Get Your Hurricane Boat Started With These Tips

Hurricanes are tropical storms that can cause significant damage to boats and other property. Preparing your boat ahead of time can help minimise damage and protect your investment. This is particularly important if you live in an area prone to hurricanes, as you'll want to ensure your boat's safety before, during, and after a storm. Here are some key steps to get you started on hurricane boat preparation:

Create a hurricane plan

Creating a hurricane plan is a crucial step in protecting your boat and ensuring your safety. Here is a detailed guide to help you create an effective hurricane plan:

Understand the Risks and Stay Informed:

Start by understanding the risks associated with hurricanes, including high winds, heavy rainfall, and storm surges. Familiarize yourself with hurricane terminology, such as "watch" and "warning," to know how much time you have to prepare and respond. Stay informed about hurricane activity by monitoring weather forecasts and utilizing resources like the National Hurricane Center.

Develop a Comprehensive Plan:

Create a step-by-step plan for securing your boat before a hurricane. This includes tasks such as removing loose gear and electronics, securing or storing the boat appropriately, and preparing the necessary equipment and supplies. Know the location where you will store your boat, whether it's on land or in a designated hurricane hole.

Know Your Marina's Plan:

If your boat is docked at a marina, find out their hurricane plan and any specific requirements for boat owners. Ask about hurricane clubs or early haulout programs offered by the marina. Understand your responsibilities and any contractual obligations regarding hurricane preparation.

Prepare Your Boat:

Inspect your boat and all its parts, including lines, anchors, and mooring equipment. Make any necessary repairs or replacements, such as adding chafing gear to lines and inspecting the mooring chain. Ensure your boat is securely anchored or docked, following best practices for minimizing damage.

Inventory and Insurance:

Create a detailed inventory of all items on your boat, including personal belongings and valuables. Take photographs or videos of the boat and its contents to facilitate insurance claims in case of damage. Review your boat insurance policy to ensure you have adequate coverage, and keep all relevant documents in a safe and accessible place.

Evacuation and Safety:

Develop an evacuation plan that includes practice drills to prevent panic in case of an unexpected hurricane. Identify safe routes and locations for evacuating yourself and your boat. Always prioritize your personal safety and never stay onboard during a hurricane.

Post-Hurricane Caution:

Even after a hurricane has passed, remain cautious. Check for electrical hazards, leaking fuel, structural damage, and other potential dangers before entering the boat or the water. Follow safety protocols and work with your insurance company to assess and address any damage to your boat.

Remember, preparing your hurricane plan well in advance is crucial. Stay informed, be proactive, and take the necessary steps to protect your boat and ensure your safety during hurricane season.

Prepare your boat

Preparing your boat for a hurricane is crucial to minimise damage and potential injuries. Here are some comprehensive steps to help you get started:

Create a Hurricane Plan:

Firstly, review your dock contract and marina's hurricane plan. Some marinas require boat owners to have their own hurricane plans. Ask about the marina's hurricane club, which prioritises hauling your boat if needed. Understand your responsibilities and liabilities, and be aware of any requirements to evacuate the marina during a hurricane.

Decide on a Storage Location:

If possible, store your boat on dry land, well above the anticipated storm surge. Choose a safe location, clear of trees, overhead wires, or any objects that could fall. If storing on land is not an option, decide whether to keep the boat at a fixed or floating dock, on a mooring, or in a hurricane hole.

Prepare the Boat:

If your boat is trailerable, haul it out of the water and remove the drain plug. If it needs to stay in the water, double the dock lines and arrange them in a spider-web pattern to distribute the energy of the wind. Use nylon ropes for better shock absorption, and ensure the lines are long enough to account for storm surges. Position the boat's bow towards open water or in the direction of prevailing winds.

Reduce Windage:

Remove or secure anything that could blow off the boat, such as covers, enclosures, outriggers, antennas, and chairs. Strip the boat of its sails, Biminis, and other components that create windage.

Secure Boat Parts:

Ensure that boat parts like tillers, wheels, and booms are tightly secured to prevent movement.

Protect Against Chafing:

Add chafing gear to all dock and mooring lines, especially where the lines go through chocks. Install fenders, fender boards, or tires to protect the boat from rubbing against the pier, pilings, or other boats.

Prepare for Power Outages:

Charge the batteries to ensure the automatic running of bilge pumps. Consider adding backup batteries and shut off other electricity-consuming devices. Turn off any breakers that aren't needed, especially for equipment that could be damaged by a power surge.

Inventory and Documentation:

Create an inventory of all boating equipment and personal belongings. Take photos and videos of the boat and its contents for insurance purposes. Keep all important paperwork, such as insurance policies, identification cards, boating licenses, and registrations, in a safe place on dry land.

Final Checks:

Secure all windows, doors, and hatches. Cover instrument gauges and tape down anything that could fly open, such as cabinet doors and bench seats. Remember to never stay onboard during a hurricane, and always put your safety first.

Understand insurance and marina contracts

Understanding insurance and marina contracts is a critical aspect of owning a hurricane boat. Here are some detailed instructions to help you navigate this process:

Insurance Policies:

Firstly, ensure your insurance policy covers hurricane damage. While many boat insurance policies do cover hurricane-related losses, it is crucial to carefully review the specifics of your chosen plan. Interpret insurance policies with the help of a professional to ensure you understand the extent of your coverage. Your insurer may be financially responsible for damage caused by wind, rain, and debris, so it is important to know what your policy entails.

Insurance Claims:

In the unfortunate event of hurricane damage, your insurance company must provide fair compensation based on the boat insurance policy you've purchased. This may include coverage for damage to the boat's body, engine, critical components, and electronics. If your boat sinks or becomes partially submerged, insurance may also cover removal and necessary repairs. In the case of total damage, you may receive maximum compensation to purchase a new boat or be reimbursed for your loss.

Marina Contracts:

If you plan to store your boat in a marina, carefully review the marina contract. Some marinas require boat owners to have their own hurricane plans on file, detailing how and where the boat will be secured during a hurricane. Ask the marina manager about their hurricane plan and any specific requirements for boat owners. Understand your responsibilities and liabilities as outlined in the marina contract.

Haul-Out Services:

Some marinas offer haul-out services during hurricanes, ensuring your boat is hauled out of the water and stored safely. These services often require a non-refundable deposit in advance, so plan ahead. Alternatively, you may need to arrange for a qualified friend or a licensed professional captain to follow your hurricane plan if you are unable to do so yourself.

Inventory and Documentation:

Maintain a detailed inventory of all items on your boat, including personal belongings and valuable equipment. Consider creating a photographic or video record of your boat and its contents, storing this information in a secure location. Keep all relevant records, such as insurance policies, recent photos of the vessel, boat registration, equipment inventory, and lease agreements, in a safe and easily accessible place.

Risk Management:

Be proactive in minimising potential injuries and damage to your boat by implementing proper planning and preparation. Understand the risks associated with hurricanes and take the necessary steps to secure your vessel accordingly. Regularly review and update your hurricane plan, ensuring it is realistic and achievable.

Reduce windage

Before you put on any extra ropes, you must reduce the windage. Windage refers to anything that might blow away, up or off, and cause damage. This includes covers, enclosures, outriggers, antennas, helm chairs, and rocket launchers. Remove and safely store anything that can blow off the boat.

Some items, such as chair pedestals, can be left in place. Just cover the open flange with two plastic zipper bags and secure them to the pedestal with electrical tape.

Dodgers and biminis also create significant windage. While hard ones can't be removed, canvas should be taken off. Dinghies have considerable windage and can act as mini-sails to catch the wind. If possible, store them below deck or in a secure building on shore.

Cockpit cushions should be brought below before the first rain hits. Flags, burgees, and decorations should all come down well ahead of the storm. They will be destroyed and they do add a bit of windage.

Any removable lights need to come down. Each little thing adds windage and since they will be destroyed if left out in a hurricane, it's best to take them down.

Safety gear such as a horseshoe buoy and MOB pole should be taken in. They add windage and are likely to be torn off the boat or destroyed in high winds.

Deck brushes, boat hooks, and other deck gear should be placed in the lazarette or brought inside.

Canvas covers for jerry cans, hatches, and winches should be removed. They are likely to be destroyed.

Every boat is different, so take a walk around your deck and see what can be removed. A swim ladder? Outboard crane? Kayak? Add them all to your hurricane prep checklist.

Finally, take photos of your fully prepped boat. Should you have significant damage, photos showing an extremely well-prepared boat will go a long way in an insurance claim.

Moor your boat wisely

If you decide to moor your boat in water, do so wisely. Moor your boat in an area where the waves have the least distance to build up. Canals are a great example of this, as you can run lines on both sides of the boat, preventing it from crashing into the sides of the dock. This will also help protect the boat from a range of wind angles, as storm winds can deviate.

Use longer lines if you moor your boat to a fixed dock or piling. Lines that are too short can break or cause the piling to lift out of the water. Make sure to measure the pilings to ensure they are higher than the anticipated surge. If the pilings are shorter, your boat can lift off and float away.

Tie the boat with the bow facing the predicted wind direction. You can also use helix moorings, which screw into the seabed and hold better than deadweight and mushroom types. They almost guarantee that your boat won't move during a storm.

When anchoring your boat, select a location with as little fetch as possible to reduce the size of the waves. You can use two or even three anchors. Set two anchors in a line connected with a chain, or place them in multiple directions. As a third option, set three anchors.

Frequently asked questions