On days like today when there are wind gusts in excess of 40 to 50 mph, I've noticed that a good number of boats sink right on their moorings when the tides turn against the wind.
This is something that I've never seen addressed in any "how-to" articles, but I've noticed this happen often over the years. The wind against the tide forces boats to sit on their moorings broadside to the waves. As we all know, when the wind blows against the tide it causes "rips". The increase in wave height combined with the additional spray seems to be enough to test the bilge pumps of the moored boats.
A defective float switch, clogged pump or a dead battery is all it takes to turn a bad situation into a horrible one. Once a boat starts to fill with water, the excess weight seems to amplify the situation by causing the boat to sit deeper in the water and begin to roll. On days like today when the winds won't let up, boats can easily capsize and sink as a result.
My wife watched this very scenario happen today to a 19 foot runabout moored near our house. Less than two hours into the outgoing tide the boat flipped over and then slowly sank. Every year I wittness this happen to two or three boats.
My question is, in addition to adding a backup pump and battery, what other precautions can an owner of a moored boat take to prevent this kind of tragedy? I was thinking that a second anchor planted downwind/uptide might help keep the bow pointed into the wind. Of course, it would have to be removed or relocated as soon as the wind shifts direction.
On the LI side of the Sound, this threat is the highest in most harbors/rivers during the outgoing tide when there is any kind of strong North winds. On the CT side it's worse during the outgoing with strong South winds.
This is something that I've never seen addressed in any "how-to" articles, but I've noticed this happen often over the years. The wind against the tide forces boats to sit on their moorings broadside to the waves. As we all know, when the wind blows against the tide it causes "rips". The increase in wave height combined with the additional spray seems to be enough to test the bilge pumps of the moored boats.
A defective float switch, clogged pump or a dead battery is all it takes to turn a bad situation into a horrible one. Once a boat starts to fill with water, the excess weight seems to amplify the situation by causing the boat to sit deeper in the water and begin to roll. On days like today when the winds won't let up, boats can easily capsize and sink as a result.
My wife watched this very scenario happen today to a 19 foot runabout moored near our house. Less than two hours into the outgoing tide the boat flipped over and then slowly sank. Every year I wittness this happen to two or three boats.
My question is, in addition to adding a backup pump and battery, what other precautions can an owner of a moored boat take to prevent this kind of tragedy? I was thinking that a second anchor planted downwind/uptide might help keep the bow pointed into the wind. Of course, it would have to be removed or relocated as soon as the wind shifts direction.
On the LI side of the Sound, this threat is the highest in most harbors/rivers during the outgoing tide when there is any kind of strong North winds. On the CT side it's worse during the outgoing with strong South winds.
