Conference unifix::sailing

    I'm sure some people hoped their boats would be destroyed by Bob so
    they could collect insurance, just as I'm sure some people leave their
    cars unlocked in hopes they will be stolen.  Fortunately, most people
    act responsibly and make good effort.  
    
    As far as moving a boat when a hurricane threatens, exactly where would
    you move it?  Hurricane tracks are unpredictable and it's a crap shoot
    as to which side of the eye you'll be on as it passes.  By the time it
    was clear Bob was going to hit Newport, I would have been a fool to try
    to sail to Connecticut to get on the so called "safe" side.
    
    Finally, I seem to recall that insurance companies pay far more in
    liability claims than they do in comprehensive coverage.  Efforts to
    work toward testing and licensing operators of powerboats above a certain 
    h.p., and strict OUI laws enforcement would probably do more to contain
    insurance costs.
    
    Say, anybody want this soapbox?  It's cluttering up my deck!

    Even if people don't care about their boats, they should secure it so
    that their boat does not wreck another.
    
    Gregg

    If people don't care about their boats, they're sure as heck not gonna
    care about yours.
    
    ... Bob
    

    As one who has experienced a total loss due to a storm, let me tell you
    that insurance companies do not part with their money easily.  You MUST
    show reasonable care in order to collect.  I don't know what
    constitutes such a hurdle, but they were satisfied with ours.  Until
    then, we sweated bullets a bit.
    
    Speaking of not caring, some idiot never secured his/her roller furling
    on a Catalina of some sort and the sail flogged itself to death.  STILL
    was not secured as of last Sunday in Marblehead.  
    
    On the other hand, hurricanes are so random that beyond a certain
    amount of precaution, it makes no sense to risk life or limb to protect
    your boat.  That is what insurance is for.  The insurance companies do
    not define reasonable care as staying with your vessel and motoring
    into the wind to lessen the strain on the mooring or anything like
    that!
    
    Dave

    In the UK your rolling genoa is not covered by most insurance companies
    unless the boat is underway ie on its mooring or in a marina no cover
    for loss or damage by wind.
    
    
    Pete 

    There's a boat over at Jubilee that has the remains of it's roller
    (un)furled jib flapping in the breeze too ... the owner's on vacation
    and hasn't been around since before the storm.  Perhaps that's the case
    with the Catalina over in M'head too.  Some of the other members tied
    it up as best they can, but haven't taken it down.  Not much left
    anyway ... perhaps enough to make a sailing bag or two out of.
    
    One guy at Jubilee did stay on his boat with his motor running to take
    the strain off the mooring pennants.  Whether it helped or not, the
    real advantage was that he was on-board to help fend off another boat
    that dragged into his.  Of course, this guy lives on his boat anyway,
    so he was really protecting his home.
    
    One thing I don't understand ... why tie down your main and jib rather
    than simply take them off and stow them below.  I would think the
    reduced windage would have made the small effort of removing the sails
    worthwhile.
    
    ... Bob
    

    Re: -.1
    
    Absolutely.  We stripped the boat of its main and anything else that
    could produce windage.  Even tried to get the headfoil off.  Too much
    trouble for the results.
    
    Dave

    Please let it be recorded that on this day, August 28th, 1991 ... Bob
    Bailey and Dave Johnston agreed about something ... ;^)
    
    ... Bob
    

    
    I really gotta sympathise with people out of town on business,
    vacation... whatever. However, I have a Harken roller with a cheezy #2,
    and if I'm going to be gone over 1 day, at least 2 small pieces of line
    go over it. Further, if you pull a little more on that roller line, you
    can wrap as much of your jibsheets as you like around it, sort of built
    in wrap- I see rollers left with a foot of jib out! You can't teach
    common sense. I'd be surprised if insurance companies pay on such
    losses- or at least dismayed, having to chip in for nitwits.
    
    Anyway, did everybody think it was gonna hit early on?Sunday I listened to
    NWS#3, and while you could get Lats & Lons on it, I didn't really sense
    any urgency- compared to the last few big storms and such. 'Course I
    live close to the boat which adds to the cavalier attitude here. Didn't
    really get my butt in gear on the stripping till we got sent home from
    work! Lucky for me.
    
    Of course, Murphy was still there; a boat let go of the mooring, went
    up on the beach, I swung over his mooring, caught his chain, bent my
    prop and shaft! He ended up in better shape.
    
    So much for hurricane preparations. Yeah, I know, it coulda been
    worse... but asking for my PHRFNE entry fee back to help defray yard
    bills was the low point of the season so far!
    
    Back in soon, I hope!
    
    Mr. Quasimotor