Hurricanes and marine weather from First Boat

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FirstBoat's Hurricane Guide

Content courtesy BoatUS Marine Insurance

Boat owners from Maine to Texas have reason to become edgy in the late summer and fall: Each year, on average, two hurricanes will come ashore somewhere along the Gulf or Atlantic coasts, destroying homes, sinking boats, and turning people’s lives topsy turvy for weeks, or even months. This year, who knows? Florida is struck most often, but every coastal state is a potential target. With the peak hurricane season upon us, Boat Owners Association of The United States offers these tips to help boaters ride out the storm:

Dry-dock your boat if possible: Boats stored ashore are far more likely to survive than boats in the water. After the boats in its outer harbor were devastated in 1983 by Hurricane Alicia, the Houston Yacht Club responded by devising a comprehensive hurricane plan that includes the evacuation of all vessels.

Have a plan: Many marinas recognize that the key to weathering the storm is preparation -- both by individual boat owners and marina personnel. Now is the time to review your marina's contract or boat club's rules for hurricane preparation and cement a plan with them.

Ensure your marina and boat are ready: There is a huge difference in how marinas prepare for a major storm. How well your marina is currently organized can tell you a lot about how well your boat will fare in the slip during a storm.

Location: Poorly sited marinas -- those in unprotected areas -- also face higher risks. Marinas with floating docks and tall pilings also provide a safer solution than fixed docksas extra scope is not needed and docks will not float away over the pilings.

Batten down and check all the lines: If you plan on leaving your boat in the water, be sure you'll have everything you'll need to secure it well in advance. If your plan is to leave it at a slip, take inventory of your dock lines, chafe protection and other items. By using a polyester line from the cleat through the chock and then joining it with a nylon line (use two eyes) to the piling or mooring, you can get the best of both types of line-the chafe resistance of polyester and the stretch of nylon.

Never stay aboard: One of the most dangerous mistakes a skipper can make is to stay aboard his or her boat during a hurricane. Several accounts given in claim files indicate that there is little, if anything, a skipper can do to save a boat when winds are blowing 100 mph, tides are surging, and visibility is only a few feet.

Check your boat insurance: An up-to-date insurance policy can mean success or failure in quickly returning the vessel to its pre-storm condition. Does your policy include all of your recently installed electronics or other upgrades? BoatU.S. also offers Hurricane Haul Out coverage that will pay half of all costs associated with pre-storm haul out -- up to $500.

If you have wheels: Trailerable boats should be relocated and boats on storage racks, davits and lifts should be put on trailers and taken inland.

Content courtesy BoatUS Marine Insurance

Related Weather Resources

Get a free boat insurance quote from BoatUS

Get more information about hurricanes from the BoatUS Hurricane Center.

Check your local forecast, and get more weather information at FirstBoat's Weather page.

NOAA's National Hurricane Center Get hurricane updates and more information