General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsSo... 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.
ProfessorGAC
(64,425 posts)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)...and just store their boats there for the summer season.
ProfessorGAC
(64,425 posts)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)but yesterday morning... even at 8 knots or so...
48 hours x 8 = 384 nautical miles away from Wilmington.
ProfessorGAC
(64,425 posts)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)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 its bad enough.
asiliveandbreathe
(8,203 posts)always moved inland to storage area..SOP - btw - pic at link Navy ships..awesome...
https://www.businessinsider.com/us-navy-ships-flee-virginia-base-as-hurricane-florence-approaches-2018-9
Laffy Kat
(16,356 posts)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)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)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.
Hoyt
(54,770 posts)GulfCoast66
(11,949 posts)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)of those yachts look like Florida Drug Kingpin Yachts
I was also surprised to still see them there
lapfog_1
(29,166 posts)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)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)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)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)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).