Got caught in a 50 mph squall

mnm99

Well-Known Member
Oct 2, 2015
2,445
Long Island
Boat Info
2004 340 SeaRay Sundancer
Engines
Twin 8.1 Merc
So going out last week it was nice as can be..We all saw on the radar some storms were coming by. At around 11:00 am we were all hanging at the dock and the set of storm came by. We all went in out boats to hunker down during the rain. Within 5 min it passed and wasn't that bad. We all decided that we would go out for a while, but another set was coming by around 4:30 pm and we'll get back to the dock by then. If any of you know the area, we went to Port Jefferson Cove. It's protected by at least 150 foot hill around on 3 sides. The storm came in from the North. We have (2) 1000 lb moorings next to each other. We all decided to tie up, all 7 of us. Well , that's were it began...At around 2:30 pm it got real dark real fast. Before we knew it we were in 3 foot swells and at least 50 mph winds! The mooring started to drag and we were headed for shore and another boat behind us. We all called out and started up..Powering forward we stood still! Thank god. In the end we dragged the moorings 250 feet and it was the worst I have ever been in. The first time I ever got scared I think. After that we all joked and enjoyed a bright sunny day..
(I have videos, have to find out how to load them)




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Had the same thing happen a few years back. 7 boats rafted together with anchors down drug 1/2 mile down the lake......was I scared?...hell yes! A 20 ft bow rider wound up under my buddies 350 Rinker and took the windshield out of the bow rider.
 
Man that sucks. Glad you came through ok. Been caught twice in those conditions. Not fun. Anymore I just hang at the dock if there is a chance of severe weather. Getting old I guess.
 
My son works at the dock at Davis Park, they had 3-4’ swells inside the Marina.

Afterwards, he was fishing BBQ’s and chairs out of the water.

Some damaged boats and broken lines. Utter chaos as he described it.
 
We ran into the line by us on Sunday. We were on the way back from Island Park and fortunately worst was slightly east but when I came under the Meadowbrook bridge it hit and temps dropped atleast 20deg as the winds and seas picked up. My biggest concerns were the jetskiers who decided to stay in the channel :(

-Kevin
 
We were in Edgartown Harbor on a town Mooring around 4pm and had plans at 6pm for a cook out at a friends back in Falmouth so we dropped the mooring and heading out of the harbor. As we were rounding the lighthouse it looked really black in the direction of Falmouth so I looked at the radar and there was a big mass going just north of Falmouth and it looked like we would meet there’s tithe same time so I made the call to turn back and get back on the town ball. Thank for we did, 45min later this was our view
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It came down the harbor like a wall of water with crazy rain, high winds and lighting. A Hatteras in front of us lost thier bow cushions in one of the gusts. Lasted about 30min and then blue skies again. As we were sitting there the VHF was blowing up with Seatow, Towboat, harbor master and coast guard talking about people out in the anchorage dragging towards the beach. I applaud Edgartown Harbormaster for resisting my wife as earlier that morning when we wanted to head over there she called to see if there was a mooring available and he said he wasn’t sure because they only have a handful of balls that can handle a boat our size. She said to him we can go on a smaller mooring because it is nice out and we were not going to be staying over night, just getting lunch. He told her they couldn’t do that and he needed to find the appropriate sized mooring for us and when she got off the phone I told her not to ask anyone again to do that as it can be dangerous if the wrong conditions come up. Well, I reminder her of that conversation as we are sitting on the bridge pulling the mooring ball under water as we tugged on the mooring in the middle of the squall. She gets it now.
 

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Below is a video from Friday here on Lake St. Clair in Michigan. It's an annual event called Jobbienooner. I went one time in 2014 and swore I would never do it again. I'm happy to say I haven't been back and especially glad I didn't go this year. My friend was there and said he has never experience a storm pop up so quick and cause so much chaos.
 
We went out very early Sunday morning and came back pretty early that afternoon because I was afraid a storm was approaching. Glad we were back. It got ugly fast. My canal runs north (land) to south (bay). The wind was out of the north and there were big rollers coming down the canal.
Wild stuff!
 
Was out in the gulf this last Saturday outside New Port Richey in a 27' open bow 4 Winn's when a storm came blowing out from land our way. Made a decision to make a run for the river and their house and not get caught in open water.

To give some perspective in picture below the 2 black dots (look closely) are stilt houses in the gulf. We had to enter the channel just to the right of the right house.
20190629_160534.jpg

In the image below we're there blue dot and the yellow is lighting strikes.

IMG_1322.jpg
 
So going out last week it was nice as can be..We all saw on the radar some storms were coming by. At around 11:00 am we were all hanging at the dock and the set of storm came by. We all went in out boats to hunker down during the rain. Within 5 min it passed and wasn't that bad. We all decided that we would go out for a while, but another set was coming by around 4:30 pm and we'll get back to the dock by then. If any of you know the area, we went to Port Jefferson Cove. It's protected by at least 150 foot hill around on 3 sides. The storm came in from the North. We have (2) 1000 lb moorings next to each other. We all decided to tie up, all 7 of us. Well , that's were it began...At around 2:30 pm it got real dark real fast. Before we knew it we were in 3 foot swells and at least 50 mph winds! The mooring started to drag and we were headed for shore and another boat behind us. We all called out and started up..Powering forward we stood still! Thank god. In the end we dragged the moorings 250 feet and it was the worst I have ever been in. The first time I ever got scared I think. After that we all joked and enjoyed a bright sunny day..
(I have videos, have to find out how to load them)




View attachment 71974 View attachment 71975

I know that area well - that’s amazing to have waves so large in there since its so protected. Glad you made it through ok!!

Has the harbor master given you a hard time about rafting that many boats? When I fill out my annual application it says you need a special permit to raft more than 2 boats. The limit is 3 and you need a 1000lb mooring. They’ve gotten aggressive in various enforcement recently.
 
I know that area well - that’s amazing to have waves so large in there since its so protected. Glad you made it through ok!!

Has the harbor master given you a hard time about rafting that many boats? When I fill out my annual application it says you need a special permit to raft more than 2 boats. The limit is 3 and you need a 1000lb mooring. They’ve gotten aggressive in various enforcement recently.
Yes and no. With 2 1000k mooring we can do 6. The week before last we had 5 on one and he said no. We asked if we can bring over the one next to us
(Not one we own) he said yes. So we grabbed a second and was all good. He left. My other 2 friends came and now we we 7. When he cam back my friend gave him a thumbs up and down. He replied down.lol. he said if the 7th guy back in stern to stern and throws an anchor were good. (Were near the beach) that was pretty cool of him. At the end of the day we had 6 across and 3 stern to stern and he was good with that. God bless it wasn't in that storm. We would have had some major problems.
 
I elected to delay our trip to block until Monday......glad I did too - several people told me Saturday was bad, but Sunday was even worse.
 
I elected to delay our trip to block until Monday......glad I did too - several people told me Saturday was bad, but Sunday was even worse.
I gave up on block this year. The last 2 years mother nature was pissed off. I couldn't get out there because of her. 4-5 footers 7 sec apart. No thank you. Were going to Saybrook marina for 3 days and then Clinton Pina coloada party after.
 
Yes and no. With 2 1000k mooring we can do 6. The week before last we had 5 on one and he said no. We asked if we can bring over the one next to us
(Not one we own) he said yes. So we grabbed a second and was all good. He left. My other 2 friends came and now we we 7. When he cam back my friend gave him a thumbs up and down. He replied down.lol. he said if the 7th guy back in stern to stern and throws an anchor were good. (Were near the beach) that was pretty cool of him. At the end of the day we had 6 across and 3 stern to stern and he was good with that. God bless it wasn't in that storm. We would have had some major problems.

I saw your group with this setup. My daughter and I came over in the dinghy late afternoon so she could run up the sand hills. I was wondering if the HM would be on you for it. Seemed like quite the party!
 
My son works at the dock at Davis Park, they had 3-4’ swells inside the Marina.

Afterwards, he was fishing BBQ’s and chairs out of the water.

Some damaged boats and broken lines. Utter chaos as he described it.

I'm imagining what that was like, yikes. That marina is wide open to the bay with any north wind..it is rocking and rolling with a SW 15mph!

I was well protected in Patchogue when it hit, and it was still pretty crazy. 20 minutes later, it was over and the water was glass.
 
2009 Aquapalooza we got caught up in that on the Potomac. Lots of damage to our bow when a small boat was cut loose and grabbed our anchor chain.
 
I saw your group with this setup. My daughter and I came over in the dinghy late afternoon so she could run up the sand hills. I was wondering if the HM would be on you for it. Seemed like quite the party!

He has been cool. Strict on 3 boats per mooring though. We always have 2 next to each other and next year I'm bringing mine over. Mine is on the South side close to the entrance.
 

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