Safe and Sound

As Hurricane Georges approaches the bay area, tak the following steps to secure your boat.

Mary Ellen Geiger ties down her sailboat at the Davis Island Yacht Club in Tampa. [Times photo: Dirk Shadd]

By TERRY TOMALIN

T. PETERSBURG -- Gus Alvarez was taking no chances.

"I've been here for 21 years and have seen a lot of storms, including Elena (the 1985 hurricane)," the Tampa man said as he stowed the sails on the boat he keeps at the St. Petersburg Municipal Marina. "They are all different. There is no way to tell what they are going to do."

More coverage from the Times on our Georges site.

The retired engineer, who has weathered several solo-sailing trips to Key West and the Dry Tortugas, said he has learned to treat the ocean with respect.

"A storm with 60 mph winds can come out of nowhere," he said. "That is why you have to always be prepared."

Alverez spent Thursday morning removing electronics and other valuable gear from his 27-foot Catalina sailboat.

"I make sure the spring lines are all good," he said. "If one of those lines breaks, the boat could end up in the seawall. Making sure your lines are tied right now could save you a lot of trouble later."

Extra-long "spring" lines, designed to keep a boat secure during major tidal fluctuations (hence the name "spring" as in "spring tides"), can keep your boat from becoming a pile of trash if the storm surge raises the sea level the expected 6-8 feet.

You still have time to get your boat prepared for Hurricane Georges, and here are a few tips from BOAT/U.S.:

Strip all Bimini tops, sails, antennas, liferings, outriggers, booms and dinghies off the boat. Remove cowl vents and seal the openings.

Secure halyards at the masthead with a single line.

Use duct tape and plugs to seal hatches, ports, windows and doors.

Take valuable gear -- especially electronics -- and important documents off the boat.

Go home! No one should stay aboard a boat during a hurricane.

"If you have a boat and it is trailerable, move it inland," said Lt. Commander Mark Woodring with the U.S. Coast Guard in Miami. "Do it as early as possible because the roads will be busy."

"The drawbridges are authorized to lock down eight hours prior to the arrival of gale-force winds," Woodring said. "It may be flat calm, but that doesn't mean you will still be able to move your boat."

If you are trapped on your boat as the storm approaches, put on a life jacket.

"Make it to safety as soon as possible," Woodring said. "Don't risk your life for your boat. A boat can always be replaced, but your life can't."

Watersport enthusiasts -- surfers, boardsailors and kayakers -- should temper the urge to ride the big waves generated as Georges approaches.

These waves can be extremely dangerous. Strong lateral shore currents as well as floating and flying debris can kill. As the storm passes, remember aids to navigation, particularly lighted and unlighted buoys, may be removed from their chartered position, damaged, destroyed, extinguished or otherwise inoperative. "You can't take these storms lightly," Woodring said. "The key is to be prepared and act early. Don't wait until the last minute to secure your boat."
-- Check out the BOAT/U.S. website at http://www.boatus.com for the latest storm advisories, strike probabilities, satellite maps and tracking charts. The site also offers a guide to preparing boats for a hurricane; a hard copy version of the guide is also available free. Call (800) 274-4877.