"Networkin" wrote in message
m...
Boat Survived Hurricane Charley?

Any mooring tips that they could share used during Hurricane Charley?



We here in St. Petersburg dodged a bullet with Charley, and my boat is in a
slip rather than on a mooring, but I'll put in my 2 cents. A few years ago
we had a near pass from a hurricane and many boats at my marina were damaged
from the storm surge and wind/waves. All the failures were not the dock
lines breaking, but cleats getting pulled loose from the boat or dock, I
assume due to shock loads. Then the boats beat them selves to death against
pilings and dock (and other boats). I think people often overdo the dock
lines. I was at a local marine store when we still expected Charley to hit
us and a fellow was wanting 1/2 inch line. The store had sold out of both
1/2 inch and 5/8 inch line. We got to talking and he had a 22 foot boat. My
boat is 26 foot, but relatively light at 3000 pounds. I use 3/8 inch line.
Actually 7/16 inch might be better. For a storm I double up the lines,
leaving the second line slacker than the first so that when the first line
stretches quite a bit the second line comes into play. The line being able
to stretch is very important. Putting on heavier line than appropriate for
the size of boat is the wrong thing to do I think. Also 3 strand nylon
provides better stretch than braided dacron although it does get stiff and
harder to handle.

A side note is that this time I put on a third much longer lines at bow and
stern and fastened to the pilings because I expected that the regular dock
line loops might be pulled up over the pilings by the forecasted 14 foot
surge, which we didn't get thankfully. I don't know that it would have
helped, but couldn't hurt.

I'll be interested to hear what others have to say about this.


Chuck