anyway which allow me to bring it to a private dock deep upnthe coral gables waterway.

I may be able to tow the hatt to the same house on the gables waterway although I have to check bridge clearance. I think without Bimini top the hatt can clear an 18' bridge... we ll see

A storm coming from the the south is pretty much a worst case scenario since you can't run up either coast. Being 5 1/2 days away the fcast is going to shift. If we get a direct hit from the south, I ll move both the hatt and The gaffer to the gables WW and probably take the Laz to the Bahamas. Probably great harbor Cay which is the best hurricane hole one can use. Or NAS or the Exumas. I m planning to fill her up wed. We just got back from great harbor Cays and the Berrys tonight !

 

[scallywag]

Excellent question. Too soon to tell, but it will be time to make some big decisions shortly.

 

[Passages]

I'm in Lauderdale. Being new to S. Florida, my boat and hurricanes (Sandy was barely a Cat 1 for me) I am also wondering what others are doing.

I posted this same question on my FB page and Ang chimed in that she is removing valuables and sentimentals from her boat just in case. (not good)

Some boats are paying a monthly contingency ($1800/mo for a 62') to duck into the Cable Marine bunker during named storms.

Most boats here at Coral Ridge YC are removing enclosures, adding lines and staying put.

One captain is also headed to the northern Bahamas and invited me to join his caravan.

I'm torn between heading east or staying put. Freeebird offered to assist if I decide to move her. Thats good cuz it's nice to have someone on board who can safely delivery you on a bologna sandwich and 1 working engine.

 

[wpc691]

Hurricane shutters on the house today, provision the boat tomorrow, head to Okeechobee Waterway Thursday, marina or anchorage Fri night somewhere in the middle of the state...that's the current plan anyway.

 

[Fish Tales]

I am in Daytona. No good option here as the entire state is in the cone. If she comes this way, alot of long tying to allow for high tide as not to ride against piling tops. I am too large for local travel lifts, else I would haul out, and sit on the ground.

So far, good luck with every Forida storm the last 25 years. Hope to keep the streak going.

Good luck all, God bless,

Tim

 

[rsmith]

180 mph sustained that means gusts over 200 and staying over the open water? If your not in panic mode now you've got ice water running through your veins. With only a couple major roads out of so fla I would think after today evacuation would be impossible

 

[Freeebird]

This thing is now a cat 5 and growing in strength. I'd say screw the boats and get the hell out of Dodge while the getting is good. I'm guessing a few more days (or less) will result in total gridlock, and there will be NO room at the inn.

 

[Freeebird]

I'm in Lauderdale. Being new to S. Florida, my boat and hurricanes (Sandy was barely a Cat 1 for me) I am also wondering what others are doing.

I posted this same question on my FB page and Ang chimed in that she is removing valuables and sentimentals from her boat just in case. (not good)

Some boats are paying a monthly contingency ($1800/mo for a 62') to duck into the Cable Marine bunker during named storms.

Most boats here at Coral Ridge YC are removing enclosures, adding lines and staying put.

One captain is also headed to the northern Bahamas and invited me to join his caravan.

I'm torn between heading east or staying put. Freeebird offered to assist if I decide to move her. Thats good cuz it's nice to have someone on board who can safely delivery you on a bologna sandwich and 1 working engine.

You said you had ham! The deal's off!!!

 

[Freeebird]

Hurricane shutters on the house today, provision the boat tomorrow, head to Okeechobee Waterway Thursday, marina or anchorage Fri night somewhere in the middle of the state...that's the current plan anyway.

That was my suggestion to Jim. Seems to me the Kissimmee River would be a great spot to ride one out as it's very well protected. You ever run up that river from the lake?

You can go pretty far north to give this thing room to slow down. Not much in terms of marinas, but ducking in behind a lock/dam would seem to be a good option.

 

[saltshaker]

I couldn't agree with you two more. This thing is a monster and waiting too long could be a dangerous mistake. Even if it weakens before hitting Fl it most likely will still be a powerful cat 5. This one reminds me of Sandy. I kept watching it and saying to myself "It can't be that bad." This storm has the potential of being the worse in US history. The next few days will tell a lot and hopefully it won't run right up the coast, or up the Gulf. I understand staying calm and not panicking but it seems that very few are heeding the warning signs.

 

[Freeebird]

Does anybody know the protocol for locks on the OWW and Kissimmee during such events?

I don't know if it's possible, but if you could hole up in one of those locks, that would be the ultimate in protection. Maybe it would be just a matter of hitting them at the right time, but I assume they shut them down when a storm reaches a certain distance.

 

[Fish Tales]

Randy, I bet for liability reasons, they would discourage from even getting near the fenders, let alone inside a lock.

I have friends that go up rivers and long tie to large palm trees. Here in Central Fl, with the cone of probability, It is damn if you move, or damn if you do not move.

Hopefully, next week, there is no call the insurance man.

Unfortunately, I have to wait a little longer to see direction.

Tim

 

[PeterK]

In Stuart and cannot find anywhere to go. Called South to WPB and North Vero and nothing available. Getting very, very tense...

 

[Freeebird]

Randy, I bet for liability reasons, they would discourage from even getting near the fenders, let alone inside a lock.

I have friends that go up rivers and long tie to large palm trees. Here in Central Fl, with the cone of probability, It is damn if you move, or damn if you do not move.

Hopefully, next week, there is no call the insurance man.

Unfortunately, I have to wait a little longer to see direction.

Tim

Moving is a crap shoot at best. You could just as easily run into it instead of away from it unless you move a long ways away. I was on the Kissimmee back in April (I think), and the lock just south of River Ranch has a nice, protected bay above it. No telling what the bottom is like there, though.

My guess is, if you had sudden engine failure (wink) about the time the lock master was about to evacuate, they would just waive and wish you luck. The wind would go right over you.

Best of luck to you, Tim. Be safe.

 

[krush]

Pardon my ignorance....but why not get in the boat, and take it north to GA or SC if on the east, or over toward the panhandle on the west? Right now there is 3-5 days to get there.

 

[Dan Mapes]

I was thinking panhandle should we bug out. But we are in an RV now. The storm will probably re-emerge on the East Coast making a move in that direction a bad decision?

 

[saltshaker]

Pardon my ignorance....but why not get in the boat, and take it north to GA or SC if on the east, or over toward the panhandle on the west? Right now there is 3-5 days to get there.

You could easily put yourself in a much worse position. Not knowing where it's headed is tough. Now we have another storm right behind it. Jose was just named as our newest tropical storm

 

[Fish Tales]

Krush,

That is a good option, I have considered it. However some models have shown it scooting up east of Florida. As Randy said, could be motoring right into it's path.

Plus, I have a Generator Business here in Daytona Beach, and Customers have to come first. Nursing homes, Assisted living Facilities etc. That means House, Boat, and vehicles are last.

That is why I always have to ride out the storm. Hopefully the smarter, wiser, will be able to make a better decision than I..

Good luck to us all...

Tim

 

[Pascal]

GA or Sc isn't a good option on this one as it will head north, possibly skirting the coast

Jose looks like it will recurve but who knows...