Securing the Boat with Lines at the dock for Hurricane Season - 2013

Beginning of June 2013 - Currently in Paradise Village Marina in Banderas Bay Mexico

It’s moments like this that you stop and realize the amazing talent of your partner!

Now that we are at a marina in a hurricane hole, we need to secure the boat for when the winds are high with potential for a lot of rain and perhaps even some lightening.  So, to that end, Chip recently started the task of putting the lines out to secure the boat to the dock.  Fortunately, there is no boat next to us in the 2-boat slip we are in so we are able to not only tie up to our immediate dock (to port), we are also able to cross the open slip and tie up to the opposite dock (to starboard).  First, he had to identify which lines to use where – not an easy task in and of itself since we have limited storage to store a lot of long lines.  He was able to gather together some lines that we use for other things when anchored out and also put together two dock lines to make one long one.

Since it is really a one-person job, I was doing something else yet watching Chip as he adjusted each line at each point, both on the boat and on the dock.  It looked like an amazing choreography, since when you released one from let’s say the bow, the stern was affected.  He also had some lines at mid-ship on the dock attached to the boat at the stern. 

 Another consideration was the movement on the lines themselves so Chip had to figure out what chafe material to use.  While we had some, we didn’t have a lot.  The movement comes not only from the wind but also from the surge of the ocean water.  We are located near the entrance breakwater which is also the mouth of the river/estuary.  This transition point creates surge also. 

 We priced chafe protection at the Puerto Vallarta chandlery and it was quite cost prohibitive.  So, to plan B – use clear hose to protect the lines.  We purchased a small amount at the local Home Depot since we weren’t sure it was going to work.  When we got it home, Chip drilled some holes in it to allow any water to escape, rather than collect and rot the line. 

 That worked quite well so we’ll get some more the next time we are at HD!

Note 2018:
 This worked out ok but needs to be done each year. We decide to get chain and shackles from Jorge at SYS in Paradise Village Marina which he made up for us that go around the dock cleats. Also SS eyes in each of the four dock lines that the chain goes through. We use four of these lines for summer hurricane season . Now we never need to do this again for tying up for summer hurricane season.

 I am writing this post as I am completely amazed at how Chip knew how to do this and do it SO WELL!  I asked him where he might have picked up this skill and he thought it might be from when he worked the tugs in Boston Harbor, many moons ago.  The stories he tells me from that time in his life (when I wasn’t yet in the picture) is one of many times that sure set him up for the life he is leading now.  We are very fortunate!!