In the case of New Bern, it's been a safe location in the past. By the time it became clear that the flooding and storm surge was going to be epic, it was too late to move. That's my take anyway.
Speaking as someone who had a boat at BridgePointe Marina, one of the marinas heavily damaged during the storm, I will offer my perspective on your comment.
Your question about moving is valid. In the days prior to landfall running from the storm was a strategy that we considered. We are also retired and live aboard our boat full time. But, we travel at 7-9 knots and unfortunately the ultimate path of the storm stayed in flux until it was 2-3 days away. The storm models did not agree on the track so which way do you go? We were thinking north but there was no guarantee that the storm would not follow us and we could only get so far.
For someone with a faster boat moving may have been a realistic option; just not for us.
Ultimately we moved to a more protected marina, added additional lines/chafe gear and from the limited information that we have now the boat survived well.
The boatyards around New Bern have limited storage space for haul-outs and they quickly filled up. Some moved to more protected marinas or an anchorage. Others prepared to the best of their ability and hoped.
We've boated in eastern NC since the early 1990's and cannot remember a storm that did this much damage to boats & marinas on the sound (but we are getting older!).
Your question on moving was good but in this case I think the almost right angle of approach, the uncertainty of the track and the "stately" speed of most trawlers made that an uncertain option unless you were willing to commit 5-7 days prior to landfall.
Bring on the divergent opinions!
Gene
Speaking as someone who had a boat at BridgePointe Marina, one of the marinas heavily damaged during the storm, I will offer my perspective on your comment.
Your question about moving is valid. In the days prior to landfall running from the storm was a strategy that we considered. We are also retired and live aboard our boat full time. But, we travel at 7-9 knots and unfortunately the ultimate path of the storm stayed in flux until it was 2-3 days away. The storm models did not agree on the track so which way do you go? We were thinking north but there was no guarantee that the storm would not follow us and we could only get so far.
For someone with a faster boat moving may have been a realistic option; just not for us.
Ultimately we moved to a more protected marina, added additional lines/chafe gear and from the limited information that we have now the boat survived well.
The boatyards around New Bern have limited storage space for haul-outs and they quickly filled up. Some moved to more protected marinas or an anchorage. Others prepared to the best of their ability and hoped.
We've boated in eastern NC since the early 1990's and cannot remember a storm that did this much damage to boats & marinas on the sound (but we are getting older!).
Your question on moving was good but in this case I think the almost right angle of approach, the uncertainty of the track and the "stately" speed of most trawlers made that an uncertain option unless you were willing to commit 5-7 days prior to landfall.
Bring on the divergent opinions!
Gene
