storm shutters for sailboat

Privacy Guaranteed - your email is never shared with anyone, opt out any time.

• Construction
• Optimisations
• Performance
• Equipment care
• Provisioning
• Keeping afloat
• Precautions

Protecting windows and portholes during heavy weather conditions

What is the issue, why address this, how to address this.

With thanks to:

Add your review or comment:.

Please log in to leave a review of this tip.

eOceanic makes no guarantee of the validity of this information, you must read our legal page . However, we ask you to help us increase accuracy. If you spot an inaccuracy or an omission on this page please contact us and we will be delighted to rectify it. Don't forget to help us by sharing your own experience .

Log in or Sign up

You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly. You should upgrade or use an alternative browser .

Storm Shutter Setup

Discussion in ' Boat Design ' started by Pat Ross , Mar 17, 2012 .

Pat Ross 1999 Hughes 30 Cat

I am looking for drawings - photos, as well as clear descriptive language on how different boats are setup for installation of Storm Shutters/Storm Boards. There are many threads that discuss their use but I have not found any that show and describe in understandable language how to set a boat up for them. Thanks in advance.  

michael pierzga Senior Member

If you are inferring storm covers for window and vents then the system Ive always used is flush threaded inserts fastened around the perimeter of the opening and thumb screws to hold a foam gasket ed aluminum plate...thin 6mm ..over the opening. Wood is hard to deal with The pictured inserts are typical..the one pictured is bedded into the deck to accept a canvas cover to protect the wheelhouse if its dodger is swept clean. The alloy plate is the engine room intake storm cover. How many fasteners is determined by the shape and intended strength of each cover.  

Attached Files:

Covers 011.jpg, covers 012.jpg.

Excellent, thank you, the flush inserts I gather are available at a chandlery; I checked West Marine for "flush threaded inserts" but no go on their search engine. I could make the panels out of fiberglass, since I have that handy. What do you think?  

• Advertisement:

They are custom made. Perhaps you can purchase ? I dont know. Typical construction detail is a circular ss plate. The plate is countersunk for fastenings, a hole is drilled thru the center, a 6 or 8 mm bolt is passed thru and fastened to an acorn nut on the backside. The acorn nut is then welded on. The round plate is made by taking a piece of heavy ss bar stock and cutting off " salami " slices . If you bore the holes before slicing the salami your will save great time. A good machine shop can produce fast. Polishing is the expensive part of ss fabrication. You can do this in your shop Do some googling or ask around Boatdesign net to find already made hardware. fabrication depends on the construction detail of your boat.  

engines of cruise ship off Norway shutdown by storm?

Brainstorming help needed: Inflatable + polystyrene + polyurethane

Water particle velocity in storm sea states

brainstorming for a 'micro' 2TEU container/2x vehicle RORO cargo haul

Storm Chaser NZ Made

need for storm covers on window for ocean cruising

Ruminations on Bolger's Storm Petrel

Book w/ Lines: Cal 40, Stormy Weather, Owens Cutter, Valient 40 & more

How strong is construction of this catamaran in storm?

• No, create an account now.
• Yes, my password is:
• Forgot your password?

• Forum Listing
• Marketplace
• Advanced Search
• About The Boat
• Boat Builders Row
• SailNet is a forum community dedicated to Sailing enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about sailing, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, repairs, reviews, maintenance, and more!

Bullet proof storm windows

• Add to quote

Cal cruising 46 pilothouse windows are large. My concern is in a big storm they my burst. Any suggestion on storm windows made of say 3/4inch polycarbonate or just replacing them with heavier thicker windows? I am in marina del rey CA and would appreciate referals to people who spe ialize in these windows.  

Frankly, you'd do better with 1/2" plywood with a few view-slits routed in. However, if you are determined to use plastic, contact "Mark Plastics" in San Diego which is the acknowledged expert on port-lights and windows for classic Cals. FWIW...  

If you going cruising and really worried about the large windows, then cover them all from the outside with a removable polycarbonate panel for bad weather...like shutters on windows.  

Thx hvHyte and jiffy lube the plywood may work but I would want to make visual contact easily I will contact the san Diego expert. Thx again Edwin  

That's why I mentioned polycarbonate (clear) panels.  

What's the thickest polycarbonate in your opinion would be allowable or practical for a cal cruising 46. This added weight no doubt changes the righting arm and center of gravity of the boat Edwin  

I can't answer that question about the center of gravity. I think a supported one piece panel spaning across all the windows on each side (on the outside), should be stronger than the individual windows themselves. You're concern is that a wave hitting from the side will blow a window inward, since these windows are not really supported that good against sideways forces. One large panel across all the windows will be much stronger, and almost any panel thickness will be better than no panel...but I would say at least as thick as the window is now.  

Port material Having sailed far offshore on a pilothouse with large port/windows in the pilothouse here is my take- Lexan- expensive, strong, scratches easily, especially hard to see out of at night. Plexiglass- relatively inexpensive- really not suited for larger expanses since it will flex and blow out when hit by a big wave. Tempered safety glass, stiff, optically good, heavy, will break with hard impact. The boat i sailed extensively on had forward window in Lexan(because of hatch in window) and the side windows were 3/4"" tempered glass which withstood several days of waves crashing over the pilothouse. Good luck with your choices.  

Sanduskysailor said: Having sailed far offshore on a pilothouse with large port/windows in the pilothouse here is my take- Lexan- expensive, strong, scratches easily, especially hard to see out of at night. Plexiglass- relatively inexpensive- really not suited for larger expanses since it will flex and blow out when hit by a big wave. Tempered safety glass, stiff, optically good, heavy, will break with hard impact. The boat i sailed extensively on had forward window in Lexan(because of hatch in window) and the side windows were 3/4"" tempered glass which withstood several days of waves crashing over the pilothouse. Good luck with your choices. Click to expand...

I've used clear plastic (Lexan, polycarbonate, don't remember which), plywood, and aluminum storm shutters on a variety of boats well offshore and crossing the pond. We mounted the storm shutters to external studs placed around the frames. The aluminum panels were bulletproof and expensive. The plexi/poly panels were cheaper but not much. The plywood (1/2" sealed and painted) were very good and cheapest. The biggest problems with the aluminum and plywood were they made the cabin look like a cave and didn't give you a good look outside. I far preferred the external clear panels. The mounting system allowed for some movement of the outer layer of protection, took most of the force, brought light to the cabin, and protected the inner ports from damage. We installed the shutters before leaving the dock and didn't remove them until we got to safe harbor. My plans call for using the external stud system for my boat and I'll go with the polycarbonate as it seems the best value. I'm rebedding every port light and hatch so adding some backing and studs isn't that much more work but if I were further along or the ports didn't need that kind of attention, I might have to rethink my strategy. I'm thinking that with a proper thickness, a flexible gasket that matches the port frame, and some careful tweaking I can bring light to the cabin, add some protection to a potentially weak part of the boat, and do it economically. Even if I had to replace the port light panels, I'd still go with the external, separate, storm shutter.  

I agree with JiffyLube. I would be more worried that the frame would give out first, not the pane itself. Years and years ago I heard that many "professional" fisherman had screen frames (tight of course) put over windows will save them. Apparently even solid water when hitting gets "aired" and pressures on the windows are even and lessened. Something to do with the introduced/trapped air's compressibility. Never seen any tests though. Anybody ever hear about this?  

I read an account long long ago where an old salt was asked how he had never had his windows stove in while similar boats in the same seas had theirs smashed in. His solution that he had been using for many years was simply outside screen frames screwed in for storms. It was a thick screen in robust frames. The "scientific" explanation by others that investigated and tested it (yea, someone did that for this article) explained that it is the air trapped and mixed with the water that hit the windows allowed a compression/absorption of the energy. Any hoo, that is what they said back then. I have no idea where I read/saw it.  

therapy23 said: I read an account long long ago where an old salt was asked how he had never had his windows stove in while similar boats in the same seas had theirs smashed in. His solution that he had been using for many years was simply outside screen frames screwed in for storms. It was a thick screen in robust frames. The "scientific" explanation by others that investigated and tested it (yea, someone did that for this article) explained that it is the air trapped and mixed with the water that hit the windows allowed a compression/absorption of the energy. Any hoo, that is what they said back then. I have no idea where I read/saw it. Click to expand...

I replaced the old windows in my Triton because there was some spidering in one or two corners but the rest were perfect. I took the old windows and put them on the inside and put the new ones on the outside making them double paned. Been that way for over a year and get very little condensation, visibility remains good.  

Thank you all ( OCEANSCAP, diesel boy Sandusky sailor, jiffy lube) for your reply I will consider all of your recommendations Edwin cal Cruising 46 Marina del Rey CA  

• ?            
• 176.5K members

Top Contributors this Month

Storm Boards

Well founded yachts like a Seastream are almost entirely bomb proof from big seas and storms if handled correctly. However, raised pilots houses and coach roofs are a liability on any boat. A large smashed window, from either a wave during a knockdown or a flying object inside the cabin, can mean the total loss of a boat. There are a number of documented cases but here is one in-particular where I met the skipper and heard it from the horses mouth: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/jun/11/mervyn-wheatley-73-queen-mary-2-liner-rescue-north-atlantic-storm

The first priority is to secure everything inside the cabin. Anything that could fly about in a knockdown and smash a window should be stowed and the floorboards fixed. Second to that is making windows that can’t smash! This is the project I undertook on Shadowfax to solve the issue.

1. Firstly I took a photo of the boat from the side and used that photo to draw a template of the window shape in Photoshop.

2. I sent these shape files to the polycarbonate manufacture www.par-group.co.uk.  The cost was approx £40 per window for an 8mm thick pre cut piece of polycarbonate. The make pullet proof glass from this stuff so no wave is going to smash them.

3. My window frames did not have screws on the outside so I had to find some way of fixing them. Some Seastreams have windows with external bolts or screws which will make the job so much easier. I used aluminium closed ended Riv Nuts (threaded inserts) shown in the photos below which I drilled and riveted into the frames. It is important to bolts and inserts that are the same material as the window frame.

4. I then drilled holes in the boards where I’d installed the new Riv Nuts. There holes were larger than the M4 bolts I would use to allow the windows to flex in place taking some of the impact of a wave. M4 may not sound like a lot but the bolts are just to hold the windows in place really.

5. I then put 3mm compressed neoprene on the inside each storm board which would then sit on the top of the window frame. This made it easy to tighten down whilst it compressed, but also act like double glazing for the window, eliminating condensation!

The result killed three birds with one stone. Firstly and foremost they act as storm boards for off shore passages. Secondly they act as security windows as they cannot be kicked in. Lastly, they very effectively eliminate condensation from both the frame and window in cold weather and I do not doubt help retain the heat!

Watch: Man, dog rescued from struggling sailboat as waves crash during Hurricane Helene

A dramatic video captured by a body-worn camera shows a coast guard aviation survival technician in action during the daring rescue..

Coast Guard rescues man, dog from sinking sailboat off Florida coast during Hurricane Helene

The U.S. Coast Guard Air Station in Clearwater rescued a man and his dog from a disabled sailboat on Thursday during Hurricane Helene. The 36-foot sailboat was taking on water approximately 25 miles off Sanibel Island, Florida.

SANIBEL ISLAND, Fla. – The U.S. Coast Guard swiftly responded to a distress call, rescuing a man and his dog from their sailboat as Hurricane Helene raged off the Florida coast. 

The 36-foot vessel, battered by the storm, had become disabled and was taking on water approximately 25 miles west of Sanibel Island , authorities said.

A dramatic video captured by a body-worn camera shows a Coast Guard aviation survival technician in action during the daring rescue. 

WATCH: FOX WEATHER METEOROLOGIST RESCUES WOMAN FROM RISING FLOODWATERS IN ATLANTA

(USCG Southeast)

The man and his dog were reportedly in good health and were transported to Southwest Florida International Airport to receive medical attention. The disabled sailboat was left adrift.

Helene rapidly intensified into a Category 4 hurricane on Thursday before making landfall approximately 10 miles west-southwest of Perry , Florida, at 11:10 p.m. ET. 

VIDEOS: HURRICANE HELENE PRODUCES RECORD STORM SURGE ALONG FLORIDA’S GULF COAST

Boats piled against Florida homes after Helene

Video from Treasure Island, Florida, shows boats tossed around like toys by the fury of Helene, leaving them piled against homes.

The powerful storm's impact, as it moved inland and weakened, was felt across the Southeast and into parts of the mid-Atlantic .

ATLANTA SEES FIRST-EVER FLASH FLOOD EMERGENCY AS HELENE'S FURY FORCES MULTIPLE WATER RESCUES

Helene's torrential rains have caused widespread flooding and prompted numerous Flash Flood Emergencies . At least five deaths have been reported in connection with the storm, and numerous areas have been evacuated due to rising waters.

• Severe Weather
• Weather News
• Weather for Heroes

Man and his dog rescued from disabled boat 25 miles out to sea as Hurricane Helene fast approached

The 36-foot sailboat started taking on water and left them both stranded.

The United States Coast Guard has rescued a man and his dog as Hurricane Helene fast approached them when his boat became disabled and started taking on water 25 miles out to sea, officials said.

The sailor and his dog were on a 36-foot sailboat on Thursday when the boat started taking on water, leaving the man and his canine stranded in the ocean approximately 25 miles off of Sanibel Island with no help or support nearby, according to a statement from U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater released early Friday morning.

MORE: A Vietnam War pilot vanished over 50 years ago. His remains have just been found and identified

“Coast Guard crews responded to the boater’s distress call and rushed to the man’s location, approximately 25 miles offshore from Sanibel Island near Fort Myers,” authorities said. “A successful rescue attempt was made and the unidentified sailor and his dog were saved and brought back to land.”

Officials have not disclosed why the man was out to sea while small craft advisories and hurricane warnings had already been issued in the area as Hurricane Helene was expected to make landfall.

MORE: 1 dead after hijacked bus speeds through LA with driver held at gunpoint

More: 3rd house collapses in 4 days on north carolina coast.

Hurricane Helene has officially made landfall in the Big Bend region of Florida as a major Category 4 storm with 140 mph winds late Thursday night, with the storm touching down near Perry, Florida, just east of the mouth of the Aucilla River.

Hurricane Helene marks the first Category 4 hurricane to make landfall in Florida's Big Bend Region since at least 1859.

MORE: 21-year-old climber dies after sustaining 'major injuries' in fall off Devil's Tower

MORE: Man who allegedly poured scalding hot liquid on baby boy sparks international manhunt for his arrest

Just after Hurricane Helene made landfall over Florida, the number of customers without power crossed the 1 million mark and outages have extended into neighboring Southern states with over 46,000 customers without power in Georgia and over 12,400 customers without power in North Carolina, according to powerouttages.us.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp confirmed that two people were killed during Hurricane Helene's passage into Georgia overnight, bringing the storm's total death toll to three.

MORE: Teacher arrested for allegedly putting 5-year-old boy in headlock

Kemp said he and his family were "saddened to learn of the loss of two lives in Wheeler County this evening. As we join their families in mourning their deaths, we urge all Georgians to brace for further impact from Helene, remain vigilant and pray for all those affected."

Earlier, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said in a press conference late Thursday that one person was killed on the I-4 highway near Tampa when a sign fell on a car.

Related Topics

• Hurricane Helene

Popular Reads

Harris mailer allegedly causes mail carrier attack

• Sep 27, 5:51 PM

Falling tree fatally injures boy on a field trip

• Sep 27, 10:03 AM

Mark Robinson hospitalized after burn incident

• Sep 28, 11:20 AM

2 boys jailed for killing a man with machete

• Sep 27, 9:53 AM

Smith seeks release of key filing in Jan. 6 case

• Sep 27, 2:35 PM

ABC News Live

24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events

★ Call To Place an Order or Receive a Quote: 508-896-8900 ★

Featured in Cape Cod Home 2023 Summer Living Edition

Cape Cod Home 2023 Summer includes an expansive feature story about our new product line, Custom Mahogany Screen and Storm Porch Panels. The piece highlights the fine quality and customization of our panels and captures the essence of porch time.

Click Here to Read the Article

Where Products Are Made the Way They Used To Be

Combining the finest materials and age-old carpentry techniques, our products are made to stand the test of time, endure the passing seasons and years, and evoke the nostalgia of days gone by. Whether you’re battening down the hatches for the impending storm or enjoying the classic “thwack” of the old screen door slamming shut, our products are sure to transport you back to a simpler time when quality materials and craftsmanship were combined to yield a great product.

We are located on the Old Kings Highway in Brewster, Massachusetts. A quintessential village of the Cape, home to the early Sea Captain’s, we acquired and renovated the Brewster Garage, one of the original gas stations on Cape Cod, and made it our home. This restoration of a historic building was a labor of love and we were awarded the Cape Cod Realtors Association Award for Best Renovated Building in 1997. Since then, we have expanded our business to the quaint fishing village of Chatham, Massachusetts where many of our products are manufactured and finished.

We manufacture custom high-quality Interior and Exterior Shutters, Mahogany Screen and Storm Doors as well as a line of Adirondack furniture featuring our Classic Adirondack Chair.

Please come visit us if you find your way to Cape Cod, and if not, please enjoy our gallery of images which follow that will begin your journey back to those special days gone by.

Wooden Screen & Storm Doors

Exterior Shutters

Interior Shutters

The Sign Shop

Adirondack Chairs

For Free In-Home Estimate

Contractor License 17-SS-CT-00067 Family-Owned Company

• Hurricane Screens
• Garage Door and Lanai Screens
• Comparison Chart
• Roll Down Security Shutter
• Accordion Security Shutter
• Cocoa Beach
• Merritt Island
• Satellite Beach
• Indian Harbor Beach
• Indialantic
• Cape Canaveral
• Port St John
• South Patrick Shores
• Port Orange
• New Smyrna Beach
• Daytona Beach
• Maintenance
• Meet Our Staff
• Testimonials
• Your Buying Experience

Shutter Types

site categories

‘the wild robot’ set to walk through weekend with $20m+ opening; ‘megalopolis’ finally happens – box office preview, around 40 florida movie theaters shutter as hurricane helene nears landfall.

By Anthony D'Alessandro

Anthony D'Alessandro

Editorial Director/Box Office Editor

More Stories By Anthony

• ‘Wild Robot’ Powers To Third Best September Animated Pic Debut With $35M; ‘Megalopolis’ Collapses With $4M & D+ CinemaScore; ‘Saturday Night’ Alive In Limited Release – Box Office Update
• Björk Launching ‘Cornucopia’: New Concert Film Addresses Climate Issues
• ‘The Last Showgirl’: Roadside Attractions Picks Up North American To Gia Coppola Directed Pamela Anderson TIFF Movie; Eyes Awards Season Release

Close to 40 AMC, Cinemark and Regal multiplexes are closed throughout Florida as the state braces for Hurricane Helene to hit landfall as a Category 4 with a force of 130 mph.

Theaters from as far south as Fort Myers, Florida to as far north as Tallahassee, are shuttered. Their tentative re-opening date is tomorrow, Friday Sept. 27. The major movies opening this weekend are DreamWorks Animation’s The Wild Robot and Lionsgate’s Megalopolis.

Related Stories

Hurricane Helene Strengthens To “Extremely Dangerous” Cat. 4; “Catastrophic” Storm Surge Predicted; Orlando Parks Close Some Attractions Amid Tornado Watch – Update

Malibu Shaken By 4.7 Earthquake & Aftershocks; SoCal Breaks Record For Most Mag-4 & Above Quakes In Single Year

Watch on deadline.

Box office sources always say that Florida theater closures won’t necessarily impact the overall domestic marketplace. However, if cinemas are forced to close this weekend in Atlanta, GA, which is a top ten market, we could see a shortfall of ticket sales. While events are getting canceled in the Atlanta area, we’re still waiting to hear about cinemas closures there. Already, we hear that some schools in the Atlanta, GA area are being forced to close in anticipation of Hurricane Helene. If the storm wounds up being less severe than that could be good for business.

In recent memory, the last time a major storm slowed the domestic box office was winter storm Jonas over the weekend of Jan. 22-24, 2016 which deep-freezed from Charlotte, NC upward to New York City. The weekend box office then was down 32% from its previous frame.

Must Read Stories

Netflix suffers ‘baby reindeer’ defamation suit defeat as case moves forward.

Teamsters Reach & AMPTP Tentative Deal On New Casting Agreement

‘the wild robot’ booting up $35m opening as ‘megalopolis’ melts down, wb discovery hits back at sky uk’s lawsuit over ‘harry potter’ tv series & more, read more about:, subscribe to deadline.

Get our Breaking News Alerts and Keep your inbox happy.

Deadline is a part of Penske Media Corporation. © 2024 Deadline Hollywood, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Hurricane Helene leaves wake of destruction in Manatee County

Hurricane helene leaves wake of destruction in manatee, sarasota counties.

FOX 13's Kim Kuizon reports.

HOLMES BEACH, Fla. - Manatee County residents and visitors are being kept off Anna Maria Island, Flamingo Cay, and Long Boat Key while officials assess the damage left behind by Hurricane Helene . 

The hurricane, which rapidly intensified into a Category 4 storm before making landfall in the Big Bend area , flooded streets, piled sand on roads, and knocked out power in Manatee County. 

Anna Maria Island

Even though evacuations have been lifted, Anna Maria Island is still closed. 

Courtesy: Manatee County

No one will be allowed onto the island until the first teams in can clear the roads and determine that it is safe to return. Once it is cleared, only residents with reentry tags will be allowed onto the island.  

Holmes Beach

As of 6 a.m. on Friday, the island did not have power or water and many roads were flooded. 

Credit: Holmes Beach Police Department

No one will be allowed onto the island until the first teams can clear the roads, and we determine that it is safe to return. Once it is cleared, only residents with re-entry tags will be allowed onto the island.

READ: Hundreds of Bay Area residents rescued from record storm surge from Hurricane Helene

According to the Holmes Beach Police Department, the beach came over Gulf Drive in many places. 

Credit: Manatee County Sheriff's Office

Cortez Village and Trailer Estates were hammered by Helene. Photos posted by the Manatee County Sheriff’s show destroyed buildings, debris, downed trees, and even a mermaid statue in the middle of a flooded street. 

STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA:

• Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV
• Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines
• Download the SkyTower Radar app
• Sign up for FOX 13’s daily newsletter

Dramatic video shows US Coast Guard rescue a man and his dog after their boat started sinking during Hurricane Helene

• New footage shows the US Coast Guard rescuing a man and his dog in the Gulf of Mexico.
• The man's vessel became disabled and started taking on water during Hurricane Helene.
• The dramatic video from Thrusday shows the pair hoisted into a military helicopter.

A dramatic new video shows the US Coast Guard rescuing a man and his dog in the Gulf of Mexico on Thursday after their boat started sinking during Hurricane Helene.

The Coast Guard's Seventh District, which covers the southeastern US, said on social media that it saved a man and his canine companion after their 36-foot-long sailboat became disabled and started taking on water around 25 miles off Florida's Sanibel Island.

The Coast Guard shared a photo of the pair that was taken from the water with a Sikorsky MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter hovering in the background. The service then published a video showing the rescue mission unfolding.

#Breaking @USCG Air Station #Clearwater saved a man & his dog, Thurs., during Hurricane #Helene after his 36-ft sailboat became disabled & started taking on water approximately 25 miles off Sanibel Island. Call the #USCG for help on VHF Ch. 16 or dial 911 for storm distress. #SAR pic.twitter.com/DtdyouxfMN — USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) September 27, 2024

The first-person-view footage captured by a Coast Guard aviation survival technician — commonly known as a rescue swimmer — shows the civilian vessel bobbing around in rough seas.

The man can be seen on board tossing his dog, wearing a life jacket, into the water before they're both hoisted into the helicopter.

#Final The man & his dog were reportedly in good medical condition. They were brought to Southwest Florida International airport to meet with EMS. The vessel is adrift and disabled. 🎥🎬 Recorded by a camera worn by AST2 Hudson, edited by Lt. Cmdr. Kellerman, AirSta Clearwater pic.twitter.com/3ehoIVqlLj — USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) September 27, 2024

It is unclear how long the man and his dog were at sea. A Seventh District spokesperson told Business Insider that the Coast Guard received a mayday call from the vessel at around 11 a.m. local time, and the hoist was completed shortly before 2 p.m.

Related stories

Both the man and the dog "were reportedly in good medical condition" and were brought to Southwest Florida International Airport to meet with medical services, the Coast Guard wrote in a follow-up post on X on Friday.

"The vessel is adrift and disabled," the Coast Guard said.

It is not uncommon for the Coast Guard to carry out rescue missions during hurricanes, but each case is treated differently. The Seventh District spokesperson said that the crew evaluated the situation for this specific incident and felt comfortable enough with the decision to proceed.

The spokesperson said as of 10:15 a.m. local time on Friday, the Coast Guard has rescued or assisted seven people and three pets — including the ones on Thursday — during Hurricane Helene.

Helene, a Category 4 hurricane, made landfall in Florida on Thursday night after blitzing up through the Gulf of Mexico. As it continues to move inland, the storm has caused life-threatening flooding, heavy rain, and high winds.

Watch: Coast Guard rescue pilot rates 9 search-and-rescue scenes in movies and TV

• Main content