How To Prep For A Hurricane If Your A Boater

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Anyone who has a boat that is in a hurricane area will eventually have to deal the possibility of a major storm. You should prepare a solid plan for how you will weather the storm, and avoid any serious damage to your boat. Get organized, get your gear and create your plan. You must act quickly and be prepared to assist your neighbors in the event of a hurricane. Your success in avoiding any damage can directly impact your ability to do so. Consider these topics when you are creating your hurricane preparedness plan:

  • Hurricane Boat Preparation Strategies
  • Essential Hurricane Preparation Tactics
  • Hurricane Prep For Boats on Lifts
  • Additional Hurricane Prep Options

Hurricane Boat Preparation Strategies

The main factor in determining how a boat will fare during a hurricane is its location. Remember that even though they may provide protection for a certain area, jetties, seawalls, and sand pits may be submerged during a hurricane. Consider the following when you are trying to locate the best place for your boat:

  • What protection does your boat have from the elements? This question is equally applicable to a boat that lives in a trailer in low-lying areas or under big trees as to a slip-dweller, or to a boat that resides in a anchor in large harbors with an open fetch to sea.
  • How crowded is your boat's location? And, even more important, how do your neighbors keep their boats. Are they neat and well-mannered, or are they lazy, ignorant, or absent? People who do a great job of preparing their boats for storms often find that other boats break loose and sweep down on them. This causes hull damage and more losses.
  • What will it be like if your boat can be hauled? What heights above the water level could a storm surge reach Numerous boats that were hauled out ahead of a storm ended up on their trailers or stands and have floated to the waterway.
  • Are there plans in place for everyone at your marina, boatyard, or town harbormaster?
  • Can you transport your boat to the highest protected location on high ground if it is on a trailer?
Although there are exceptions to every rule, it is wise to tow your boat if possible. Insurance data indicates that boats are less likely than other vessels to be damaged once they are ashore. Boats that are stored on jack stands will have a greater chance of escaping any damage if they are also secured to helical anchors and concrete eyes. If you are unable to haul your boat out, your next decision is whether to move it to a safer harbor or hurricane hole. You won't be the only one who has this idea. Although hurricane holes can get very crowded quickly, there is often a spirit of cooperation and you are surrounded by people who care about your boat.

Essential Hurricane Preparation Tips

Once you have the location set, there are several things you can do to reduce the risk of damage.

  • To reduce windage and keep it from being torn to pieces, remove all canvas. Biminis, dodgers and mainsails can all be stripped. It is amazing to see how many people believe they have done all the prep work by simply folding their Bimini down or wrapping a few lines around a furled sailing sail. The wind can pick out any weakness in the canvas and exploit it to cause damage. This causes a lot of stress to the boat and the metal framework that holds it together. Also, remove all flags and ensigns.
  • Double or triple the number of attachment points for your boat if it will be enduring the storm from a mooring or anchor. Spread the loads among multiple cleats and use a bridle to attach through-bolted fittings around the masts of their partners. Through bow-eyes. Tie to any fixed object on the land side - pilings or trees, bollards and pilings - but allow for slack in case of a severe storm surge.
  • Chafing gear can be used anywhere a mooring rode or anchor rode passes through a chock, fairlead, roller or solid object. Although there is much debate about the topic, traditional leather, heavy cloth, or reinforced water hose chafing gear is better in storm conditions. Heat, which is the result of intense friction, tends to weaken or destroy a line faster than mechanical chafing.
  • The nylon line is more prone to chafe than the Dacron/polyester and has a greater breaking strength. Nylon stretches more. Polyester is best for bow and stern lines. Nylon is better for spring lines and anchor rode.
  • Allow for storm surge in bow and stern when using slips. Spring lines can be used to pull your boat off the dock. You can also work with your yard management and your neighbors on the creation of grids of lines that will keep boats from neighboring finger piers. As many lines as possible. Boat U.S. states that your boat should look like a web suspended in a large web.
  • Instead of attaching multiple lines to one cleat, spread the load.
  • Anchor locker, bow and stern lockers, cockpit lockers, hatches, ports and cockpit lockers should all be secured. Tape any openings that can take in water, such as the engine vents, companionway or slats doors, or hatches.
  • You can hang fenders wherever you can.
  • Is there any change to your hurricane coverage in case of a named thunderstorm? This is the time to review your coverage and ensure that you have met all of your responsibilities.

Hurricane Prep for Lifts

Lifts are subject to hurricane preparation challenges unique to boats. Although lifts might seem to be a safe place to store a boat during a hurricane, it is not. Boats on lifts can be blown off their cradles (if not secured) or submerged by a hurricane surge (if securely tied down). Bunk boards can also break, the lift motor and pilings can grind against each other and the boat could become adrift in the event of a lift falling. It is best to take the boat out of the lift and put it on the shore. However, there may be circumstances where this is not practical or feasible. These situations:

  • Take off any canvas and fasten anything that isn't bolted down. This is the same procedure as for boats in hurricane storage. Secure hatches, ports, and other openings that could be flooded with water.
  • Make sure to remove drain plugs.
  • Lift the lift as high and as far as you can.
  • To secure the boat, attach it to the pier using lines.
  • Inboard boats should be plugged at the exhaust ports in order to prevent water intrusion from rising to the point where they can't be flooded.

Additional Hurricane Prep Options

There are other must-dos that may not be possible in every case.

  • Take the electronics out and put them in a safe place.
  • You should remove any valuables or loose gear that could be damaged. Insurance might not cover these items: binoculars, galley gear, bedding, clothes and fishing gear.
  • For sailboats, the halyards should always be replaced by thin messengers. It is recommended that the mast be removed if possible.
  • Your batteries should be charged regularly to ensure they can keep pace with your bilge pumps.
  • If you are asked by an insurance company to take photos of your preparations, it is a good idea. It will also help you to remember what to do next time.
Remember that it is not a good idea for anyone to remain on the boat during a hurricane. There is little that a person can do if winds reach 100 mph or the boat is in danger from surging water. Six of the 21 deaths caused by Hurricane Andrew were on boats that people were trying to ride the storm out. Get your boat in the best possible condition, and then shelter on the ground to do the exact same.


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