Conference unifix::sailing

    During Gloria Norton's did not make anyone evacuate their slips,
    although several did anchor across from the state park.  I believe
    that it's just an insurance provision.
    
    I was on a mooring at Norton's at the time.  I reduced windage as
    much as I could, tied a bridle, and put out my anchor with a lot
    of scope and a weight slid half way down the rode.  The boat was
    an O'Day 25.  The anchor was a Danforth 13S.  During Gloria the
    mooring line parted and my boat rode out the storm on the anchor.
    The bottom in East Greenwich is mud and perfect for a Danforth.
    It was five feet down in the mud after the storm and we had to dive
    to retrieve it.
    
    Norton's lost two boats during Gloria, both on the moorings.  They
    did not put out additional ground tackle and were blown aground
    with only minor damage.  On the other hand, the Masthead Marina
    (just down the bay) lost around 20 boats in slips when their
    dock anchors broke and everything started slamming into everything
    else.  I understand that they've now corrected the situation.

    Just a little reminder, GLORIA was not a bad hurricane.  RI has
    not had one since 1954 and I feel any lessons learned during GLORIA
    should be multiplied by a factor of two for a real strong hurricane.
    
    The three worst hurricanes to hit RI coast were the 38, 48 and 54.
    My guess is that "we're over due"
    
    In the 54 (which I had experience with as a weeeeeee child) the
    flood level of water was about 14 feet, and wind was in the 100
    plus range.  That combination can do a lot of damage, ofcourse back
    then mooring lines were made of manila and the break waters were
    not as long or high.
    
    My feeling is that the best thing to do is find the best shelter
    from the southwest, have two ancohors with plenty of swing room
    and scope, a gooie muddy bottom and pray no one breaks loose around
    you.  
    
    By the way if you check back in the notes around the date of GLORIA
    you'll find some notes on what worked and what didn't.
    
    Good luck, lets hope this isn't the year,
    
    Tom
    
    

    The risks in a marina are the anchors letting go or the surge so
    high, that the whole thing floats off the pilings.  Harbors in NE
    waters open to the south can get surges 13 to 15 feet of water above high
    tide.  eg all of Narrangansett Bay, New Bedford (hence the barrier)
    etc.
    
    For a "big one" I think out of a marina is best.  I'm on a mooring
    and the boat yard recommended "set the biggest anchor you've got,
    just before it hits, when you know the quadrant for worst winds."
    Two anchors risk fouling plus extra line to chafe etc.
    
    What I learned from the 40+ boats beached in Marion from Gloria:
    1. Big mooring pennant, long enough to handle surge (eg min 3/4
    in; 1 in desireable)..  LEATHER chafing gear.  DON'T use plastic,
    in fact I saw plastic bow rollers cut thru to the bolt - bye bye!
    
    2. Put out the anchor - more than one boat dragged the mooring or
    chafed thru.  Leather chafing gear again!  How big an anchor?  The
    biggest you can launch - I managed a Danforth 85S+40 feet 1/2 chain+
    140 feet 1 in nylon via a Whaler and a friend. ( Keep it in the basement
    to impress your friends!)  A 60H sounds about right for you, a 35H
    held my father-in-laws Pearson 10M in Marion during Gloria after
    he lost the mooring.  Use one boatlength of chain, I'm not sure
    what is strong enough here.
    
    From what I saw in Marion, almost anything is better than breaking
    loose.  Having other boats grind your fiberglass, rip off stanchions,
    toe rails, bow pulpits, etc etc is a better deal than a sinking
    or a few hours on the rocks.
    
    I think the "ultimate" hurricane mooring is a regular mushroom plus
    3 large Danforths shackled to it via chain (infinite scope) and
    a good nylon pennant.  What I'd like to figure out is how to back
    up the pennant with steel cable or chain.  Anybody do this or know
    how?
    

There was an article in SAIL magazine some time ago about effects of a
hurricane in Houston, Texas. As I recall, the moored and anchored boats 
survived without problem, while those at docks were either destroyed or 
badly damaged. 

    I stripped my boat the Thursday night before gloria and rode it
    out at the dock at Masthead.  The damage was mostly caused by people
    not taking their #@$@$# roller furling systems down before the storm.
    They quickly open up and you have this wild beast careening around
    the marina smashing everyone elses boats.  Most marinas now tell
    the owner that they will hold them liable for this type of negligence.

        As one who makes sure to prepare my boat, I hope those who take
    their deductable off and secure their boat with shoelaces to the
    dock or mooring ball get exactly what they deserve.  Its always
    their boat that damages yours despite every precaution you make.
                                               
    Regarding hurricane holes.  The Kickamuit (sp) river in the north
    part of Narragansett bay is regarded as a good spot.  Its well
    protected from both surge and wind, has steep land around it, and
    has soft mud on the shores and bottom in case you break loose. Several
    boats I know rode out gloria there with no damage.  I intend to
    either haul my boat or head there if something happens to head up 
    our way.  Check the chart, its a good spot.                
    
    Gloria was not a big hurricane as was stated. More so, it came at
    low tide, making scope that much longer and the surge less dangerous.
    Floating docks stayed on their pilings.  A high tide/full moon hit
    could have been infinitely more devastating.  
    
    Rick

    * Two boats were lost at Masthead, one was an old wooden powerboat,
    and the other a sailboat that got its interior wet and was totaled.
    Many boats had damage that could have been avoided however if people
    had prepared properly and the breakwater repairs (which have finally
    begun) had been made prior.