Now is the time to gather supplies and determine how your boat will ride out hurricane season.
With the Atlantic hurricane season having already begun, boaters can turn to BoatUS for free hurricane preparation information (no membership required) including downloadable guides, videos, in-depth articles, and live tracking tools.
Your hurricane preparedness plan will be unique to your vessel, your risk tolerance (or that of your marina owner), your location, and the forecasted storm conditions. You may choose to move your boat to a nearby hurricane hole, haul and block it ashore, or secure it in its regular slip. If your boat lives at a marina, the operator may require that boats be moved to a hurricane hole or hauled and blocked.
If your boat is to be hauled, consider extra blocking or perhaps strapping it down. Ensure (as much as possible) that the jack stands won’t slip when the water rises and the wind howls for hours on end. If your boat is trailerable, moving it to your driveway, an open field, or a protected area may be the simplest solution. Place it away from trees. Put the bow up and remove the drain plug.
Wherever your boat rides out the storm, strip from it anything that might be ripped off by high winds or damaged by driving rain, such as electronics, bimini, sails, extra fuel tanks, dinghies, important papers, and any loose gear. Add extra lines, larger lines, chafe protection, and fenders. Also make sure that scuppers and drains aren't blocked.
Storm surge can be devastating, and surges of 10 feet are not uncommon with hurricanes. Bear in mind that high surge can lift floating docks from pilings and overcome barriers such as seawalls or spits of land that normally provide protection.
Boats with wide open cockpits or low freeboards can be particularly vulnerable to high waves. One loose boat in a marina can cause damage to other vessels and the marina docks. If you see proper steps haven’t been taken to secure nearby boats, bring it to the attention of your marina operator.
Looking for more preparation information? Visit boatus.com/hurricanes for ideas and a Hurricane Preparation Worksheet that lays out the steps for putting a plan in place and giving your boat the best chance of beating the storm.
