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lapfog_1

(29,166 posts)
Wed Sep 12, 2018, 11:18 AM Sep 2018

So... not being a boat owner

I see Ali Velshi in Wilmington on MSNBC... right in front of a bunch of docked yachts...

Each of them is probably worth like $200K or more. Possibly $1M or more.

They look like they are simply docked normally (almost touching each other).

Wouldn't it be smart to have left like yesterday and head for Florida or something? Maybe New York. Anywhere away from the hurricane?

Or, if you are leaving the boat there, I thought the idea was to find a place as protected from wind and storm surge as possible, and tie the boat with as much distance between it and other boats... and hope it doesn't end up on top of a tree someplace with a hole the size of a small car in the bottom.

18 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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ProfessorGAC

(64,425 posts)
1. Not Sure Anything Really Helps
Wed Sep 12, 2018, 11:22 AM
Sep 2018

We've all seen the pictures of boats on top of other boats. Perhaps(!) those were pretty close together to begin with, but to get on top of another boat suggests that getting the boat to move quite a distance before it crashed into something isn't much of a reach.

And, if i had that boat, i'm not sure i would be trying to high tail it south with a hurricane coming. Storm moves one degree of path and you're toast.

brooklynite

(93,871 posts)
2. It's possible that the owners don't live in the Carolinas...
Wed Sep 12, 2018, 11:24 AM
Sep 2018

...and just store their boats there for the summer season.

ProfessorGAC

(64,425 posts)
6. Further Amplifying What I Meant
Wed Sep 12, 2018, 11:42 AM
Sep 2018

And given i just saw a thread discussing 83 foot waves, there really is probably no such thing as parking them far enough apart.

lapfog_1

(29,166 posts)
5. yeah, I think leaving today to too late
Wed Sep 12, 2018, 11:29 AM
Sep 2018

but yesterday morning... even at 8 knots or so...

48 hours x 8 = 384 nautical miles away from Wilmington.

ProfessorGAC

(64,425 posts)
7. That Far In Advance, Probably So
Wed Sep 12, 2018, 11:45 AM
Sep 2018

That would take a 5 degree shift in the storm path, which would be highly improbable. Especially with how big that air mass is.

Still, the wave pattern from a storm producing 83 foot waves could make for a really bumpy ride, even that far away.

nolabear

(41,915 posts)
3. Yes, only getting out of the path will help. Living on the coast has a price.
Wed Sep 12, 2018, 11:27 AM
Sep 2018

After the really big hurricanes those damn things are everywhere. After Camille a huge tugboat that had been picked up in Biloxi and flung across the street was turned into a gift shop. Lots will just disappear if it’s bad enough.

Laffy Kat

(16,356 posts)
8. I guess they're insured.
Wed Sep 12, 2018, 11:59 AM
Sep 2018

Not gonna worry about yachts, except they add to the trash in the ocean and the flotsam in the aftermath.

lapfog_1

(29,166 posts)
10. and that is the real tragedy... I suspect you are correct
Wed Sep 12, 2018, 12:21 PM
Sep 2018

the owners will simply make an insurance claim... and we will all pay for it.

Much like rebuilding the homes that are about to be destroyed that are built on those barrier islands.

Happens every hurricane... and will be worse and worse with climate change. At some point we all have to say "enough is enough - no rebuilding in areas that are subject to this huge storm surge and wave action... and move the boats out of the way or take them out of the water to secure locations inland (for the boats that are small enough to be transported).

drthais

(870 posts)
9. two things
Wed Sep 12, 2018, 12:18 PM
Sep 2018

Here in Louisiana, they generally move the boat upstream in a river or bayou as far as they can.
secondly, I would think that if you own a yacht, it is insured up the wazoo.

GulfCoast66

(11,949 posts)
12. In parts of Florida the boats get run up rivers.
Wed Sep 12, 2018, 01:12 PM
Sep 2018

As far as possible and either docked or tied to large trees. The goal is to limit the amount of open water the boat is exposed to thus limiting wave heights. A small creek would be perfect.

But you have to leave well before the storm arrives.

lame54

(35,139 posts)
13. I walked that harbor all the time - some...
Wed Sep 12, 2018, 01:24 PM
Sep 2018

of those yachts look like Florida Drug Kingpin Yachts
I was also surprised to still see them there

lapfog_1

(29,166 posts)
14. So was Ali... maybe he reads DU and saw my post
Wed Sep 12, 2018, 02:34 PM
Sep 2018

because he remarked that a number of people on social media were wondering why all of those expensive yachts were doing just sitting there (not run into a up river hurricane hole or taken out of the water or sent away a few days ago (at least yesterday)

So... I am still curious about the decision made to just left them ride it out cheek to cheek

TeamPooka

(24,156 posts)
15. Many people who would move their boats inland have been evacuated
Wed Sep 12, 2018, 03:11 PM
Sep 2018

Many people who would move their boats inland have been evacuated
And the people they would hire to move their boats inland or up river have been evacuated too

lapfog_1

(29,166 posts)
16. but my question was why didn't they or people they could hire
Wed Sep 12, 2018, 03:56 PM
Sep 2018

move their boats yesterday morning when it was a) known that the hurricane might be coming this way and b) still have enough time to travel the intercoastal waterway and get far enough away to save the boat.

Even at 6 to 8 knots (probably the top speed for these sorts of boats), that was enough time to get away from the worst of it.

FakeNoose

(32,351 posts)
17. Smaller boats can be hoisted out and stored on land, if they have time
Wed Sep 12, 2018, 04:50 PM
Sep 2018

But the larger ocean-going boats and yachts are too heavy. They need to be docked at a marina, anchored & tied down tight, and hope for the best. Those pricey yachts are all covered by insurance, but it doesn't mean they'll be safe.

lapfog_1

(29,166 posts)
18. go back and get my "6-pac" license
Wed Sep 12, 2018, 05:04 PM
Sep 2018

and offer up my services to save your boat by driving up or down the ICW... and make the insurance companies pay extra.

6-pac (up to 6 passengers).

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