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Community Corner

Batten Down the Hatches, It's Storm Season

Local Broadneck boat lover reminds colleagues to prepare for crazy surprises from Mother Nature.

While sifting through the accumulation of fenders, lawn furniture, and boat parts that have washed up on my beach over the past few weeks, it occurred to me that it might be a good idea to discuss storm preparation.

This assembly of wreckage tells the tale of pier damage, lost property, boats on the loose, and meteorological mayhem. There is absolutely nothing that can be done to prevent severe weather from descending upon us, so the only solution is preparation. Through a little planning and meticulous preparation, you can avoid impending headaches and clean up after the dark skies have cleared.

Long before the storms hit, you can prepare yourself by knowing your waterfront and anticipating the conditions that may face you. Know the direction of an approaching storm and how it may affect your own beach, pier, or mooring field. Docks facing larger bodies of water may experience more dramatic weather than those in protected coves. This time of year most storms blow in from the west, though tropical systems usually approach from the south.

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Those of us lucky enough to keep our boats in the water may find that our vessels are directly in the path of disaster. By definition, waterfronts are situated adjacent to an open watered area and are therefore more vulnerable to the elements. Wind, waves, and fluctuating tides are all of concern as their combined effects can rip your boat from its cleats and toss it from its slip onto a neighboring boat, beach or dock.

The surest way to avoid such a calamity is to secure your boat using an orientation of dock lines that allow for tidal changes while keeping your hull from touching the dock and pilings. Bowlines and stern lines will secure the front and back of your boat and a midboat springline should be employed to prevent your boat’s movement in the slip. An additional breastline tied to an anchor or piling may help to hold your boat off the dock.

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You can extend the life of your dock lines and the safety of your boat by employing chafing gear or protective coverings in areas where your lines are exposed to friction. While specially designed chafing gear is available, old garden hose pieces are an economical alternative that will protect your dock lines from wear. Fenders also provide protection at contact points and are available in many shapes, sizes, and colors. These rubber inflated bumpers should be secured in between vessels and docks to prevent damage should the two come in contact.

Boats stored on mooring balls are especially vulnerable to weather related damage. Proper moorings are set with enough distance between them to allow a boat to swing 360 degrees in the wind without any danger of collision with other boats. However, moored vessels are tied to their anchorage with usually one, maybe two lines. Should this line fail or the ground tackle become loose, your boat may be released in the harbor, so for a violent storm, set an extra anchor.

If you keep your boat in a lift, make sure that it is secured and safely balanced on its bunks. Extreme wind, or high tide and crashing waves may knock a boat from its bunks. Though rare, tornadoes do touch down in this area and inevitably produce destruction and chaos. I have personally seen a very large catamaran on the Magothy raised off its lift by a funnel cloud and set back down cockeyed!

The lesson learned is that boats ashore should still be anchored. With any luck, your preparations will be excessive and the water will remain friendly. Better safe than sorry, if (and when) the squalls hit, you will be relieved if your boats can emerge damage free. Your time is much better spent putting out a few extra lines and fenders, than on the phone with your insurance agent.

Batten down the hatches and pray for more blue sky.

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