The "season"

[sarbog]

My past Sea Rays have been of a size that I have always dry-stacked. Thus, when Aug-Sept. rolled around and storms started brewing I really only worried about packing up and putting the storm shutters on the house. Through Bertha, Fran, Floyd, etc., never had a problem. As I ponder whether to stick with a size that I can still store on the hard or move up to a size that will be wet-slipped year'round (320 or 340 DA) one of the factors I have to consider is what I will do if a storm starts taking aim on the Carolina coast. As you never really know where those things will end up that can be a lot of worrying every late-summer into the early fall. What do those of you in NC that have experience with this problem do? I am in the Swansboro area (Emerald Isle).

 

[Newbie]

At my marina, everyone does the standard doubling of lines, removing canvas etc. We have been hit hard at Topsail in the past and the has never been a prob at the marina. Now, if its a cat 5 headed our way then I have a good excuse for a long trip, to get the hell out of its way!! The docks at our marina are floating with the poles being about 10ft above water at high tide but they are sleeved with a huge tube that will raise higher, say to 20ft I'm assuming if need be. Thats a whole lot higher than any storm surge we've had in years past. The wind I'm not too worried with unless its a cat 4 or 5. There may be a little damage from flying debris but that could happen even if your on the hard.

There are marinas in our area where you can be on their "hurricane list" where they call you with a time to be there and they haul and block your boat on the hard. Going that route, the only thing I could recommend is that you check out how high above the normal water levels at both high and low tide your boat will be sitting. Lots of marinas in our area tend to sit just above the water level and if the storm comes with a 5-6ft storm surge at high tide, you might be floating again. Best thing to do would be to ask around in your area what others do that have actually been through it before. They will know what marinas to avoid.

All that being said, the best advice I can give is to check with your insurance co. They may specify that you keep it on the hard. Many Insurance Co.'s will also cover your haulouts for named storms to a certain dollar amount and a certain # of times per year. HTH SB