Storm Michael, what not to do!

[Rogerh]

So I was preparing for storm Michael and I fell on my dock and broke my ankle and tore some tendons. I'm pretty much useless now, on crutches and so on. My neighbor is helping tie her down and we should be OK as long as the storm stays to the east. We have very good protection from the north.
If it moves west I'm in deep trouble. I will have it tied up the best I can given the circumstances. I was planning to run to Pensacola today but no way I can get on the boat.
I hope my insurance covers me because I will do what I can but am limited to adding a lot of lines and my neighbor will get an anchor out for me to the SE.
I feel really stupid because I fell on two steps that are on the dock and I have traversed hundreds of times. Just wasn't looking. DUH!

 

[Ski in NC]

Sucks!!

Any way you can hire a deckhand or two to ride with you to a safer place?

 

[Rogerh]

I'm working on that. hopefully don't need to do it as long as it stays to the east of us...

 

[Puffin_NT32]

Up here in New England, most owners haul their boats when forecasts indicate a close or direct hit to their home port. Most insurance companies up here will not cover storm damage from any "named storm" if the boat is not hauled or moved to a proven "hurricane hole". Insurance coverage will pay for 50% of the cost to do a named storm related short haul. In over 40 years with a boat on a mooring in Rhode Island, I've hauled the boat for about 6 hurricanes. I'm always amazed when I see the videos of Southern boats sunk or thrown up on shore, leaving their boats in the water in the worse possible place... tied up to a floating dock slip.

 

[BandB]

Up here in New England, most owners haul their boats when forecasts indicate a close or direct hit to their home port. Most insurance companies up here will not cover storm damage from any "named storm" if the boat is not hauled or moved to a proven "hurricane hole". Insurance coverage will pay for 50% of the cost to do a named storm related short haul. In over 40 years with a boat on a mooring in Rhode Island, I've hauled the boat for about 6 hurricanes. I'm always amazed when I see the videos of Southern boats sunk or thrown up on shore, leaving their boats in the water in the worse possible place... tied up to a floating dock slip.

And just where exactly would you haul all the boats in Florida? You're able to haul in New England because facilities are there to haul during the winter. We don't celebrate winter. You're talking about the impossible.

I've also never seen an insurance policy that didn't cover if a boat wasn't hauled or moved. They require hurricane plans but that doesn't mean they don't cover otherwise.

 

[ragin cajun]

I'm working on that. hopefully don't need to do it as long as it stays to the east of us...

Sorry to hear of your injury. Looks like it might be a close call for Michael to move east of Destin/Niceville. That's a gamble that I would hate to make! Finding a crew then head west past Pensacola to Gulfshore (Several marinas there that I would consider good hurricane holes) would be my first option if I'm relatively healthy. Most of all be safe, with a crippling injury that you just experienced no boat is worth putting yourself in harms way.

 

[Rogerh]

yeah, the one marina that does haul outs for storms, charges 10,000 for the first storm haul out and 5K for each after that. Then they put you about 4 feet above sea level. When opal and Ivan hit the that marina looked like a grave yard of boats. Boats scattered up on the highway.

 

[RT Firefly]

Greetings,
Mr. BB. Our previous insurance company, as a result of Sandy, changed it's hurricane policy whereby unless we were hauled and stored ashore during any named storms they would not cover damages.


The home port we were in at the time was a hurricane hole with a historical .01% chance of being hit by a cat 2 or greater. The closest haul out facilities were on the Outer Banks of NC. So in order to keep our coverage in effect we were required to move our boat from a safe place to a place that regularly got walloped with pretty well everything that came up the east coast.


No amount of factual evidence would sway their policy. That's why they are our FORMER insurance company.

 

[Comodave]

Sorry to hear about your fall. My wife fell 3.5 years ago on a step on our deck. Shattered her right arm at the shoulder. She just had her 5th shoulder surgery a month ago. We are hoping that this one fixes it. 3 months ago our dog and the neighbors dog ran into her leg and broke her foot. The boot came off last Friday. It has been a long haul for her. Our deck is stained dark brown so I took some bright blue paint and painted a strip on the edge of the stairs so hopefully she will see the edge of the steps and not fall again. As we get older we have to do everything we can to stop the injury before it happens. Maybe some bright blue paint is in order for your dock steps???

 

[BandB]

Sucks!!

Any way you can hire a deckhand or two to ride with you to a safer place?

Seas already picking up. He's probably in about as safe a place as he could reach anyway. I show 6' seas now, 8' by tomorrow morning (both with short periods), 12' by this time Wed morning. 16' by Wednesday night.

We're currently in the Bahamas, but it seems to me that the escalation of the Michael forecast was rather last minute. I looked yesterday morning and max forecast was CAT 1 and two days ago it was TS. Now, it's a CAT 2 by tonight and a CAT 3 by Tuesday night. Is this what others of you have seen or did I miss something along the way?

 

[psneeld]

Up here in New England, most owners haul their boats when forecasts indicate a close or direct hit to their home port. Most insurance companies up here will not cover storm damage from any "named storm" if the boat is not hauled or moved to a proven "hurricane hole". Insurance coverage will pay for 50% of the cost to do a named storm related short haul. In over 40 years with a boat on a mooring in Rhode Island, I've hauled the boat for about 6 hurricanes. I'm always amazed when I see the videos of Southern boats sunk or thrown up on shore, leaving their boats in the water in the worse possible place... tied up to a floating dock slip.

Not my general experience and not my insurance companies I have had.

Each person might have different situationsvthat need to be evaluated.

I would never haul my boat at my marina if a Cat1 was coming close or anything greater anywhere's near. Way too exposed snd the storage area is only a few feet above high tide so hauling would be a poor choice. Boats washed ofc yhrir stands in Sandy and the ones on the main fliating dock rodd it out fine. But a slight wind change could have changed that too.

My insurancd pays up to $500 to haul or move. Hurricane hauls not at your own marina can get pricey. I never heard of a "proven" hurricane hole as there are still variables.

 

[BandB]

yeah, the one marina that does haul outs for storms, charges 10,000 for the first storm haul out and 5K for each after that. Then they put you about 4 feet above sea level. When opal and Ivan hit the that marina looked like a grave yard of boats. Boats scattered up on the highway.

Many haul out marinas have experienced worse than in water in the same area for just the reasons you describe. You have to get to NC to find a true hurricane haul out marina. One with all the built in ties and adequately elevated plus with any wind protection. This is other than those on the Okeechobee which have a reasonably good history but are limited in size.

 

[jleonard]

Up here in New England, most owners haul their boats when forecasts indicate a close or direct hit to their home port. .

That is not accurate. I've boated out of Mystic, Ct for 30 years. Most boats by far stay in the water.
Our marina hauls maybe 2 dozen boats at the most (perhaps 10% of the marina).
Then those slips get filled by boats on moorings in the harbor. Then they tie down the marina and set anchors from every boat on the outside slips, and tie anchor rodes to pilings for those on the inside slips.

 

[BandB]

Years ago I was accused of having an investment in the tape or paint company from all the yellow strips I ordered for steps. And, yellow is the color, rather than blue. Far more visible. Any change in elevation or steps should be marked, although very few are. As we age, our ability to detect the changes and curbs and small steps diminishes.

I'm guessing you didn't completely miss or hit the steps but you hit them awkwardly, not centered, just the edge, to twist your ankle as it did. I feel for you, doing something you've done hundreds of times but just missing slightly.

Make sure they fix your ankle completely and right. Although it seems like you've found more than enough damage with the break and torn tendons, if you haven't had an MRI, I'd still get one at some point. Initially, the blood from the tendons can make it difficult to see everything. Just make sure they've found all the damage.

 

[Comodave]

Blue is the accent color on our house so blue strips it is. They are highly visible since they are about the same color as painters tape.

 

[Steve91T]

This is all my fault guys because I just bought a boat in St Pete. Days later they started talking about this damn storm.

Just my luck...I buy a boat and a hurricane forms and heads right for it

 

[ksanders]

To me, of course from thousands of miles away, this looks like a easy to run away from storm.

I would be in my boat heading west along the ICW.

A person could be 400 miles west by Wednesday morning.

Safe from harm in their boat. I would grab the family, grab the dog, and get outta town.

The plywood on your house windows should already be up, by now, so to me all you need to do is run.

 

[psneeld]

Kevin, you must have missed the last hurricane thread where some said it's impossible to guess and miss the storm...

 

[ksanders]

Kevin, you must have missed the last hurricane thread where some said it's impossible to guess and miss the storm...

OK......

I am not a hurricane expert, but simple logic says to not delay.

Personally I would be much happier several hundred miles away sitting happily in my boat than hunkered down in my house, or sitting in a red cross shelter, or a motel several hundred miles inland.

Seems to me thast just like folks in other areas preparing for the risks prevelant in their area, hurricane areas would prepare as well.

Boat always with full tanks, food onboard and in ready to depart condition.

House with pre-cut plywood for the windows, backup power, food and water stashed just in case.

I would have plywooded up the house yesterday, called out sick from work this morning, and been gone at first light.

 

[dhays]

Roger, I’m really sorry about your ankle.

 

[BandB]

This is all my fault guys because I just bought a boat in St Pete. Days later they started talking about this damn storm.

Just my luck...I buy a boat and a hurricane forms and heads right for it

Wifey B: South Carolina thanks you. You'd already done more than enough damage there.

 

[Steve91T]

Wifey B: South Carolina thanks you. You'd already done more than enough damage there.

Right? After that we moved to boat to Willmington and listed Knotty Girl for sale. Fortunately she sold quickly and I swear the check had just cleared as Florence was developing and setting her sights on Willmington. Dodged that one! But jokes on me, she was just waiting for us to buy another boat.

Keeping your boat out of the path of a hurricane is easy, just find out where my boat is and don’t go there!

 

[psneeld]

OK......

I am not a hurricane expert, but simple logic says to not delay.

Personally I would be much happier several hundred miles away sitting happily in my boat than hunkered down in my house, or sitting in a red cross shelter, or a motel several hundred miles inland.

Seems to me thast just like folks in other areas preparing for the risks prevelant in their area, hurricane areas would prepare as well.

Boat always with full tanks, food onboard and in ready to depart condition.

House with pre-cut plywood for the windows, backup power, food and water stashed just in case.

I would have plywooded up the house yesterday, called out sick from work this morning, and been gone at first light.

Sorry Kevin....I was laughing that others kept saying it can't be done, shouldn't be done etc.... and I was disagreeing with them for the most part.

I agree that moving can and should be done sometimes for some people in some situations

I wasn't directing the laugh at you at all....just some sarcasm gone astray....

 

[ksanders]

Sorry Kevin....I was laughing that others kept saying it can't be done, shouldn't be done etc.... and I was disagreeing with them for the most part.

I agree that moving can and should be done sometimes for some people in some situations

I wasn't directing the laugh at you at all....just some sarcasm gone astray....

I know, and knew you were having fun.

In all serious though...

Some people prepare for emergencies, some not so much. I have always been on the better to prepare side of things.

No... I do not have a bunker, or anything like that, but I am prepared to ethier shelter in place or relocate as necessary at a moments notice.

 

[Capitaine R]

This is all my fault guys because I just bought a boat in St Pete. Days later they started talking about this damn storm.

Just my luck...I buy a boat and a hurricane forms and heads right for it

You should be okay in St Pete,

 

[Steve91T]

You should be okay in St Pete,

I think so also. The marina is going to throw a few more lines and bumpers on. They said I’m in a pretty good spot.

I honestly can’t do anything about it anyway

 

[cardude01]

Larry and I are just below you on Longboat Key. We put out extra lines, lashed down the dinghies, and are stocked up on (and drinking) rum now.

Looks like the track has shifted a bit west which is good for us, but I feel for the folks around Panama City. Hopefully it won’t get as big as forecasted. Be safe up there!

 

[HopCar]

Kevin, experienced hurricane folks will tell you to run from water and hide from wind. In other words, if you’re in a flood zone, get out. If you’re not in a flood zone, hunker down.

 

[Capitaine R]

I think so also. The marina is going to throw a few more lines and bumpers on. They said I’m in a pretty good spot.

I honestly can’t do anything about it anyway

I just spoke with a nervous owner of a 38' Morgan sailboat from goodland, which I'm going to be navigating down to Marathon on Friday, and assured him that all is good. We should have a very pleasant cruise. Light winds for sailing but calm seas for motor sailing. I think the highest winds you will see in St Pete should be less than 30 mph according to the latest local forecast.

 

[Steve91T]

Think there is much of a risk of storm surge?