Portland Boaters Bracing For Irene

Those who take to the water even for recreation learn to respect the weather and wind. Word of a hurricane as powerful as Irene taking direct aim on the state have boat owners scrambling, taking action to protect their craft.

Many on Friday were spending the day securing their boats ranging in size from small open sport craft to large cabin cruisers. Those who work at the boat yards say the captains were calling early this week for professional help to get their boats out of harms way. Almost all these boats are major investments, as well as way of life.  

Some boaters and boat yard workers on Riverside Avenue explained choices being made to protect boats, whether getting them out of the water and secured on land, or finding safer places to tie up. 

Al Minor, at Riverside Marina, said they were moving all day Friday at a brisk pace. While there was a lull in the late afternoon, he still expected more owners to show up after work. 

The boat yards have special berths and huge lifting vehicles called "travel lifts," shaped like square cages. There are slings that are lowered from rolls on top girders to the floor of the bay. When the boat floats into position and secured by lines, a powerful winch engages and lifts the fabric slings and the boat out of the water. The vessel is cradled, as the driver of the machine slowly backs away into the parking area. Oversized wheels on the machine fit into slots on either side of the bay and then help move the boat to a storage site.  

Minor estimated that they were "pulling" up 20 to 25 craft each day for a number of days this past week. He and others at a nearby boat yard feel the demand will keep building on Saturday.

The cost for removing a boat with a travel lift is about $10 dollars per foot. So a 30-foot cruiser would cost $300 to $330 dollars, according to one observer, man who has experience with the yards.

Others adjusting and cleaning one of the travel lifts say it takes about 30 minutes to get one boat out of the water,  "perhaps a little more" depending on the type of craft.  

Smaller craft up to 20 feet can be easily hauled onto trailers using a small winch at the front of the trailer. The boat has to be lined up in a boat ramp, after a driver backs the trailer in. Once secured on the trailers, they can be taken home to snug garages.

Bigger craft are stored in large warehouse-type buildings, or are are placed upright on the ground while support jacks are placed around the hull. Some of these vessels get covered with a plastic material that resembles shrink wrap. They can stay that way until the new season begins next spring. 

Another observer, Cliff, said some owners who are based at marinas near Long Island Sound believe coming this far up-river provides a sanctuary in itself. They feel they are far enough inland to be sheltered from the worst waves and wind gusts. The land on each side of the river providing protection.

They can also choose ways to ride out the storm. A worker said there were floating docks near the Yankee Boat Yard. He believed that if a boat is properly tied to posts, they can safely ride out a bad storm.  The docks will move up and down with waves and tide. 

Other more experienced skippers with bigger craft can tie up to mooring buoys in the river, perhaps also using a sea anchor which may keep a boat in place while riding out the storm. 

But all boat owners will be worrying until Irene passes by.