How to Prepare Your Boat for a Hurricane

The Hurricane Season in Miami runs from June 1st through November 30th. Make sure your boat is prepared to weather a storm.

The Hurricane Season is from June 1st through November 30th. Last year was one of the most destructive seasons on record with six major hurricanes, including Hurricane Irma that caused destruction throughout the entire state of Florida. Keeping this in mind, we strongly recommend having a hurricane plan in place for your boat to help prevent damages that can be caused by these storms.

For the 2018 Hurricane Season, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is predicting an average year, with up to 16 named storms, and four major hurricanes. No matter how many storms we see this season; it only takes one to cause significant destruction to your vessel. With the 2018 Hurricane Season officially here, there’s no better time than now to prepare your boat to withstand a major storm.

CREATE A HURRICANE PLAN

The first step to prepare your boat for the hurricane season is to have a plan and know where you will keep it during a significant storm. The safest place to keep your boat during a hurricane is at a dry storage facility like North Beach Marina. Our in-door facility securely holds many vessels all keeping them dry and away from the hurricane force winds. You can also store your boat and trailer on dry land at your home or a boat storage facility like Happy Trailer Storage. We recommend selecting a location with minimal exposure to the wind. You can also reinforce your boat with straps for additional safety measures.

REVIEW YOUR BOAT INSURANCE

It is wise to make sure that you have all of your boat documents up to date and in an easily accessible location. Also, make sure to call your insurance company to make sure the policy is current. To help facilitate a timely insurance claim, take photos and video of your boat before and after to show proof of damages.

SECURE LOSE ITEMS

You will want to remove everything lose on the boat and remove equipment that could be damaged by a storm. These items include antennas, radios, life jackets, fishing equipment and canvas tops. If you cannot remove the electronic equipment from your boat, you can use shrink-wrap tape to protect it.

FIND A SAFE HARBOR

If you have no choice but to leave your boat in the water during a hurricane, try to find a safe harbor to anchor it. Once you locate a safe place, preferably on a canal with tall pilings that can allow your boat to rise and fall with the storm surge. You should use long ropes with fray protection and can use pilings from other dock slips to create more distance. When your boat is secure in the water, it should look like a spider in the middle of a web. You can also use buoys to protect the vessel from impact against floating debris, the dock, and seawall.

DON’T WAIT

Most importantly, don’t wait until three days before a storm strikes to prepare your boat. Should you need assistance preparing your boat for hurricane season call us at 786-728-9988.