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Worst storm on anchor
Dream_Inn
Member, Moderator Posts: 7,562 mod
So, I think the topic name describes it well, but what is the worst storm you survived while out on your anchor?
For many years I had a crazy story how 3 of us rode on basically my stern anchor on the backside of still pond (started on two stern, but the smalll one got so tight it some projected itself and landed in front of our boats without hitting them).
Well, this past week topped my 24 years of boating. We were on our 10 day trip this past week and last Monday we were in one of our favorite gunk holes that happened to be one of the best to ride out storms too. It was about 7pm and has us, a 390, and a 370 ridin on my 100 feet of chain in 7 feet of water. We were surrounded pretty well by land, maybe a diameter of 600 feet, that has a nice sandy point at its entrance. Only one other boat, a sailboat, that was in the area.
We just started cooking some dinner and the admiral’s phone gets an alert for 80 mph winds. I let everyone know to buckle down and pause on dinner. Well it his us immediately with hard winds and rain. It got to the point that rain start blowing in under our front canvas. Then I could no longer see my bow flag. The wind seemed to continue and probably after about 30 minutes, it began to hail too. Leaves and hail started to also come under the front isenglass. Then, the hail punctured our front isenglass. I started my engines just in case I needed them, but I couldn’t see anything enough to try to put them in gear to ease on my anchor. So I felt helpless. Here is a pic from the 370 tied on us. Anchor was nice and tight. You also see the bridle that is tied to my cleats.
For many years I had a crazy story how 3 of us rode on basically my stern anchor on the backside of still pond (started on two stern, but the smalll one got so tight it some projected itself and landed in front of our boats without hitting them).
Well, this past week topped my 24 years of boating. We were on our 10 day trip this past week and last Monday we were in one of our favorite gunk holes that happened to be one of the best to ride out storms too. It was about 7pm and has us, a 390, and a 370 ridin on my 100 feet of chain in 7 feet of water. We were surrounded pretty well by land, maybe a diameter of 600 feet, that has a nice sandy point at its entrance. Only one other boat, a sailboat, that was in the area.
We just started cooking some dinner and the admiral’s phone gets an alert for 80 mph winds. I let everyone know to buckle down and pause on dinner. Well it his us immediately with hard winds and rain. It got to the point that rain start blowing in under our front canvas. Then I could no longer see my bow flag. The wind seemed to continue and probably after about 30 minutes, it began to hail too. Leaves and hail started to also come under the front isenglass. Then, the hail punctured our front isenglass. I started my engines just in case I needed them, but I couldn’t see anything enough to try to put them in gear to ease on my anchor. So I felt helpless. Here is a pic from the 370 tied on us. Anchor was nice and tight. You also see the bridle that is tied to my cleats.
Well, that was just the beginning. We then broke loose.
And the next few minutes seemed like eternity! We spun and I was very scared. Not sure whether to raise my drives or try to see them. But I couldn’t see my bow flag still. At this point the entire cockpit area was wet and I was wondering if we were still safe in it. As we swung, it didn’t seem like the anchor could catch except maybe enough to make us swing in a circle. All of sudden it felt like we hit, which our bow was on leeward side allowing me to see a little thru the windshield. The 370 tied on our port hit land first and we pivoted pushing our bow forward onto the beach. I then gave a little throttle forward for maybe a half minute. I then figured it really didn’t matter. Wind was still severe, like still 80 mph! I was able to keep an eye on a small bush on shore. About 20 minutes later, the wind changed direction and we started to leave the beach. I told both boats to drop anchor. The 390 did but the 370 had his tied to the cleat in his bow. About 10 minutes later we were thru the worst. We could see the sailboat behind us, and he definitely moved off his anchor as well. He said at one point he was in full reverse as his bow was aiming towards “the side of the blue hull”, which is the 399 tied on my stbd side.
We reset our anchor and had dinner, it was after 10pm. It was one of the tastiest dinners! Next day I just hoped everything ran ok and it did.
And the next few minutes seemed like eternity! We spun and I was very scared. Not sure whether to raise my drives or try to see them. But I couldn’t see my bow flag still. At this point the entire cockpit area was wet and I was wondering if we were still safe in it. As we swung, it didn’t seem like the anchor could catch except maybe enough to make us swing in a circle. All of sudden it felt like we hit, which our bow was on leeward side allowing me to see a little thru the windshield. The 370 tied on our port hit land first and we pivoted pushing our bow forward onto the beach. I then gave a little throttle forward for maybe a half minute. I then figured it really didn’t matter. Wind was still severe, like still 80 mph! I was able to keep an eye on a small bush on shore. About 20 minutes later, the wind changed direction and we started to leave the beach. I told both boats to drop anchor. The 390 did but the 370 had his tied to the cleat in his bow. About 10 minutes later we were thru the worst. We could see the sailboat behind us, and he definitely moved off his anchor as well. He said at one point he was in full reverse as his bow was aiming towards “the side of the blue hull”, which is the 399 tied on my stbd side.
We reset our anchor and had dinner, it was after 10pm. It was one of the tastiest dinners! Next day I just hoped everything ran ok and it did.
One thing I learned, it was always smart to double tie the stern lines together in a raft up. A one inch line from the 390 broke. ( I’ll have to update with a pic) This was the premade loop that pulled apart. I could not imagine if we had not double tied back. Our sterns would have broken apart mid storm. I now plan to tie the bows with two lines. And if just loop back around that does nothing. You have to tie at each point.
Here are some pics at our next destination about 10 miles up river, Tilghman island, the next day. We heard stories from people there about a water spout and a tornado.
Note the SUP that some how hit the jack hard enough to push it up thru the middle of it.
We did enjoy a couple nice sunsets and moonrise too at our destination…
oh, and then a couple days later, I just got on plane and my blade came off my prop. Hmm, did it get stressed in storm, even though the boat rode fine for 20 minutes on plane to our previous destination after the storm?
Hope you enjoyed my story, now let’s hear yours.
Here are some pics at our next destination about 10 miles up river, Tilghman island, the next day. We heard stories from people there about a water spout and a tornado.
Note the SUP that some how hit the jack hard enough to push it up thru the middle of it.We did enjoy a couple nice sunsets and moonrise too at our destination…
oh, and then a couple days later, I just got on plane and my blade came off my prop. Hmm, did it get stressed in storm, even though the boat rode fine for 20 minutes on plane to our previous destination after the storm?
Hope you enjoyed my story, now let’s hear yours.Dream 'Inn III -- 2008 400 Express
Comments
Dream 'Inn III -- 2008 400 Express
This is a story of "on any given Sunday." Some things are outside your control.
His 44 Sundancer was rafted up with some other big boats, and they all went ashore for lunch at a restaurant that provides shuttle service. The restaurant shuttle was just a pontoon boat, so once the storm blew up, they could do nothing but watch and wait. No worries -- as an experienced boater, he had put out all of his chain and a good bit of rope, and there was no real danger ...
Except for the smaller boat anchored upwind of them.
That captain wasn't good at anchoring. She dragged anchor, and handled it poorly. Their anchor lines got fouled. She freaked out and did the unthinkable: she cut my friend's anchor line, sending four beautiful huge boats onto the rocks and doing extensive damage. Then -- she just went home!
Semi-happy ending. She was eventually held accountable because she blabbed on social media, and my friends saw it.
I'm glad you made it out ok. We do not raft up to anyone, that has to make it twice as concerning.
That same storm completely FLIPPED a 75 foot Houseboat on it's side, and crushed and amputated a woman's arm. Mother nature doesn't mess around!!!!!!
I wanted to stay anchored and just double down on the anchors, the group, mainly the mothers, wanted us IN and in NOW.
There's no arguing with them, I may be the captain but I'm not going to argue with a bunch of mama bears..
It was immediately clear that I was in the right, but whatever....
Darkest clouds I've ever seen in the middle of the day.
And then, we at least got some video.. it was longer, but too many bad words in it ha ha.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/HhXn-ggTKRQ
Wow, I knew there are more stories out there. Those microbursts sound like something that would be tough to deal with since they can come up so quickly. Flipping houseboats is just something you wouldn't think could happen!
Glad that lady had to pay for the 4 boats. Sometimes it does not matter what you do, you are at the mercy of those around you. I know during the same night as mine, parts of this storm hit some other areas around fireworks time. My buddy told me about how some boats let loose in an anchorage and some of the crazy dumb things they saw happen.
Dream 'Inn III -- 2008 400 Express
https://youtube.com/watch?v=aoaICv1iNq4&feature=sharec
https://youtube.com/watch?v=ds_6qDifsyk&feature=sharec
Wow! that looks like it was taken more on the side or stern. Fortunately for us, most was on the bow and then some was on the stern while on the beach. I think on the side would've been horrible!
Dream 'Inn III -- 2008 400 Express
https://youtube.com/watch?v=KhzoT7eCKsk&feature=sharec
2018 Cherokee 39RL Land Yacht (Sorry...)