Most of the clip on boats you see were from a boat dealer that left them in the lot. The storm surge floated the boats off the trailers you see setting there. And I do have some friends whose boats were destroyed that did not have trailers, trucks, etc. Trailer storage is sometimes hard to find for reasonable price. And I agree with what Gerrit said about where the storm was headed. Texas just implemented a mandatory evacuation law. I am in the first zone to be evacuated. It is at least 2 days in advance of a storm and this storm was not supposed to be heading our direction according to the "experts". So, at the last minute they issued the evacuation and if I had to make a call between the boat and human lifes, there is no question. I was lucky enough to get my boat out the day before we were supposed to evacuate. House didn't fair well though.

I was figuring those empty trailers weren't empty before the storm. But who knows.

All of you guys who second guess a decision and play armchair quarterback amaze me.You are all perfect. Within several hours we went from no evac to mandatory. You don't have time to think let alone worry about a toy. Your first priority is your family. We have been playing dodgeball with hurricanes all summer. I think this is # 3 or 4 that potentially could have headed our way. You prepare as best you can. We all saw it coming and no one had to tell us to pull our toys. We just didn't know where it was going. 100 miles one way or the other is the difference between damage (Ike) and no damage (Gustav & Rita). I am glad I had time to get my boat out. Many didn't, we all work for a living and many are in jobs that they can't leave to go worry about their toys. Many are engineers, Nasa and oil, and in the medical field. Do you think they will abandon their jobs to go pull a boat? These boats are a small reminder of what happened. The destruction is unbelievable. Within a mile of my house is an area of Seabrook that is totally gone or flooded to the rooftops and yet our homes suffered minor damage. These people lost everything, including the residents of Bolivar Penn. and Galveston. Kind of puts things in perspective, at least to me. Sorry about you insurance rates.

Yes, there were a few that we know about that left their boats, cars, jet skis, etc. to get the insurance. These people suck.

Tommy, sorry to hear about your house.

G,
Well spoken. Hope you fared as well as possible. Looking at the weather underground website this morning, "Invest 93" is a New tropical disturbance that brewing in the tropics, and the computer models AT THIS TIME have it headed ANYWHERE from NC up to Maryland, so we'll see how well these know-it-alls up north handle it! I'm assuming they are going to pull their boats TODAY, you know, blow off work, school whatever and get that boat off the lift NOW!! I mean you've got a week's notice, what are you waiting for????
Not that I'm wishing a hurricane on anyone, but this might be their chance to show us dumba$$ southerns how to do it...

And to Donzi 38xxx,
Most all of the noreasters hit in the wintertime, so you have probobly already taken your water toys off their lifts to winterize them, so give me a break about that BS.
Once again, it's all about priorities, 1st family, 2nd house, and 3rd the boats. If you don't like how much your insurance is on your boat, don't pay it. I don't HAVE to buy boat ins.on our boats, our toys are payed for, but I keep insurance for liability reasons mainly. So unless you have it financed, then I guess you have to buy ins....
Dean

I went and looked at that boat yesterday. I could be wrong but I do not believe it was a cherry before the storm... Looked like it had issues before. My.02.. It could be a great project.

Also, the day before the mandatory evacuation, Ike was headed to the Texas - Mexico border - A lllooonnnggg way away from here. So, what have I learned? The weather experts posting their single path lines of where a hurricane is headed don't know chit and shouldn't post with such certainty like they have been doing.

No question of life, family, and friends first in a situation like this.

I did not intend to offend, second-guess, or criticize anyone with my inquiry. Just looking for some insight into the devastation in the photos and trying to learn from what I see. Why are some boats literally unscathed while others on the very same lot are damaged. What would be the best thing to do if faced with a similar situation ...?

Would tie-down straps have helped ...?

Would 5 miles inland make a difference ...?

that is my 91 scarab viper

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