Sailing over land

[davemaule]

<div>I have had a Morgan 382 for about a year and a half now, and
I've found her to be a very sturdy boat. My girlfriend and I
would like to move from Texas to San Francisco, CA, and although
I have sailed for most of my life, I haven't done it on large
boats. I don't think my boat or I am ready for a cruise through
the Panama canal and up California. I have gotten an estimate
for moving the boat over land, and it was about what I expected.
My concern is, what kind of "unknowns" can I expect, since we
all know that "unknowns" happen on a very regular "known" basis
with boats. Although the moving company will insure against any
damage, I am still worried. Should I be?My second concern is California itself. I know how to
prepare for a hurricane, after living on the Texas coast, but I
don't exactly know what to do to minimize damage from an
earthquake. I'm hoping for wide slips where I can tie up
loosely, even fixed docks, where I can use weights on the lines
as shock absorbers. If I can just keep the dock from ramming
into my hull, I figure I'll be alright. Is this particularly
naive? Any info is good info Thanks,-Tim
</div>

 

[aurora2]

<div>I would worry less about my boat and more about a land structure. I generally don't allow my boat to touch the dock, that's what dock lines are for. As for bring the boat to Ca., I would investigate trucking to L.A. or San Diego and then sail/motoring North. The trick is to get to an anchorage by noon-1PM and then leaving at midnight or when winds subside. If you decide to do it let me know. I have done it twice and once from Southern Mexico.
</div>

 

[bschnur]

Tim, I'm a life-long California resident and have shipped a 382 from Maine to California -- let me share some information. Regarding shipping your boat, the smartest thing you can do is to over prepare and to be present and involved as the boat is being loaded and tied down. Needless to say, pack the interior well and allow nothing hard to touch any surface you value the appearance of. You should insist on having the full length of the keel supported on the trailer bed by padded timbers -- this to prevent point-loading and fracture of the hollow keel area where the holding tank is located (I have first hand experience of this). Be sure that the mast is very well padded and supported where it's tied to the trailer to prevent wearing and gouging portions of the mast/boom. Add padding until it's laughable, and then it's probbly enough. Ditto with the coils of rigging wire. If used carpeting is the padding, be sure that the hauler places the soft side of the carpet against the mast(!). Guide the tie-down process too. The hauler will use 3" or 4" wide straps to tie the boat ends to the trailer. These straps can damage teak and varnish and tear cleats/chocks loose. Pad everything. Lastly, be there when the boat arrives and check it over VERY carefully for any damage before signing for delivery. Note any and all damage on the bill of lading before signing and don't be bashful in having the hauler pay for any moving-related damage repairs.
Regarding California earthquakes and boats, I've experienced quakes on both land and water, and even once on board the boat while hauled out. My experience has been that it's a non-event with a boat that's in the water. You won't need to tie your boat any differently than you do in Texas. In fact, unlike the experience ashore, if you're on your boat during a quake, you probably won't even notice it. The bottom of the harbor may move sideways or even up and down a little bit, but the water mass above basically stays put as the earth below quivers. The only sensation may be a quiet vibration and/or perhaps a "thump" sort of sound. Floating docks also tend to stay put and the pilings don't move much at the surface. Even if the pilings did move, the mass of the docks would restrain their movement. Simply put, my experience has always been that my boat is unaffected by an earthquake.
Now, if you're talking Tsunami's, those will get your attention. I've been through one of those while in port and it's exciting -- but that's another subject.
Good luck in your move, and welcome to California.
Jim

 

[carl_miller]

<div>What Jim says about earthquake(s) is quite right.I was working of Mt. San Augustine, Cook Inlet, Alaska in 1993 when the volcano was erupting and Anchorage was experiencing some pretty severe earthauakes. We, on watch, saw and felt absoutly nothing, however, the seismic crew were regularily calling the bridge reporting "big" shocks. I don't know what "big" was on the richter scale but it was considerably bigger then the results of explosions we were using to do seismic work, and what made headlines in Anchorage.So, twood appear that the place to be is ONBOARD.Good luck with your move.
</div>

 

[davemaule]

<div>Jim,
Thanks for the advice (everyone else too!). I've talked to one of the marinas in San Francisco since I put out my last message. The woman there said pretty much the same thing about earthquakes. She also mentioned Tsunamis, but when I asked her how often, if ever, they hit SF, she said never.
However, you are the second or third person to mention them, so I'm starting wonder. Do Tsunamis hit SF? If so, is it rare? I know it depends on earthquakes and/or volcanoes out in the Pacific.You said you had been through one while in port. Is it safer to take the boat out in, say, the middle of the South end of the bay, where you could ride it out, or is the turbulance still too great, even though the wave has already been slowed by the outer shoreline?</div>

 

[aurora2]

Like I said before, you don't have to worry. You have a better chance being hit by a run-away Coast Guard Cutter.

 

[bschnur]

Tim, the "other" Jim is right -- you'll be run over at least once by a runaway CG cutter long before you need to be worrried about Tsumani's. Tsunami's do happen in the Pacific Ocean basin with a certain amount of regularity (there is an international early-warning center located in Hawaii), but not to worry. The Pacific Ocean covers about 1/3 of the world's surface, and there are active underwater fault lines all over the basin, so it's no surprise that Tsunami's happen. But you will likely never see one -- they are extrordinarily rare for any specific location, except Chile. If you should get lucky and be in the path of one, the proper defense would be to move into deep water. When in 300 or more feet of water, you won't even know that one has gone by.
Not to worry -- your boat is as safe here as in any place I know of. Having said that, consider that life would be very boring indeed without the presence of even a remote threat to sharpen an edge upon.
Jim