Save-A-Boat - The Forum for Plastic Classic Rebuilds!

Well, Tropical Storm Cindy is RAGING outside my window right now and she's definitely keeping me awake. Power's been out for awhile. I am panic stricken about my boat - her portlights are out awaiting replacement and are covered only by tarps that...I hope...may stand up to this abuse. Fortunately, the bilge pump went out yesterday and was replaced today, what a disaster I could have on my hands there - I hoped I installed it right!

The winds are sustained at easily 45 mph, with some gusts considerably higher. The tropical system is interestingly different from a regular storm. The associated rainfall is torrential In addition to the increased wind and rain, the TS moves through with defined bands, the intensity of the storm increases and decreases with a certain rhythm.

Additionally, its coming on the heels of a week of regular, daily rain. So, the ground is saturated already and we're getting many inches here in just a shortwhile. Some of the weather forums and news sites are reporting pretty serious flooding, particularly just south and east of the city. I'm sure it'll get worse and as the the night wears on. It's times like these when I ask why I choose to live in a bucket below sea level. New Orleans' topography definitely does not lend itself to Tropical Storms or Hurricanes.

Fortunately, the storm surge is only a few feet, and I tied up appropriately this afternoon. I have the boat in a fairly well protected harbor:



While it is obviously susceptible to wind and water level (the docks here aren't floating (yet!), there is generally very little wave action. This prompted my belief in the superiority of harbors over moorings - the subject of an earlier post and debate by some of you moored Mainers.

Well, I'll guess I'll have to wait until first light to see the boat. This will definitely be an anxious 5 hours!

Good luck weathering the storm! Hope you fare well with no damage. We're thinking of you.

Good luck weathering the blow. I have sympathy angst!

#218 wrote:This prompted my belief in the superiority of harbors over moorings - the subject of an earlier post and debate by some of you moored Mainers.

The problem we have up here in Falmouth isn't due to being on moorings?in fact, boats on moorings generally fared better than boats in marinas during the spring storm?rather, our problem is that we are wide open with no protection. Moorings in a harbor would be my first choice! Looks like you have pretty decent protection where you are.

Thanks guys. The boat is fine, though a lot of water blew into the cabin when the tarps blew partially off. Good thing the bilge pump worked.

Not everyone faired so well, though. I think there are some lessons to be learned. One, while a Tropical Storm is definitely not a hurricane, it is a powerful storm and should be taken seriously. The vast majority of damage this morning came from roller furled jibs coming partially undone and then beating themselves to shreds. There were at least forty boats that I could see with major damage to their jibs.

Another thing, mainsail covers are not sail ties. They protect from sun and rain, not significant wind. Quite a few mainsail covers blew off when the force of the wind over whelmed those small clips. Once the covers blew off, the mains were exposed and no small number were shredded by the wind. An S2 up the pier from me had a seriously torn roller furled jib, a torn main, and a ruined sail cover. I flaked the main as well as possible and tied it town with sail ties and secured his cover in place with a spare line. He should be able to repair the main, but he would have easily escaped damage with a little boat prep. So, if your going to get a real blow - take the sails off. If you can't do that, at least tie them down properly and secure a line around the sailcover. Roller furled jibs must come off. I don't have one, but it is plain to see from the damage this morning that leaving one on is just inviting trouble. A lot of sails will be in for expensive repairs and some are completely shot.

So, first big storm down, damage (for me): zero. What do you guys think Hurricane Dennis will do this weekend?

The above could be sung to the tune of "I'm singing in the rain", if the singer can carry a tune.

I'm waiting for a lot of rain and wind this weekend. T/S (Hurricane?) Dennis will be off the Southwest Florida coast in time for me waking up on Saturday. We have already gotten more rain than usual ( we are 16 inches ahead of last year) and the ground is pretty saturated. Not to mention all the wood on my boat which has expanded due to the humidity. I'm going to see if I can put the laminate on any surfaces this weekend, I'd really like to be done with the work on the boat and put her in the water. Then again, I may just have to wait for the water to rise and she'll float herself to the river!
Oh oh, I have to put the through hulls back in first! Gad.

Hope all weather stays away from Louisiana,

Cheers,
Ian