Boaters Docked in Harbor Prepare for Hurricane Irene

Bob Love, 61, pulled a stern line on his boat and fastened it to the dock.

Love was tying a few more lines to secure his boat on Saturday morning at Harbor View Marina and Yacht Club off Key Highway ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Irene.

Asked if he had any major concerns about the storm he shrugged and answered “no.” He said he made it through Isabel while docked on the east side of the Inner Harbor eight years ago without issue.

Others shared Love’s attitude of taking precaution, but not being overly concerned about the approaching hurricane at the marina.

Chris Bliss, 59, came from his home in Federal Hill to add more lines to keep his 38 foot Sea Ray secured to its pier.   

“It looks like it’s diminishing somewhat but you never know,” Bliss said.

But Bliss said this is the first time that he’s had to deal with weather this severe as a boat owner.

“There’s only so much you can do—just pray for the best,” Bliss said.

Capt. Christos Serdenes, the marina director, walked along the slips at the marina talking with people who were preparing their boats for what could be a rough night.

Serdenes said there were about 220 boats in the marina, and about 10 boats that had recently arrived because they have floating piers that rise with the water level and are safer for boats to be tied to in a storm. He said the most anyone could really do is add a few more lines to their boats and try to take down anything that could be blown off by the wind.

“At the end of the day visit the church and light a candle,” Serdenes said.

Serdenes said he wasn’t too concerned about the storm. He said it looked like Baltimore would be hit by the western part of the Hurricane, not the more dangerous northeast portion.

“If the hurricane was farther west then we’d have some real serious issues,” Serdenes said.