Boat Owners Brace for Isaac

Many boat owners here in Palm Harbor spent Sunday preparing for Tropical Storm Isaac, which could bring a storm surge of up to five feet in coastal areas, according to hurricane forecasters.

People from all over the area store their boats at marinas in Palm Harbor. Patch stopped at Marino's Marina on Shore Drive in Ozona, where people were pulling their boats out of the water and reinforcing those boats that will remain moored during the storm.

A lot of the boats stored at the marina are on lifts located in individual boat slips on the dock. Owners of some boats have elevated the lifts many feet above the current water line, with the hope that this will protect boats from the powerful waves brought on by storm surge.

"Some people have raised their boats as high as they can," said Jayne Marino, who has owned the marina with her husband Tony for 12 years. 

Marino has been preparing the marina for Isaac over the past few days. In addition to helping customers with their needs, she's been moving anything outside that can be tossed around by Isaac's winds.

She says the storms do not really scare her anymore. 

"We're lucky. We can prepare," she said.

is located at 297 Shore Dr. (727) 784-0413