Hurricane Florence; What to do when you can't run?

Based on the aftermath I’ve seen of multiple storms, I’d say haul it if possible and strap it down. Otherwise, get way up river and spiderweb it to as many pilings as possible, drop anchors stem to stern and face the bow toward the expected wind direction. If you can find an area with solid structures nearby, position the boat to take advantage of the slower windspeeds (near ground) that buildings and trees can provide. If you are anchoring out, drop 2-3 hooks off the bow and let the stern weathervane. Try to work with the wind; predict its direction and position the boat for least resistance.

You rarely have to run more than 200 miles... right now, if the forecast remains Close to what it is now, if north of bald head you need to move 100 miles south of bald head. I d wait another 24 hours to pull the trigger and be sure it will not hit further south.

Went thru this with irma last year, in miami. Up to wednesday, a run to the west coast seemed the best option and i had found doackage in tampa. Then thruout wed afternoon and into thuesday the NHC fcast kept shifting east. Finally after the 11pm on thrusday i pulled the trigger and left heading east to Eleuthera. Most people on the dock said... you re going where? We left at midnight and got to Hatchet Bay at noon on friday. Never got more than 20kts winds...

Every other boat that stayed on or just inside a Tee Head at dinner key sunk.

The NHC forecasts have become very accurate and unless you get a storm that approach the coast at a shallow angle, moving the boat is your best option

He's in NJ. What does Bald Head have to do with it?

I think if you haven't made arrangements months in advance to haul out as part of a hurricane plan, it is way too late. I'm thinking of how slammed the boat yards in the Outer Banks must be by now. Builders like Bayliss Boatworks also have a yard where they take care of some fine sportfish boats. With the expected tidal surge, they have some serious work to do not to mention boats in build. Wishing them all the best.

His question was general and not about his personal situation which is why i mentioned the current storm as an example.

Making hurricane plans months in advance is fine and makes underwriters happy but each storm is different. And each location is different too... here in miami there are very few haul out options. Local yard on the miami river offer hurricane plans that guaranty haul out ahead of hurricane and charge $100 to $150 a foot for the season...

And again in a direct hit boats that are hauled out often get damage.

At this point f I was in OBX I would head north to upper cheasapeake. Or at least Norfolk. Wanchese is the only option and I do not think ts that protected. Those yards are all dirt and stone so not sure how well they can get tied down.

Never had direct hits on the Sassafras River but rode out many a storms that blew up into the Chesapeake. Had my bimini rip during a storm and other than extreme high tides and loss of shore power, was not too bad.

Any updates on this storm? I've grown highly skeptical of media wx reporting... I'd rather hear/see info from people without a vested interest in ratings.

Many updates, available everywhere. National and local reports. Some of the structure damage was reduced due to it hitting as a CAT 1 rather than CAT 4. However, surge and fresh water flooding are huge issues, remindful of Harvey and Sandy. Much like Matthew two years ago but at higher levels and over a broader area. Many rivers expected to crest at record highs. NC rainfall record from a storm already broken. We've seen a lot of the damage in eastern NC but more rain still coming. We haven't yet seen the damage in the low country of SC. Nor have we seen what is going to hit the piedmont and even the mountains of NC. The reason is that the storm has been moving at a pace of 5 then 4 then 3 then even 2 mph. At this point 890,000 without power but it's anticipated to grow to as many as 3 million. The final reporting from the storm is far from here as there's much more to go, even though just a tropical storm now. As to trees falling, they've fallen not from the strength of one blast, but from weakened conditions due to the wet soil followed by a long period of winds from multiple directions. Hundreds of rescues have been made.

While the people you refer to may be interested in ratings, seeing them standing in waist high water or in strong winds or riding through the streets of New Bern in a boat is real. The final story won't be known for days. However, the destruction will be significant and the economic impact will be as well, especially to tourist areas. Also, many of the areas that are still waiting for the storm impact are extremely poor areas where those who are hit lack the ability to rebuild. This includes communities where over half the residents live in mobile homes.

If you want to see the damage, watch those stations and networks you're criticizing but also see the thousands of photos and videos on the internet taken by hundreds of independent sources.

Whether you consider the storm to be significant or serious or catastrophic may depend on how you were impacted. I was just looking at Lumberton, NC and it doesn't look too bad right now, but 9" more rain anticipated and it's likely to rise 2 more feet. Looking at Jacksonville and only a few inches of water in the streets. Only problem is more surge to come and 7" more rain to come.

Is the storm as bad as it could have been? No. CAT 3 would have been far more destructive. However, the surge and the rain are severe and still going. The previous record of rainfall in NC was from Floyd and was 24". Swansboro has already received 30", Oriental 24" and it's still raining. The rivers won't crest for another 3 days to as long as a week from today.

You might be skeptical of the lead stories, but the photos and videos and live broadcasts are real. Also, where local newspapers or tv stations are still operating their photos are real too. I just was looking at a Wilmington NC television station and saw new local information there including the Carolina Beach fishing pier where the end is now gone.

I think we get lost in statistics through and forget that throughout the area there are real people greatly impacted. Some will suffer a little and some will lose everything they owned.

Hoping our friends in New Bern fared as well as the boats they build.

They are still unable to get to the plant to check on things.

Their Facebook page says they made it ok, so far...

A Travel Lift is your friend !

Except the engineers who designate the measurements for access hatches...