Hurricane might be coming... what to do, what do do?

[Robert]

Mike,
I had my Mac26X on its trailer for a hurricane and a 2 foot dump of snow. I think the mast on top is a good protection in case a not too heavy tree falls across the top. I filled the ballast using the garden hose, strapped the rear of the trailer to the boat, made sure it was level or rear end down so water would not fill the cockpit and then the hull, and removed or tied down anything that could flap in the wind, and blocked the wheels so it would not roll away. All was fine after the storm. If there is a chance that there will be flooding, tie the boat to a tree so it does not float away.
..
A friend of mine put anchors into the cement of his driveway for tying down his camper in storms, he thought it would make a good box kite, campers don't have water ballast.
..
Rig up you boat as if you were going on a trip, especially charge the batteries for emergency power, and fill the water jugs, you could camp in it if needed.
..
Just a tiny bit of experience: don't let anyboy use the portapotty if you will not have the ability to clean it out any time soon. We were without power and also no well pump for a week once, it is much much better to go somwhere and get a few five gallon buckets of water from a friend's hose or a lake to dump in to flush the toilet in the house. Or bury it six to 8 inches deep like when hiking on a mountain.

[Dimitri-2000X-Tampa]

Yea, I agree with Normo, it is not a good idea to experience a cat 4 hurricane. Sure, you can bet your life on the NHC forecast of it turning North right before landfall which will spare Louisiana the brunt of it... But being in the place which was so surely going to be hit by Ivan on Monday that they closed all the schools and half the people evacuated, I think you can understand the point that a forecast is just a guess...perhaps an educated one, but I certainly wouldn't bet my life on it. The storm is currently bearing 340 which would take it right into Slidell if it doesn't turn.

As for the boat, I don't agree that the mast is tool much of a liability bolted into the trailering position. The windage of the hull is far more than the mast is. As I mentioned in the other thread, my ballast filled boat didn't sway at all during the 60 mph winds we experienced with Frances here...of course, 160 is a hull of a lot more force. You should tie the mast down so that the crutch can't lift up and you should remove your rudders or they may break off...but the main thing is the trees. Like my FL buddy said, you will be totally amazed by the amount of tree damage..unless of course, if you live on the water like I do. We are expecting a 2-4 foot storm surge later this afternoon even though this thing is 350 miles away.

[Chip Hindes]

I think the mast on top is a good protection in case a not too heavy tree falls across the top.

Agree with everything you said except this. It won't take much of a tree to break the mast, while the topsides of the boat (except for the windows) is way more sturdy than the mast. The boat itself will survive tree falls which will break the mast. You may want to drop the lifelines if you can, and or remove the stanchions, if there is a chance a tree will fall on it.

Better yet, find a place to park the the boat where there's no possibility of a tree falling on it.

If it's not too late, augers is a good idea, too. If you can't do that, leave it securely hitched to a tow vehicle. If you can do neither, lower is better. If you have time, dig a couple of holes in the yard to drop the wheels into. I would not put it on blocks, as there is a good chance it would blow off those. Take the landing wheel off and lower the tongue as far as you can. Course, all this will prevent you from moving it quickly if the situation warrants.

[mike]

Yea, I agree with Normo, it is not a good idea to experience a cat 4 hurricane. Sure, you can bet your life on the NHC forecast of it turning North right before landfall which will spare Louisiana the brunt of it... But being in the place which was so surely going to be hit by Ivan on Monday that they closed all the schools and half the people evacuated, I think you can understand the point that a forecast is just a guess...perhaps an educated one, but I certainly wouldn't bet my life on it. The storm is currently bearing 340 which would take it right into Slidell if it doesn't turn.

This morning was our stay-or-go decision time, and because the projected track has been shifted east a bit, and because they now have more confidence in this (compared to the past several days, when they really didn't seem to have a clue where it would go), we decided to stay.

At the moment, they're saying we will perhaps receive tropical storm force winds, but not very much rain.

Of course, I do recognize that it could turn back towards us, but that doesn't seem likely.

--Mike

[Dimitri-2000X-Tampa]

Good luck Mike. With us only being 7.9 feet AMSL, the only hurricanes we ever get to stay in our house for are inland ones like Frances. Looks like Ivan has weakened a bit and they expect it to come onshore as a cat3.

I certainly understand the seriousness of the situation, but to lighten the mood a bit, check out this link which is hillarious and doesn't seem too far from the truth really.

[Idle Time]

My husband wasnt too happy when I wanted to pull the furler off and put it in the shed after Charley. Francis sounded much worse. Charley went right over us...Francis made herself known...thank God Ivan decided to leave us alone.

I spent a few days cleaning out our Mac 26X after the firemen stopped and warned us about flooding. I figured we could move into it if we needed to.

Good Luck...hope you dont have to evacuate. We will be praying for you and your family.

[cajun]

Rigged some eyebolts thru the expansion joints in my drive and ran lines from the bow cleat, thru the eyebolts and up to the winches. Then cranked her down hard. Check out my write up at
http://bbs.trailersailor.com/forums/tra ... ead/360691

best of luck,

cajun

[Dimitri-2000X-Tampa]

Cajun, what do those eyebolts hold on to? Ie, what will keep them from pulling up?

[Robert]

I agree that boat deck is much strnger than the mast, however, replacing a mast would be much easier and probably less expensive than even a small hole in the top side deck, unless you are a confident fiberglass do it yourslf-er.

[Chip Hindes]

I agree that boat deck is much strnger than the mast, however, replacing a mast would be much easier and probably less expensive than even a small hole in the top side deck, unless you are a confident fiberglass do it yourslf-er

You're postulating that the mast is going to stop something that would otherwise hole the topsides, and that's just not likely to happen.

If a tree's going to hole the boat, it's simply going to take the mast with it on its way to holing the boat anyway.

[Dimitri-2000X-Tampa]

Well, I think you are both right and its a function of the mass of the tree. Ie, there would be just a certain (smallish) sized tree that would be stopped by the mast, slightly larger that would break through the mast but not hurt the boat....and then, of course, the monster tree that would cut the mast, boat and maybe even the trailer right into half!

Looks like our Louisiana friends probably made out ok in the storm due to the 11th hour shift to the NE. I think Gulf Shores, AL and Pensacola, FL probably took the worst of it.

[kmclemore]

Um , as one who's had trees fall on things (like my house - three times!), I might mention that trees are not just a trunk - they have things called branches that stick out.. and whereas the mast may stop the trunk (or only slow it down), the branches, some of which can be as large as the tree itself, can still poke a very nice hole in things... like decks. Trust me on that one... I've got the replaced roof sheathing to proove it.

[Chip Hindes]

I might mention that trees are not just a trunk - they have things called branches that stick out.. and whereas the mast may stop the trunk (or only slow it down), the branckes, some of which can be as large as the tree itself, can still poke a very nice hole in things

Couldn't have said it better, or funnier.

So, when you know one of these is coming, I'm guessing you store your MGB under the trees with the top down, rather than up, to protect the top, right?

[kmclemore]

So, when you know one of these is coming, I'm guessing you store your MGB under the trees with the top down, rather than up, to protect the top, right?

Don't have an MGB, Chip - that was the other guy - I have a Sunbeam (note- top is down, car is under tree ), Triumph and Morris. (Click each to see the pictures.)

Funny you should mention that, though, as my antique car garage took a direct hit from a 100' Tulip Poplar when "Floyd" hit our area... but that building was built like a brick sh*thouse - with studs at 12" on center and 3/4" marine ply sheathing - so when the tree fell it literally bounced... and although the structure was entirely undamaged, one of the branches did make a hole in the roof! Still, no damage to my cars whatsoever, so it did what it was supposed to do.

-KBM

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

Ouch! Hope everybody got their mac out of the water.