Boat storm damage poll
- Thread starter pdecat
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It was a crapshoot for us.
8' surge.
Some boats in water suffered major damage, some are fine.
Some boats on land suffered major damage, some are fine.
It was luck.
By far in water seems a better choice as boat gets beat up but does not sink.
But if surge is less than say 5', on land is better because it doesn't get beat up at all.
I am tight in my slip.
Looking at boats if you were tight in your slip, you got beat up good.
8' surge.
Some boats in water suffered major damage, some are fine.
Some boats on land suffered major damage, some are fine.
It was luck.
By far in water seems a better choice as boat gets beat up but does not sink.
But if surge is less than say 5', on land is better because it doesn't get beat up at all.
I am tight in my slip.
Looking at boats if you were tight in your slip, you got beat up good.
It was just luck for me. Boat had been hauled, winterized and shrink wrapped. Was in the first row to the river. Emerged unscathed except my neighbor's anchor went through a portion of the shrink wrap over the swim platform. I couldn't see if there were scratches - but I am very grateful I was not in the majority of boats who had major damage all around me. Patsy's Bay all but totally destroyed. Docks and buildings gone. Barn and shop severely damaged. Boats in piles on land.
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Super close call.
Has some damage on the swim platform and some rubbing on the transom. Corner of the boat laying up on the dock wore down an edge of my swim platform on the last high tide. Nothing I can't fix in the spring. Also lost 2 windows on the flybridge. That black line tied to the boat on the dock is holding it from tipping over.
Many boats are gone and laying up on an outlying island. A lot of my friends boats made it out ok. 2 boats, same models blocked next to each other in the yard. One of them is now at the top of one of those islands a 1/2 mile away, the other (my friends) was found floating in the marina with minor damage. Tied it up, started it, docked it in an open slip.
Ed who runs Blue Water Marine Service found his boat floating in the marina. Except the trailer was still strapped to it underneath. They got in it, started it up and rode the boat/trailer over to the boat ramp. He hooked it to his truck and pulled the boat out. Incredible.
Has some damage on the swim platform and some rubbing on the transom. Corner of the boat laying up on the dock wore down an edge of my swim platform on the last high tide. Nothing I can't fix in the spring. Also lost 2 windows on the flybridge. That black line tied to the boat on the dock is holding it from tipping over.
Many boats are gone and laying up on an outlying island. A lot of my friends boats made it out ok. 2 boats, same models blocked next to each other in the yard. One of them is now at the top of one of those islands a 1/2 mile away, the other (my friends) was found floating in the marina with minor damage. Tied it up, started it, docked it in an open slip.
Ed who runs Blue Water Marine Service found his boat floating in the marina. Except the trailer was still strapped to it underneath. They got in it, started it up and rode the boat/trailer over to the boat ramp. He hooked it to his truck and pulled the boat out. Incredible.
This might be off topic and please don't misinterpret this as "they deserved what they got" but I am surprised with all the warning the amount of canvas and enclosures up on the boats. From the pictures it looks like some of the boats did no prep. One of the pictures still had their bimini up!
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Most of the canvas on the boats did ok. It was the surge of the water that did the damage more that the wind.
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Pic of the boat yard next to my marina.
Monmouth Sailing Center.
Monmouth Sailing Center.
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The pilings lifted up and the boats were taken with the water and wind. 3 boats behind me had piles come out. 2 of them had no canvas. The big one behind me had all of his windows rolled up on his bridge.
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I really think most damage was by the surge.
The winds were not that terrible.
And yes, it amazes me too but boats that did no prep, no extra lines, no canvas down survived better than those that did.
I think because their lines were tied tight for a regular tide, the boat stretched them, probably took water in thru the thruhulls, but bilge pump kicked on, worked, took water out and since the surge main event was only say 6 hours tops, boat went back down and is floating fine.
So lesson learned, maybe you don't need loose lines to allow for surge, tie it tight and pray!
The winds were not that terrible.
And yes, it amazes me too but boats that did no prep, no extra lines, no canvas down survived better than those that did.
I think because their lines were tied tight for a regular tide, the boat stretched them, probably took water in thru the thruhulls, but bilge pump kicked on, worked, took water out and since the surge main event was only say 6 hours tops, boat went back down and is floating fine.
So lesson learned, maybe you don't need loose lines to allow for surge, tie it tight and pray!
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I was lucky my lines were loose, but tied tight to the piles. Allowed me to ride up over the tops of the pilings without pulling the pilings up.
I suspect the boats that pulled piles eventually ran out of line and tide surge just lifted the boats and took the piles out.
I suspect the boats that pulled piles eventually ran out of line and tide surge just lifted the boats and took the piles out.
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I had nailed my lines to the poles to keep them on.
Did this for Irene and I got within a foot of top of poles.
I wish I stayed in the water.
We need to learn from these events.
Did this for Irene and I got within a foot of top of poles.
I wish I stayed in the water.
We need to learn from these events.
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The surge will weaken the pilings and undermining of the docks. Witht he surge, the higher the floating docks rise on the pilings, the less leverage it requires to free them. The wind is secondary to the surge.
Prospective
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Dave, I faced the same dilema as you and made the exact same choice. I got lucky. I too debated leaving the boat in the slip. But I hate the storm prep that involves with lines fendors and anchors. Also I was worried about dock rash and wear and tear from sustained chop and high wind in the harbor. This was based on my experience being IN the water for Irene.
Since I was planning on coming out for the season anyway, I decided to have my yard haul me. But I realized pretty quick that was the wrong choice. The AM high tide on Monday had water over the bulhead and puddling under my boat. I knew the PM high tide would be ugly and wished I was back in. As it turned out I couldn't get back to my boat that night because streets were flooded. But I spoke to the yard guy just after high tide. He said the water had come really high but had not taken boats off the stands. We just didn't have the same surge as you. I also don't have a drain plug so that option was out. Another foot or two and I'm guessing my boat would be floating in the bay right now.
Since I was planning on coming out for the season anyway, I decided to have my yard haul me. But I realized pretty quick that was the wrong choice. The AM high tide on Monday had water over the bulhead and puddling under my boat. I knew the PM high tide would be ugly and wished I was back in. As it turned out I couldn't get back to my boat that night because streets were flooded. But I spoke to the yard guy just after high tide. He said the water had come really high but had not taken boats off the stands. We just didn't have the same surge as you. I also don't have a drain plug so that option was out. Another foot or two and I'm guessing my boat would be floating in the bay right now.
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I think the first lesson needs to be learned by the marinas, not by boaters.
1)- width of the slips. If you dont have at least 3' clearance on each side you will end up against the pilings no matter what
2)- piling height on floating docks. We see this in every storm... With floating docks, if the pilings aren't high enough docks float free. Remember the images dorm ft Pierce back in 04? With fixed docks, if the pilings are too low, boats come back on the pilings or the rub rail gets caught on the way down causing damage that could have been avoided
I understand that taller pilings require deeper set and in deeper water it may be an issue but not in shallow water most marinas are built in
Here in south Florida I ve seen tall pilings being set and the cut off with a chain saw!
The best floating docks I ve seen were at an ICW marina in top sail NC. The pilings had steel tubes which could rise with the docks adding a few feet of protection.
I know nobody can prepare for really bad storm (over 120kts) but with sandy the winds were manageable. The surge was obviously amplified by shape of the coast line but all the tide gauges in the area only indicated a surge of 8 to 9'. Obviously the timing was terrible since it came at a full moon high tide but it is still not a catastrophic number. I hope that marinas learn the lessons.
As to boaters, one thing that s often overlooked is line placement on the pilings. Everybody talks about line size, charging protection, etc but line placement is critical. If you set your lines at normal tide and place them near cleat height on the pilings, by the time you add 8' they will be very tight. On the other hand if you put them 4' higher, they will be at the same angle by the time the water level is 8' higher
Finally, use fender boards. I wonder how many boats relied on fenders alone whereas fender boards who have prevented damage. To play it safe and avoid the board being moved by the wind, use oversized heavy wood and tie the board to the top and bottom of the fenders
But as we have seen time after time, prep is 50%, the rest is luck!! Look at Robyn Nest picture with that carver hanging behind it... On the Hatt forum, there is a guy with 43 which was docked 2 slips from where Current Sea ended up. He also had a carver leaning against is boat. In both case it's very possible that AHs the surge lasted a few more minutes both boats would have sustained severe damage... Who knows.
1)- width of the slips. If you dont have at least 3' clearance on each side you will end up against the pilings no matter what
2)- piling height on floating docks. We see this in every storm... With floating docks, if the pilings aren't high enough docks float free. Remember the images dorm ft Pierce back in 04? With fixed docks, if the pilings are too low, boats come back on the pilings or the rub rail gets caught on the way down causing damage that could have been avoided
I understand that taller pilings require deeper set and in deeper water it may be an issue but not in shallow water most marinas are built in
Here in south Florida I ve seen tall pilings being set and the cut off with a chain saw!
The best floating docks I ve seen were at an ICW marina in top sail NC. The pilings had steel tubes which could rise with the docks adding a few feet of protection.
I know nobody can prepare for really bad storm (over 120kts) but with sandy the winds were manageable. The surge was obviously amplified by shape of the coast line but all the tide gauges in the area only indicated a surge of 8 to 9'. Obviously the timing was terrible since it came at a full moon high tide but it is still not a catastrophic number. I hope that marinas learn the lessons.
As to boaters, one thing that s often overlooked is line placement on the pilings. Everybody talks about line size, charging protection, etc but line placement is critical. If you set your lines at normal tide and place them near cleat height on the pilings, by the time you add 8' they will be very tight. On the other hand if you put them 4' higher, they will be at the same angle by the time the water level is 8' higher
Finally, use fender boards. I wonder how many boats relied on fenders alone whereas fender boards who have prevented damage. To play it safe and avoid the board being moved by the wind, use oversized heavy wood and tie the board to the top and bottom of the fenders
But as we have seen time after time, prep is 50%, the rest is luck!! Look at Robyn Nest picture with that carver hanging behind it... On the Hatt forum, there is a guy with 43 which was docked 2 slips from where Current Sea ended up. He also had a carver leaning against is boat. In both case it's very possible that AHs the surge lasted a few more minutes both boats would have sustained severe damage... Who knows.
I'm not sure until they can get my boat out from the center of the pile. The marina told me they thought it was totalled after I was able to get as close as possible it's the unseen that bothers me. One member braver then I said my interior was wet and soaked. With all the various boats leaning against it there might be more damage as they try and remove other boats and there were large areas I could not see.
I'm still waiting on Boat US (I have a claim number) to call me back. I contacted them yesterday morning. Considering all the local damage I saw I would say they would be pretty busy.
Bill
I'm still waiting on Boat US (I have a claim number) to call me back. I contacted them yesterday morning. Considering all the local damage I saw I would say they would be pretty busy.
Bill