jmako

For boats that are too big to trailer, say 30 feet and over, has anyone ever driven their boat to a different location to stay out of the way of a hurricane. The National Hurricane Center is getting pretty good at predicting the landfall point of hurricanes (this is kind of a leap of faith, I know). So for discussion purposes, let's say a storm is predicted to hit Pensacola in three days. Why not drive the boat to Appilachicola or Gulf Port? There is time to do this before the storm hits and by running the Intercoastal the trip shouldn't be that bad.

Brad King

I have been involved w/ this MANY times. The charter boat I worked on for years, we use to relocate for EVERY storm.

__________________
Capt. Brad King
South Again Charters LLC
www.southagain.com
captbrad@southagain.com
Inshore/Nearshore Charters

danthemanx07

My dad is a coastie, and I know they move all of their boats up river. Which rivers depends on which station the boat is from of course. If it works for them, I dont know why it wouldnt work for anyone else.

FlounderAssassin

I work in the GOM on a lift boat and every time there is a huricane we move the boat to where we think the storm isnt going. sounds like a good idea to always move your boat to a better spot!

sealark

When I had a 40 ft boat we would go up the Escambia river. UWF has an area that is normally chained off but they open it for boats to access it during hurricanes. There was a trail that led up to the UWF parking lot. The trail is or i should say was in the extreme back of the parking lot. I also must say that it has been well over 10 years since I have been up there and things could have changed. In any case anywhere up into the Escambia river there are plenty of places to take a boat and be protected from high winds. The good thing about the UWF spot is that you can secure the boat to trees on both sides and walk up the trail and go home. There are big hills on both sides of the creek for really good protection from the wind.

Reel Twiztid

Rule of tumb around here is Escambia River. There's a lot of places to secure your boat.

Genesis

You're out of your mind if you don't move a boat that cannot be trailered out of harm's way for anything that is or may be stronger than a Cat 1 storm, and even a Cat 1 if you have no or minimal protection from surge.

The problem is NOT really the wind - its the wave action that gets kicked up and flying debris.

When Ivan came I took my big boat over to Panama City and hid there. The other option around Destin is up in the ditch in an area known as "The Canyon", but you really can't leave if you do that.

JoeZ

Lots of the Destin charters go to the ditch but like was said, you can't leave. You gotta ride it out. I talked to a deckhand who rode one out in the ditch and said it was pretty hairy but they were safe in the end.

The rivers might be well and good but going east or west makes the most sense -- except for when you pick the wrong direction and the storm veers off course.

Feeding Frenzy

Isn't that what insurance is for??? My buddy Dan lost his new28 ft. Pursuit cuddy in Ivan. The insurance company simply stroked him a check and he went out and bought and new one...

FelixH

I believe many of us learned that it's not always that easy. Whether car, boat, or house, sometimes it's a real hassle just to get a fair price from the insurance company for the damages sustained.

I'd rather take precautions and not have to deal with the claims process.