Boats in a hurricane

[flyboy08]

Same issue with aircraft! Insurance companies offer hurricane relocation expense reimbursement....fuel, pilot fees and hangar and such..its ones moral obligation to protect their property from these perils though if at all possible....

I know of one owner that was pissed the local FBO placed his aircraft in the hangar to protect it from damage

It's not uncommon for a boat to go missing and be adrift for years before being found after severe storms.

 

[hilljo88]

Look up Wave Dancer Tragedy, when LOB sought shelter in Belize from Hurricane Iris

 

[Russjstewart]

To save people the trouble, th official report can be found at http://www.immarbe.com/IMMARBELIB/MCR_WAVE_DANCER.pdf

Among other points.
The vessel departed port after the storm warning was issued, and didn't closely monitor the path of the storm.
The vessels wheel house was not manned, and it was only after mooring lines parted that the 2nd captain raced to the wheel house and activated the bridge controls, the vessel was probably uncontrollable by then.
Despite being able to disembark, passengers remained onboard.

SteveC,
I am not disagreeing with the USN concept of putting to sea in the face of severe weather, and huge numbers of ships do survive hurricanes typhoons etc while at sea. But bear in mind USN Task force 38 lost 3 ships in a cat 2 typhoon in 1944.

The military have missions and jobs to do that involve a higher risk than we civilians would tolerate.

The death toll in Belize from Hurricane Iris in 2001 was 24, 20 of them were on Wave Dancer.

 

[ReefHound]

What's the old adage about the two happiest days in the lives of a boat owner? Maybe some boat owners are looking to sell their boat to the insurance company?

 

[Wingy]

I don't think there's a set formula - and - disclaimer - I have no experience with hurricanes but I do with cyclones, same same but different. Sometimes if you have enough notice (which every vessel nowdays has no excuse not to) heading out to sea to outrun it is an option, pulling a boat onto handstand or travelling it hold inherent risks and are also a traffic hazard. Had a couple of nasty incidents here with trawlers who tried to find safe anchorage after the harbourmaster closed the harbour leaving them to seek shelter which unfortunately turned fatal.

Personally if it came down to that short a time span I'd run it aground and do a Gilliagan.