How Secure Mac 26X on Trailer in Hurricane?

[PeteC]

Irene is heading our way. Any suggestions on better securing the Mac on the trailer?

Should I fill the ballast tank with water?

Pete
Hampton, VA

[c130king]

Pete,

When I left my boat in Florida for three years while I was overseas I used those 5' long auger type stakes that you "drill" into the ground. One at each corner and then used a dockline to secure the forward and aft cleats to the augers. Think we got the stakes at Harbour Freight...but don't really remember.

No hurricanes ever hit but a few big T-Storms with big winds did and there was never a problem.

Good luck and batten down the hatches.

Cheers,
Jim

[ROAD Soldier]

I don't care to find out. Thats why I am getting mine ready to un-ss this place and head west to maybe smith mountain lake or some other big lake west of here. I only live 9ft above sea level moving stuff upstairs now and getting boat ready if it looks like we will get a direct hit or one close enough to get a really high storm surge.

[LOUIS B HOLUB]

My Mac endured 2 hurricanes.

First one: The Mac was tied securely on the trailer, on our farm, full ballast, and trailer tongue lowered. (no problems). Cabin stayed dry)
A Mac with full ballast on its trailer will handle a lot of wind with the trailer nose down. Anchor the trailer as suggested above by c130king is a good idea.

Second one: The Mac was in her slip, tied well with fenders secured, full ballast. We were warned about a serious storm surge, and my dock tie-down rizers will allow the boat to raise approx. 7 ft., which includes the end of the ropes. Anyway, this was a close call, because the Harbormaster said all the boats were atop their risers. I saw several inboard yachts sunk in the Marina, because they broke loose from the risers -- one even pulled out the Piling with the riser attached. (true story). My Mac endured this storm well, no damage, since my Marina is fairly well wind protected here in Kemah, Tex. (Amazingly, the cabin stayed dry).

The #2 incident above was Hurricane Ike, and there were extensive damaged boats at other nearby upscale marinas, some large Yachts broke loose and were grounded on front yards of Pricey-Homes during the storm-surge. Damage was aweful !

NOTE: A "mast up" storage facility near my Marina didnt fare well at all. The storm surge floated most of the stored boats, with trailers, onto a large piled up heap. Some over turned, some broke loose from trailers, etc. -- an aweful mess ! ! Just a big pile of damaged, boats, and debris.

Hope the above personal experiences can be of some help ... hope you guys facing "IRENE" fare well.

[Seapup]

Hey Pete, I just got back from Willougbhy, debated pulling it or leaving it, but decided to put it on the trailer this morning and drag it back to the oceanfront. No one at the maria seemed all that concerned. IMO people are getting a bit worked up, the models are showing it will be more of a tropical storm over our area. I think keep an eye on things tomorrow and make sure you are not near trees.


Like Jim said I have read of people using the augers and also taking the wheels off to get the frame flat on the ground. I think you can get the augers at lowes over near the concrete supplies. The water ballast sounds like a decent idea too. There is a place on CL this morning advertising indoor storage for the storm for $100. I am just going to leave it in the driveway ready to go and hope to be back in my slip and sailing sunday afternoon.

[DaveB]

Hi Pete, you can use 5/8 steel rods about 3 ft. with holes in them, this is what concrete contractors use to support forms. I used them when Hurricane Charlie eye decided to take a 90 degree trurn to Cayo Costa with 145 mph winds. Thats 25 miles north of me and got slamed with 85 mph winds gusting to who knows. I had my Compac 19 on the trailer and it has a 800 lb keel. I drove 8 of these steel rods in the ground and fasten 1/2 inch trees strand to the Trailer. The boat was already fasten very well to trailer.
I was looking out the window during the Hurricane and saw the stearn lift up with trailer until rope was taught several times, I thought it would lift all the steel bars off the ground and fly but all it did was take the streach out of the line and droped down.I was more concerned the big oak tree limb 20 ft. long cruiseing down the street and when wind shifted it smashed into the front entry of the house accross the street.
I had 3 on each side and one bow and stearn.
Definatly load the water ballest up and be prepared if the storm makes a turn.
The Auga 6 inch 3-4 ft. long are used to fasten premade storage sheds and above ground pools and are suppose to be hurrican proof here in SW Florida that code is for a Catigory 3 hurricane. (Past Strucual Building Inspector Here)
Remember that the wind will do a 180 degree turn as it passes.
I have been thru several Hurricanes and worst one can do is perdect their path, always better safe than sorry.
Dave

Irene is heading our way. Any suggestions on better securing the Mac on the trailer?

Should I fill the ballast tank with water?

Pete
Hampton, VA

[fishheadbarandgrill]

Can you do damage to the hull structure with a ballasted boat on the trailer? Considering the load points on the OEM trailer.

Bob

[jimmy alonso]

Hi,
Here in Puerto Rico just went through Irene that was only a poorly organized Cat 1. I went over to where my boat is Saturday and moved it away from the trees removed the tarp covering it put all the bungees I had on the jib and put the strap on. If Irene was a CAT 2 or more i would fill the ballast too. If the water goes out you'll have +100 gallons.
We had wind from 2am to 6am. then rain rain rain for 2 days trees down, floods, land slides, no electricity for 18 hours. No damage to boat the storm turned north went across the island west side where the is had no wind just a little rain. Used my Engel frig, boat battery, stove and fans here at home.

If your in the way of this Hurricane get ready soon as possible get boat out of the water if you can. Be Safe!

[RobertB]

As far as damage to boat/trailer if ballast filled, my guess is not since we often have several people in the boat when sitting in the driveway and that can weigh a bit. Trailer and axle are rated for a dynamic load on the highway, overloading while sitting/static should be fine.

[Tomfoolery]

This is key, IMO. Dynamic loading while bouncing down the highway will be considerable, so putting 1400 lb of ballast in and letting it just sit, with a bit of relatively gentle rocking from the wind, shouldn't be an issue. You could always block under the frame to stiffen it up, of course, before filling with ballast water. Since the storm has passed, this is strictly academic, but there will be another storm, sooner or later.

As far as damage to boat/trailer if ballast filled, my guess is not since we often have several people in the boat when sitting in the driveway and that can weigh a bit. Trailer and axle are rated for a dynamic load on the highway, overloading while sitting/static should be fine.

[Catigale]

Can you do damage to the hull structure with a ballasted boat on the trailer? Considering the load points on the OEM trailer.

I actually trailed 10 miles with the ballast in once...no apparent damage.

[Catigale]

Isnt MT on the "DO NOT SAVE" list ?? Too far??

[seahouse]

To supplement, not contradict, tkanzler's post.

FRP (the hull material) exhibits a property known as "creep", that is, an applied load of a given magnitude that might cause an irreversible plastic deformation (=damage) over a period of time, when applied over a short period of time, would result in elastic rebound and no damage.

Therefore, if there is a concern for hull damage, and without regard for the trailer itself, it might not be prudent to leave the ballast full on the trailer any longer than is necessary.

But don't waste it either, use it to water your grass or something!

-Brian.

[bjmeunier]

I strapped her down to the trailer, no ballast, pulled the Dodge 1500 along side and strapped it to that. It seemed to work as there was very little movement from the boat and having the truck alongside seemed to help disapate(sp?) some of the winds and keep them from getting under the boat...

[ROAD Soldier]

I strapped her down to the trailer, no ballast, pulled the Dodge 1500 along side and strapped it to that. It seemed to work as there was very little movement from the boat and having the truck alongside seemed to help disapate(sp?) some of the winds and keep them from getting under the boat...

This is similar to what I had to do with aircraft in the Army during high wind situations, Tornado Warning, Chinook Winds-Santa Ana Winds (same thing different geographical lingual), and Blizzards. We would put heavy trucks, tractor trailers, fuel trucks, and various other big military vehicles on the windward side of the aircraft that was tied down. This was for the aircraft that will not fit into the already filled hangers.