Huricane Preparation

Rev. 7-22-2024

Not the common "double you lines" or "haul out" sort of advice. Small things that don't make the standard lists. I'm not on the sea coast and even a direct huricane hit on the Chesapeake is a tropical storm without the waves; a mess and quite strong, but very survivable with moderate preparations.

• No sharp stuff. Check your docks for nails, hose hangers, and any hazardous dock accessories. I almost lost my boat when the rope looped over a rusty nail left in a finger dock by a prior tenant nearly sliced a line in half over night during a winter storm.
• Limit the slack. Too much slack and the tugging becomes extreme. Too much slack and a line can hook on too something it shouldn't. Check length by taking each line off its cleat, raising the line to the height of  the expected surge with the slack just removed, and recleating to that length. Spring lines generally need less slack than bow and stern lines. Also consider extra low tide; sometimes there is a reverse surge, depending on wind direction. The upper Chesapeake is expected to see up to 5 feet below average low tide, which will put many (most?) boats on the bottom. Will your boat lean?
• Longer ropes are your friends. Can you  tie docklines to pilings or cleats that are farther away? They will better absorb shock and deal with storm surge.
  
• Chafe gear. Make certain it is secured and won't shift. I've been using this for 25 years and believe in it. I didn't start marketing it until I had spent 20 years proving the product on boats and industrial applications.
• Check window seals. The most common source of leaks is dirt in the seal, so wipe the seals clean. 15 hours of horizontal rain will find any leaks.
• Make certain the dinghy can drain. Remove the screen or flapper valve from the drain; they're a bad idea anyway. Clean the inside of leaves and junk. Tilt more than normal on the davits. Support with tricing lines. Of course, you could take it off.
• Barber pole the roller furler. Wrap the spinnaker halyard around the furled sail in the reverse direction, so that it cannot unfurl. Secure the sheets and furler line on winches. Better, take it off.
• Wrap a rope around the mainsail cover to reduce flapping. 
• Secure the boom so it can't slap side-to-side. A line to one side does it.
  
• Remove any tarps. They'll just beat themselves to death and add windage.
• Seal the slider. Stuff towels in the cracks, because it will allow spray in.
• Cover the fuel tank vent (if prone to spray driving in). Not plug it; the tank needs to breath. 
  

And go home and take down the Halloween decorations, I suppose. Damn.