What's everybody in Fla doing about Irma?

[jim rosenthal]

Frankly, this all sounds terrifying. It's weird- up here, the weather is normal. Down there, the storm is bigger than the width of the entire state. Scary.

 

[wpc691]

For a couple of days I felt good about not moving to the OW...now, not so much. Boat's behind the house, canvas down, 10 lines on, fingers crossed on the storm surge. House buttoned up, car backed against garage door, moved inland a few miles to wife's sister' s house. Good luck everybody.

 

[racclarkson@gmail.com]

I led two boats south to Windmill Harbor on Hilton Head Is. Friday. We expected a Cat 3 and figured it safer than anywhere else around in that kind of storm. Fortune has smiled on us. The expected surge will be mostly handled by the lock. With any luck, we'll cruise back to Chas on Tuesday and re provision for the next storm. But It was still great so see old Matthew friends again. I am sure worried about my Florida friends. Aslan came up from Marco via a few months in Ft Myers in 2015.

 

[nautibake]

We have 14 lines on Sea Joy at Burnt Store Marina (Punta Gorda). The maintenance manager at the marina stopped by late yesterday and asked if we needed a place to stay. Today we are feeling safer in his nice cat 4 home about 15' above sea level and only 5 minute drive from the boat. Wow, above and beyond. It was so hard to leave her over there, and with the storm slowing down I expect I can make it over to at least top off the batteries with the genny maybe one or two more times. Looks like we are in the bullseye if the projections hold up. Only hope is that they are as wrong as they have been all week...

 

[Freeebird]

Question... how do you secure a boat at a stationary dock with pilings when the storm surge exceeds the piling height?

 

[rsmith]

Question... how do you secure a boat at a stationary dock with pilings when the storm surge exceeds the piling height?

Do the best you can I've seen more damage when floating docks ride off the top of the poles. 15' surge say goodbye where ever you are.

 

[rsmith]

2004 when my house was destroyed and almost lost the boat. There was only 3 weeks between Frances and Jeene and I was cooked from no power losing the house I recorded over some of the Frances footage but you will get the idea. I did not tape during the worst conditions because you could hardly stand in the boat. Top of the tower was torn off and landed in a tree 3 blocks away. Took me all this time to do this halfass upload from VHS tape.
Enjoy

https://youtu.be/-9RswfGVhwI

 

[Freeebird]

Do the best you can I've seen more damage when floating docks ride off the top of the poles. 15' surge say goodbye where ever you are.

Was thinking about the 55C in Clearwater. Probably too late now, but would it help to run out an anchor and coil some long, stern lines and tie them to the dock?

Do cleats typically break/pull out before the lines? I'm assuming one or the other breaks when the lines get too tight, then the anchor and longer lines would take over. May not help with wind, but it might keep the boat near the slip. Luckily I've never had to deal with such a thing.

 

[oldboat]

rsmith,
thank you for posting that video.

 

[ageless]

My thoughts are with everyone in Florida, the unpredictability of these storms is gut wrenching. Hunker down and know that we bought these vessels knowing they were/are some of the best built boats in the industry. If I can do anything once the smoke clears, my services are offered, I can pick Robert up in Charleston on my way down.

For 30-40 knot winds do the majority take down bridge enclosure? Open it? My gut says to remove it

 

[rsmith]

Was thinking about the 55C in Clearwater. Probably too late now, but would it help to run out an anchor and coil some long, stern lines and tie them to the dock?

Do cleats typically break/pull out before the lines? I'm assuming one or the other breaks when the lines get too tight, then the anchor and longer lines would take over. May not help with wind, but it might keep the boat near the slip. Luckily I've never had to deal with such a thing.

Putting an anchor out is good especially if it's up on the lawn

 

[racclarkson@gmail.com]

My thoughts are with everyone in Florida, the unpredictability of these storms is gut wrenching. Hunker down and know that we bought these vessels knowing they were/are some of the best built boats in the industry. If I can do anything once the smoke clears, my services are offered, I can pick Robert up in Charleston on my way down.For 30-40 knot winds do the majority take down bridge enclosure? Open it? My gut says to remove it

Have tools will travel. I've rolled up my enclosure U zipper windows. Did fine in 88 mph Matthew breeze. Depends on quality, age, things blocking wind and LUCK. Obey your gut.

 

[racclarkson@gmail.com]

2004 when my house was destroyed and almost lost the boat. There was only 3 weeks between Frances and Jeene and I was cooked from no power losing the house I recorded over some of the Frances footage but you will get the idea. I did not tape during the worst conditions because you could hardly stand in the boat. Top of the tower was torn off and landed in a tree 3 blocks away. Took me all this time to do this halfass upload from VHS tape.Enjoyhttps://youtu.be/-9RswfGVhwI

Tough to watch. Thanks for posting it.

 

[Mike36c]

I have the Honu tucked way back in a creek on the south fork here in Stuart. Pic taken yesterday but no so nice this morning, the eye is next to Key West and it's already gusting 50 here. Thankfully the power is still on as I pre-chill the house down to 65.

 

[Fish Tales]

I am triple long tied. I do not use dock cleats, I use every pole available. Spread tension across every boat cleat, long tie to dock piling only. Anchor is out, I have 17 lines on the boat. I have watched 3 parallel lines loose half of there diameter during a sustained wind gust. Boat moved 3 feet. I also have several lines cleated on boat loose to poles, for emergency quick grab with no tension, as to make fast corrections. When lines are tight, there is no safe quick removal and re tie. Loose fingers. Good luck to all,Prayers are with you

 

[rsmith]

Had a tornado came through several neighbors boats broke loose one collapsed the lift. Piling are pulling over in the mud. Capt Derek swimming a line over to me.

 

[rsmith]

This is a beautiful 34 anyone know it?

 

[rsmith]

Collapsed lift these guys need to go back to chasing little white balls

 

[johnjen50]

Great pix r smith! Glad to see u r doin ok.

 

[madhatter1]

Well over here on the West coast we have the opposite going on, no water. My 34 is tied with 14 long lines plus about 6 emergency lines. Finally grounded out as the rudders are in the mud. Facing bow out and hopefully we don't loose too much more water. I will get up at 4AM to start adjusting lines for the returning water. May just stay on the boat till early afternoon as this thing pulls out of here.

2 commercial boats and one private boat anchored in our basin. The private one, a 42 "Key West?" had the wrong anchor I guess and has drifted into a dock on the other side. Hoping this doesn't become my problem as the wind direction changes.

Take care all.