HURRICANE BOAT

1
presented by MANATEE SAIL POWER SQUADRON
a local
unit of the
UNITED STATES POWER
SQUADRONS

• HURRICANE BOAT
• PREPAREDNESS

2

• UNITED STATES POWER SQUADRONS
• National, Private, Non-Profit
• Volunteer Boating Organization
• Dedicated to Boating
• Safety
• Education
• Civic Service
• Fun

• http//www.usps.org/localusps/manatee

3
HURRICANE BOAT PREPAREDNESS THE MSPS TEAM .
CO-CHAIRS Richy Evers (Inlets)
Bob Jorgensen (Anna Maria) Team
Members Bill Spencer (Flamingo Cay)

• Al Devernoe (Coral Shores)
• Bert Spagnola (Coral Shores)

4
WHY PREPARE OUR BOATS FOR A HURRICANE ..

• GOES weather satellite image
• Hurricane Fran -1996.

• Keep our boats safe
• Prevent damage to others
• Legal Liability

5
HURRICANE BOAT PREPAREDNESS TOPICS COVERED .

• What to expect
• What is needed
• Preparation
• When to start
• Where to put your boat

• How to secure it
• What to take off
• Neighbor Involvement
• After the Storm

6
YEARLY PROBABILITY OF HURRICANE FORCE WINDS ..
(in Florida)

• Miami .. 1 in 6
• Palm Beach 1 in 7
• Key West 1 in 8
• Pensacola .. 1 in 8
• Apalachicola .. 1 in 17

• Melbourne 1 in 17
• Tampa .. 1 in 25
• St. Pete . 1 in 25
• Daytona Beach. 1 in 50
• Jacksonville . 1 in 100

• Bradenton 1 in 25

7

• WE ARE PARTICULARLY
• VULNERABLE HERE .
• Gentle slope of ocean floor off our coast
• Tampa Bay is long, narrow and shallow
• CAN PRODUCE HIGHER STORM SURGES

8
2004 FORECAST
ABOVE AVERAGE STORM SEASON
. FORECAST TO
DATE (10/20/04) - 50 MORE STORMS - 14
NAMED STORMS - 8 HURRICANES -
7 HURRICANES - 3 MAJOR ONES - 5
MAJOR ONES
9
Hurricane Jeanne Ft. Pierce Inlet

Photo Courtesy of The Palm Beach Post

10
Hurricane Jeanne SamanaDominicanRepublic

Photo Courtesy of The Sun Sentinal

11
Hurricane Ivan Grenada


Photo Courtesy of The Palm Beach Post
12
Hurricane Frances Ft. Pierce Marina

Photo Courtesy of The Palm Beach Post
13
Hurricane Frances Jupiter Inlet

Photo Courtesy of The Palm Beach Post
14
Hurricane Charley

15
Tropical Storm Gabrielle

Photo Courtesy of The Islander Not for
Publication
16
Tropical Storm Gabrielle

Photo Courtesy of The Islander Not for
Publication
17
WHAT TO EXPECT .

• STORM SURGE FLOODING

• Most destructive aspect
• Causes over 90 of fatalities
• Almost all boat locations in Manatee county are
  Category A for flooding

18
WHAT TO EXPECT .

• VIOLENT WINDS
• Could exceed 150 mph
  

19
WHAT TO EXPECT .

• HEAVY RAIN
• Average of 6 to 12 inches
  

20
WHAT TO EXPECT .

• TORNADOES
• Winds of up to 300 mph
• 70 of hurricanes that make landfall in the Gulf
  produce tornadoes

21
WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO PREPARE YOUR BOAT .

• Hurricane Plan DO IT NOW!
• Duct tape . seal everything
• Plugs for exhaust outlets
• Chafing Gear .. anywhere your lines touch
  anything
• Heavy Lines DOUBLE ALL LINES
• Fenders Tires / Fender Boards
• Ground Tackle / Anchor / Chain . 2 (MINIMUM)

22
WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO PREPARE YOUR BOAT .

• BATTERIES...........CHARGE THEM
• BILGE....................CLEAN / CLEAR LIMBER
  HOLES
• BILGE PUMPS .TEST PUMPS / SWITCHES
• CLEATS....................BIGGER BACKED
• COCKPIT DRAINS.......CLEAR
• FUEL TANKS.............FILL THEM

23
WHEN TO START ?HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE ?

• Prepare boat .. 4 hrs
• Move boat to hurricane Hole 2 hrs
• Travel time to ramp return 5 hrs
• Prepare Home for storm 8 hrs
• Pickup emergency supplies . 4 hrs
• Evacuate to Safe Shelter ? (2 - 8 hrs)
• Murphy Contingency .. 8 hrs
• 
  Total 33 - 41
• DAYLIGHT
  HOURS

24
HOW MUCH TIME WILL YOU HAVE ?PROBABLY NOT
ENOUGH !

• CONSIDERATIONS
• Move Boat -
• Can you clear bridges before lock down
• Is hurricane hole open and accessible?
• Marina - Are they expecting you?
• Keep your insurance paid up
• IF YOU ARE RUNNING OUT OF TIME . JUST STOP, PACK
  AND LEAVE!

25
WHERE TO SECUREYOUR BOATOn land . safest !

• At Your Dock - Plan ahead
• Where How Obtain Necessary
  Gear
• At Your Marina - Plan ahead
• Know Marinas Plan Know when you
  are expected
• In a Hurricane Hole - Plan ahead
• Is it clear accessible Do you have
  the time
• On a Mooring or at Anchor - Plan ahead
• Proper Anchors Room to
  swing 360 degrees
• On Davits or Lift
• Davits DONT Lift
  Only if surge risk is low

26
HURRICANE HOLE

27
SECURING YOUR BOAT

• Every Situation is Unique
• Boat Length, Weight, Draft Windage
• Location
• Surrounding Space
• Other Boats
• Securing Plan Should be
• Carefully prepared
• Rehearsed
• Necessary equipment readily available

28
SECURING YOUR BOAT
On Anchor
Mangrove Hole
29
TRAILER BOATSSafest in-doors if out in open

• Orient into expected wind direction
• Lash Boat to trailer and trailer to fixed
  objects
• Block Trailer Frame
• Lower tire air pressure
• Weigh down boat with water if possible
• Some boats may be placed on ground or in holes
• and filled with water
• Some can be intentionally sunk at dock or at
  anchor

30
DAVITS or LIFTS

• Not recommended
• But . IF This is Your Plan
• Remove drain plugs
• Tie boat to lift and lift to fixed objects to
  reduce movement
• Use extensive chafing gear anywhere lines touch
  anything

31
CANAL or NARROW WATERWAY

• May be your best location .
• Center in waterway face oncoming storm (if
  possible)
• Double-up lines Orient 45 degrees off bow and
  stern
• Longer lines and distances to anchorages are
  preferred
• User newest and largest lines as primary gear
• Use older lines only as back-up doubling lines
• Tie to Substantial Anchors (trees, pilings,
  ground anchors)
• Tie High on Pilings Low on
  Trees
• Use Multiple Attachment Points Both on boat
  and on Land

32
CANAL or NARROW WATERWAY
If you cant tie across the canal or waterway.

• Position boat as far away from seawall, lift or
  dock as possible
• Tie off 45 degrees from bow stern to fixed
  objects on shore
• Intermediary chain loop useful around fixed
  anchorages
• Use offshore lines to anchors

• Use chain weights (sentinels) on
• anchors
• Use heavy chafing gear anywhere
• lines touch anything
• Position tires/fenders/fender-boards
• facing seawall

33
CANAL

Cross-tied (Jeanne)
34
WHAT TO REMOVE FROM BOAT

• Deck gear anything not bolted down
• Cabin Gear anything that can be stored in a
  dryer/safer place
• Cowl Ventilators
• All Electronics
• All ships papers / log
• All fuel, oil, solvents etc, not in permanent
  tanks
• All personal property
• From your Dock Anything not bolted down

35
Hurricane Holes Canals MarinasAKA Friends
and Neighbors

• Safety requires neighbors to
• Cooperate and coordinate timing
• Assist one other / accommodate for absent owners
• You and your neighbors will want to cooperate
  because
• Individual preparation is insufficient
• Only takes one loose boat
• liability for damage if appropriate
  precautions not taken

• RECOMMENDED ACTION
• PLAN TOGETHER

36
Hurricane Holes Canals MarinasAKA Friends
and Neighbors

• Neighborhood Plan
• Timing
• Individual intentions
• Anchorage locations
• Property access permissions
• Identify and locate gear
• Back up absent owners
• Write down individual plans
• Combine into neighborhood plan
• Share neighborhood plan with all boat owners

37
After the Storm

• Return when prudent and access is allowed
• You must take reasonable action to prevent
  further loss / damage
• Advise insurer if circumstances prevent
  taking reasonable action
• Submerged Engines
• Outboards
• Must be completely torn down
• Not repairable if under for several days
• Gas Inboard
• Can be flushed, dried and restarted
• Fuel Injection must be torn down
• Diesel Inboards
• Must be completely torn down and inspected
• Generators
• Engine may be restored but electrical generator
  ends are not repairable.

38
After the Storm

• Sunk?
• Sunk boats are usually total losses
• Partially sunk boats are usually not
• Floating?
• Engines
• Do not attempt to start before verifying that
  there was no water intrusion into engine
• Gas engine crank w/o spark
• Diesel pull inspect exhaust fittings
• Electrical
• Inspect for signs of water intrusion
• Expensive electronics sometimes warrant dealer
  inspections
• Cabin / Interior Spaces
• Carefully wash all surfaces to remove salt
  residue.
• With evidence of water intrusion, remove and
  clean all Interior fabrics, carpeting and
  upholstery
• Salt residue is hydroscopic and must
• be removed to prevent mold/mildew

39
After the Storm

• Be Aware of Risks
• Drowning
• Falls off damaged docks and seawalls
• Falling materials from the collapse of damaged
  structures / lifts
• Fire, Poisonous Critters, Chemicals
• Electrocution
• Storm damaged waterfront electrical systems /
  circuits
• Homeowner/ Neighborhood use of emergency
  electrical generators

40
HURRICANE BOAT PREPAREDNESS TOPICS COVERED .

• What to expect
• What is needed
• Preparation
• When to start
• Where to put your boat

• How to secure it
• What to take off
• Neighbor Involvement
• After the Storm

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME