Irene Forces Boaters to Seek Safe Harbor

The employees at in Hampton Bays were too busy to talk to a reporter.

Katie, who answered the phone, said they had been working since Wednesday to get all the vessels in their Newtown Road marina out of the water and up on blocks in anticipation of Hurricane Irene, which is expected to hit Long Island on Sunday.

“We’ll keep doing it until it gets too dangerous,” she said as she was hanging up.

Docked boats in a hurricane have a way of becoming undocked and wreaking havoc not only to themselves but the property and other boats around them.

Bob Murray, real estate agent in Westhampton, started in the beginning of the week to secure his three boats: a sail boat, a power boat and a Sunfish.

“I’ve never had one of my boats end up on my lawn,” he said. “But I’ve had other people’s boats.”

The website of the National Weather Service supports this, stating what may seem like common sense. It says: “Remove your boat from the water. You will not have time if you wait for the warning to be issued. Remember that you will not be the only person at your location trying to get a boat out of the water.”

Murray knows this well. When he dropped off his powerboat at Surfside 3 marina in Westhampton, he said the staff had two legal pads going with lists of boat owners looking for safe harbor.

“What I don’t understand are the people who wait until the last minute,” said Murray. “You have to make an appointment. If you wait too long, they won’t be able to get to you on time.”

Still boat owners know there are sunny days ahead. Jean at on Foster Avenue in Hampton Bays said many owners have already made appointments for Monday to get their boats back in the water.