Boating and Sailing.pdf - Moja ladja

Chapter 18: The Best Defense Is Common Sense
was going to take a direct hit, he simply took all his electronics and personal gear off his
30-foot sailboat, tied it with extra long and strong dock lines, and pulled the plug, sinking
his own boat before the storm could. Nothing was left above the water but the mast.
The result was no hull damage to his boat whatsoever, although he had to have the wiring
redone and the motor rebuilt. But meanwhile, dozens of boats floating normally on either
side of him were pounded into kindling by the storm.
This is not to recommend “pre-sinking” as a wise solution to the approach of a storm,
unless you enjoy living with the smell of harbor mud and dead crabs long after the fact.
But it does show that a bit of thought applied early can avoid major problems.
If a major storm such as a hurricane is forecast well in advance, the best move is to get
your boat out of the water and away from the waterfront. The force of many sea storms
abates dramatically just a few miles inland, and if you move your boat out of the strike
zone, it’s unlikely to suffer problems.
For trailered boats stored outside, remove all
gear and add extra tie-downs at the bow and
stern but pull the drain-plug. High-sided boats
can hold so much rain water they may break
the trailer springs. Block the trailer wheels as
well—you don’t want the rig taking a drive by
itself.
Boats too large for trailering have to be left in the
water, and the trick is to find a “hurricane hole”
where they will be protected from winds and seas.
Deep coastal rivers are favorites for this, providing
narrow waterways, often with steep banks to keep
out the winds.
Even in these areas, it’s necessary to make the
boat extra secure by putting out two or even
three anchors and tying off on large trees
ashore. (Don’t trust trees too much, though—
they sometimes blow down and drift away in a
really severe hurricane!)
In moderate storms, including minimal hurricanes,
many boaters take their chances with leaving
their boats at a marina. As long as the storm
doesn’t make a direct hit, most of these boats survive.
But it does take special preparation to see
that they do.
Boat Bytes
It’s a good idea to scout
out hurricane holes well
in advance of the June-
October hurricane
season—there won’t be
time once a storm homes in on
your section of the coast. And
remember, it’s likely that other
boaters will be headed for the
same hole when a storm bears
down on you, so plan to get
there early.
Look Out!
Don’t forget “storm
surge” as a factor in selecting a
hurricane hole. A harbor protected
by a jetty that’s five feet
above the normal high tide may
go underwater in storm tides,
allowing open ocean waves to
roll right into your “safe” spot!
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