Storm-speak often talks in terms of "wind events" or "rain events" and so far Fickle Fay has been a protracted, wet mess. She's hammered Florida for days. Cocoa Beach has reported 33 inches of rain.

Duane Brown works in the parts department at Lamb's Yacht Center in Jacksonville and said at times this week he's not been able to see the school across the street through the driving rain. He's heard estimates of rainfall ranging from 8 to 18 inches; power at the marina and dockyard was out for 24 hours and came back on Friday morning.

The Weather Channel Friday afternoon reported rainfall as heavy as 3 inches an hour in parts of Jacksonville.

"The biggest thing we are having are issues in the amount of rainfall and tidal surge," Brown says. The surge is a good two feet above normal and is bouncing around the 350 boats docked at the marina but so far there's been little damage. A few downed trees in the neighborhood but nothing major, he says.

Harbortown Marina in Fort Pierce was faring well, too, though some boats in the marina's six docks had minor damage from the storm surge, says dock master John Moren. By midday Friday, the area had received more than 11 inches of rain.

The facility has 211 boats, but no one took advantage of the marina's "hurricane haul-out" program that gives them priority when a storm is on the way, Moren says.

Fay's reach is broad, hitting Georgia, South Carolina already and likely the Florida panhandle and Alabama this weekend. The storm is headed west and watches or warnings are in place to the Mississippi/Alabama line along the Gulf Coast.

How has your boat or marina fared this year during Tropical Storm Fay or Hurricane Dolly in Texas? Send a note to pamcoyle@madmariner.com and provide phone number if you'd like to talk.