Local Marinas Prepare For Hurricane Irene

Area marinas spent Thursday preparing for the approaching hurricane. Under a cloudy sky on a humid day workers hauled boats out of the water, answered questions from nervous boaters and tried to make everything as secure as possible.

At in Mystic employee Sue Gillot said they had received tons of phone calls from area boaters.

“Basically we’re hauling boats, trying to get everything secure,” Gillot said.

Kathleen Burns, the general manager of and Seaport Marine, said they have been hauling in boats since Wednesday.

"We have teams of people where all they do is pick up boats, haul them, block them and do it all over again," she said. "We're having fun."

The crew has taken approximately 30 boats, including six 100-foot boats, out of the water and will continue through Saturday, Burns said.

The shipyard is also backing up data and taking (boat) inventory, "so if we're forced to leave, we know what we have to look for when we come back."

Burns had this advice for boat owners who are keeping their boats in the water:

• Make sure your insurance is up to date
• Remove loose objects from the decks, secure anything and everything that can be thrown from the boat and become a projectile.
• Remove anything that would give it extra sail space and weight. Burns said stow the boat naked.
• Double the lines
• Add more fendering
• Double-check the chaffe gear and ensure that it will hold up to strong winds and wear and tear for the next 36 to 72 hours.

Over in Pawcatuck at , Dave Stele said boaters were calling wanting their boats out of the water. 

“We’re in serious hauling mode, taking customers boats out of the water,” Stele said.

Stele recommended boaters make sure lines were secured and tied down.

“We're battening down the hatches; we’ll see what happens,” Stele said.

Other area boatyards hurriedly answered phones Thursday. Mystic Shipyard West said every available person was out in the yard hauling boats out of the water. Fort Rachel Marine Service in Mystic and Don’s Dock in Stonington said they were very busy.