Steady Traffic As Boats Come Out

It seemed almost too easy. With one swift motion Paul Marks tows his boat onto his trailer. It's seen its last ride for 2012.

"I don't think there's going to be much tidal surge, but you never know," said the Essex man was one of many who pulled their boats up ramps in eastern Baltimore County as Hurricane Sandy draws near.

At Cox's Point Park, Marks made it a family affair, with son Nick, wife Betty and dog Gunny.

Fall thus far has brought many days of decent weather, so many boaters still had boats in the water. But in the past few days, marinas have been calling up their boaters making sure they all had plans.

It would have been a great day to be on the water. Instead, in a steady procession, most everyone is coming out.

Check out tips from the president of the Marine Trades Association of Baltimore County.

At The River Watch—both a waterfront restaurant and marina—co-owner Mark Sullivan said the business had been calling all of its slip owners. Many are moving boats to higher ground or elevated storage.

"They're putting them high up, as high up as they can and putting ropes on them so they don't float off," Sullivan said. "We just hope that it doesn't flood cause most of us don't have flood insurance so it would be a costly thing if we were to flood out."

The restaurant did not flood during Hurricane Isabel in 2003, though Sullivan said water was lapping at the deck. As long as the storm surge doesn't get up to eight or nine feet—and it's not expected to—the restaurant should be fine, Sullivan said.

At Wilson Point Park, the trailer lot was about two-thirds full late Saturday morning.

"It was getting close to the end (of the season) anyway," said Steve Nadolny of Wilson Point, who was helping friend Mike Weber get his boat out there.

"I don't think [the storm] is going to be so bad. I think it's going to blow the water out," he said. "The further north it goes, the better off we are."

Where the storm makes landfall depends on what forecast model you're using. The current National Weather Service projection isn't good news—the storm could trudge directly through Maryland.

"I wanted to leave [the boat] in the water," Weber said. "But I don't want it to get lost, so we'll take it home, put the pressure washer on it and get her ready for next year."

Follow along with the rest of our coverage of Hurricane Sandy.