Hurricane at the Jersey Shore
 

I am on a lagoon on Green Island in TR NJ. I am on a lift with a 38 Fountain Fever. Should I leave the boat on the lift or pull it out at Arrow Marine and leave it on the Trailer?? Never been thru this before and dont know what happens on the Lagoons?

thanks
dan

I live on the Gulf Coast and survived Rita and Ike, you never know about how the tidal surge is ging to be plus the added tide effect. If left on the lift and the strom surge is slow rising the boat will float up with the rising water. Four things can happen, (1) the boat will rise and lower with the surge and nothing will happen - but don't bet on it, (2) the boat will rise and float off the straps or one of the straps will come off the boat and when the water recedes boat will "fall" where the strap has come off, (3) boat will rise with the water and the straps will move from their proper placement and the water recides and the boat is back on the straps, straps may cause damage to the hull, (4) boat will rise with water and if the water continues to rise boat will hit the roof of the lift and "bottom out" while water still rises causing damage to windshield and top of hull, if water continues to rise the boat will not and water will enter through exhaust and enter engines(s) where exhaust valve(s) are not fully seated becasue of the cam lobe, water still rises and enters cockpit area of boat. My advise from expirience, place on trailer and drive oppsite direction.

Good Luck

While cliff_m_b is correct if you live with direct access to major open water.
But back in Green Island the surge shouldn't be all that much. A lot of water would need to flow through Barnegat and Manasquan Inlets and fill Barnegat Bay to cause worry. Wind direction means everything. If it's blowing on shore it'll push water in. I'm sure you'll get a higher tide than usual but it may be no more than 2 feet. I'm only guessing from past memory.
I used to live in Snug Harbor across Silver Bay from you. Was there from 1963 to 1987. We had several hurricanes pass by and our dock was never under water. My floating dock never reached it's max travel.

I would suggest you tie the cradle and boat securely to prevent it from blowing around in the wind. If there's any place along the hull for it to contact a support or piling put fenders out in those places. And if you have more vertical travel I'd raise it as far as possible, just in case. Bring in anything that isn't nailed down.
If you do feel uncomfortable about letting it ride the storm, pull it our as soon a possible and bring it home. Don't wait, the sooner the better, ramps will be crowded with others doing the same.

I now live in Kissimmee Florida and we survived direct hits from hurricanes Charley, Frances, and Jeanne. Charley was the worst. My Formula F-206 is trailered and I parked it across the front of our garage to act as a wind break. It worked, but Charley's winds shifted the boat on the trailer. It had rolled a bit to port towards the house. We had winds of 120+.

Good luck.

I'm not an expert on hurricanes or boat lifts. But, if you have a trailer and truck, why take the risk of leaving the boat on the lift?

Like he said, if you have a trailer why not pull it out?

I knew someone who left their boat on a lift during a high water/wind event, and it ended up upside down on the lawn with several holes in it. If you can, get it on the trailer.

Along with this storm is a full moon which means higher tides at the same time the stomr hits. It's way to much to risk, you have the ability to pull it to safe ground I would do it, just don't park it near trees.

Good Luck

If you leave it in the water and the hurricane is a cat 3 or higher, say "Bye Bye Boat!" Put it on the trailer and drive far far away, at least 100 miles away from shoreline. Even 100 miles away, you can get 70+mph gusts with a Cat 3 hurricane. Don't park around trees. Assume they will fall and be uprooted. Take a vacation day if you must. Trust me, I have been through 4 hurricanes in Texas. Don't be surprised that people will not have electricity for 1-4 weeks. Clean out your fridge before you leave. Since this hurricane is going up the coast, re-powering all the down electrical lines may take a very long time.

Thank you for the feed back. I am pulling the boat. If a CAT 3 Hurricane hits us and NYC, there will be bigger issues in all of our lives than Das Boat.
Thanks again.
dan

Pull it out! I am right here on the Gulf Coast of Mississippi and I can tell you about tidal surge! We had 10-15 ft of water in Gulfport up the rivers nearly 15 miles inland! In Bay St Louis, they had more than 20ft even further than that! Don't take the risk if you have other options to move it elsewhere!!!! If it gets really bad, call me, sign it over to me and I will bring it home! (a little humor under a very stressful situation!).

About three hours ago the projected landfall was the mouth of the Mullica river (about exit 50) on the GSP.I fell it will hit in southern Maryland but I'm no expert.Everyone is leaving south Jersey Brigantine and south are mandatory evacuations thats probably overkill but who knows.Mine's on the trailer sold my lift last year glad I don't have to get it off tonight.

ditto...we just pulled my buddy's scarab cc from a very sheltered part of the CT River, because we have a trailer and truck. His boat and mine are resting comfortably 10 miles inland away from the big trees....there's still too much summer left to leave these things to chance...
c

I have a place in the 1000 Islands due North of Cape Vincent, NY. Anyone who is jammed up without a place to keep there boat let me know. I have an acre of parking and 40ft of dock space, SORRY I cant offer indoor storage, but, I will be there all next week, so, your stuff will be safe and dry.

Long drive from NYC, but I thought I would send the offer anyway, lets hope this thing misses NY.

Michael

yes, pull it out !!!! my gibson(50') is right in the path...can't pull it out so getting ready to move out of slip and anchor out and pray for the best !!!! no question if I had the option to pull out !!!

One added problem for the boats on lifts is that the boat floats up and squashes the windshield, deck, sun pad, upholstery, etc. into the top of the lift and roof of the dock building. You are doing the right thing by pulling it out.

I guess its kinda like parachuting, or sex......when in Doubt? Pull it out!

Net Ressult
 

I stayed on my Canteliever Lift and raised it another 2' or so. Jim from Atlantic Marine came by my house to show me the by-pass (I would highly recommend them, they are good people). All ended well. Roads and some marina's flooded but I was high and dry. Water in my part of TR didnt breach teh Bulkhead. Truth be known, in the inevitable future, I would pull teh boat and bring it to Morris County :0

thanks for the input and hope all are well and safe.
Danny