Preparing your boat for storms and hurricanes

[wiley]

I had started a thread once elsewhere for preparing your boat for storms and hurricanes and it received many great tips.

With a few storms out in the Atlantic I feel it would be a good idea to have some member preparation tips posted here as well. I will then move this thread to the Boating Safety Forum for reference as we need it. I might even make it a referenced blog post when I get the new software.

Please post your hurricane preparation tips you suggest for you boat here. It's ok to copy/ paste from other websites, blogs, news etc.

Advice for both docked and trailers boats is appreciated.

THANKS!

[whotookmyhandle?]

I had started a thread once elsewhere for preparing your boat for storms and hurricanes and it received many great tips.

With a few storms out in the Atlantic I feel it would be a good idea to have some member preparation tips posted here as well. I will then move this thread to the Boating Safety Forum for reference as we need it. I might even make it a referenced blog post when I get the new software.

Please post your hurricane preparation tips you suggest for you boat here. It's ok to copy/ paste from other websites, blogs, news etc.

Advice for both docked and trailers boats is appreciated.

THANKS!

Here ya go. Wrote it in June for the local paper.

Summer is here and that means hurricane season. This summer is already very warm. Hot even. Maybe it’s just me getting older but I don’t remember a summer quite this hot this early in many years. Its mid June and the surface water temperatures are climbing past eighty-five degrees. Eighty degrees is the magic number for hurricane development. Last season was, thankfully uneventful for Florida. We all know how much so many communities needed the respite. I used the time to work, build a new office and think.

It’s been two years since I last worked a named storm and not much has changed. The two seasons off from storms has allowed me time to contemplate my stance on certain aspects of safety and security. As I boat around the local communities I am disheartened at the percentage of lift kept boats secured for the summer in less than an ideal manner. The sad fact is that the way many of these boats are secured will likely compound damage and frustrate salvage efforts were they (the boat) to in the direct path of a strong storm. As the majority of local boats are lift kept; this article will focus upon the dos and don’ts of securing a boat upon a lift for hurricane season.

The intent of this article is to benefit the reader of my experience for the purpose of securing a vessel against imminent storm damage. I have handled hundreds of claims of every kind regarding storm damage to boats from sinking and flying debris to total barn collapse and marina devastation. I have seen first hand what works, what doesn’t and what makes things worse.

Glossary of Terms:

Storm: Any named or predicted tropical depression or windstorm.

Trailer kept: A vessel stored ashore upon a trailer.

Lift Kept: Any vessel stored on a cradle type hoist. Excluding water or buoyancy lifts and davits.

Jet Dock: Not something you want your boat on during a hurricane.

Marina stored: A vessel secured to a fixed or floating dock system comprised of many such docks in a line or branch.

Hauled: A vessel that is removed from the water and stored ashore on stands or blocks.

Barn Stored. Any vessel stored ashore in a dry-stack facility.

Wet Slipped: Any vessel tied to the dock and afloat at a singular dock commonly adjoining the owner’s residence.

Wet Slipped: Lets start here. The most common issue I see here is too much scope. By far the overwhelming class of damage seen post-storm to wet slipped boats is dock rash and chaffing from pilings, docks and sea walls. This is followed by wind driven debris damage. (roof tiles) In all the claims and all the boats in all the storms I have never even one time seen a boat severely damaged from too little scope of the mooring lines. Think about it; if we get 10’ of surge the house dock, lot and neighborhood will be gone. Think you boat will still be there because you left the lines slack?

Recommend: Tighten those mooring lines a little. Maybe more that a little. I have seen zero damage from insufficient scope on spring lines and plenty from boats bashing against sea walls and pilings. Rope gets wet and stretches, especially nylon. So make sure she is secured off the dock for high tide plus just a little extra (not ten feet extra). Why allow scope for ten feet of surge when that much surge will take out the whole island anyway? Add just a little and keep her off the pilings. Any spare ground tackle you have should be deployed to the direction of open water and bridled tight upon two cleats. This will act to pull the boat away from structure as the tide rises. For most local docks that would mean setting an anchor abreast and possibly fore or aft. Set them long and deep with a small boat and mark the rode with a buoy or jug. Neighbors helping neighbors makes this task much easier.

Marina Stored and Barn Kept: Barns and marina wet slips: When faced with leaving the boat in her normal disposition you must first and foremost adhere to the facilities guidelines. Ask the dock master or manager for a copy of the facility protocol and ask for his or her input regarding your boats particular situation. But please remove your canvass.

Hauled: If you are lucky enough to have your yacht hauled for a storm install, or commission the yard to install some anchors. This doesn’t need to be fancy or expensive. For concrete pads simple lead anchors and ring bolts work well. An expansion bolt with 3 links of chain works even better. For soft ground use some augers commonly available at home improvement stores. Install one at each corner at a steep angle and tie off using a truckers knot or ratchet straps. Put as many blocks and stands under the boat as you can find and remove the garboard drain plug if equipped. Please do not tie off to neighboring boats. That actually happened to me a few years ago. My own 32’ boat was on the hard and I had spent a long hot day setting augers, lines and blocks only to come by the next day to find the two neighboring boat owners sole means of preparation was to tie their boats to mine. A sharp pocketknife made short work of their efforts.

Trailer Kept: If your boat is trailer kept out of doors you can follow the same guidelines as outlined above in #1 but using three anchors, two aft and one forward. The tow vehicle if left hitched counts as one. Tie the boat to the trailer short and tight, and then tie the trailer to the ground. Again tie it steep and tight, remove the bilge plug and turn off the battery switch.

Recommend: Here is how I secure the Baitkiller; I first put Mommas car in the garage, close the door and ease her bumper right up against the closed door. I then pull my truck with the boat behind it up to the garage door effectively pinning the garage door firmly between two vehicles. I then set two Red Head 5/8” expansion bolts in the driveway with three links of chain on each. The chain simply gives me something to tie off on. These are positioned at a steep angle under the stern eyes of the boat. About 45 degrees. Two ratchet straps from boat to bolt and the old girl is snug as can be and I have wind proofed that weak aluminum garage door at the same time.

Lift Kept: Take a ride down a canal and see how many boats are tied off wrong. Most of them unfortunately are. A common practice is lift the boat way up in the air and string lines all over the dock to every cleat and piling available. Guess what happens to that boat in a category IV hurricane? The boat will come about half way off the lift, fill with water, break the lift and partially sink in a tangled mess.

Recommend: Tie the boat to the lift with short straight lines and then tie the lift to the dock. Ill say it again. Tie the boat to the lift with short tight lines. Then tie the lift to the dock to limit sway. Surge is the least of your concerns. Don’t lift the boat 10’ over the dock. Allow for a couple extra feet of surge tide and pull the plug. Try to orient the lift for good drainage and make sure the hatch drains and scuppers are clear.

[ssiredfish]

We just had a lightning strikes discussion on CO that was both informative and eye opening. A MUST READ!!!!!!!

Pay close attention to "Capt. Kilowatt"

http://www.coastaloutdoors.com/ibf/index.php?showtopic=20843

Edited August 15, 2009 by ssiredfish

[ScarabChris]

My boat is ready, its docked right out back ready to take a ride after the storm to see how many people DIDN'T prepare their boats so they sunk.

[Capt Rick Hiott]

,,,,,sometimes thats a good thing Chris.

[woftam1024]

I have to ask. Would you prefer boat on trailer or at dock at house? I am fairly new down here and boat wasn't in water last year. I am being told both be people who's opinions I don't trust as much as here. Dock is on sheltered canal pretty far inland. Thanks in advance for advice.

[Jup31]

I am very fortunate to have a friend who has a RV/Boat storage facility that was built to withstand 130mph winds. I don't keep my boat there all the time but I have an arrangrement with him that if a storm is approaching he saves me a space.

This could be a great option for trailer boaters. Rent at some places can be expensive but you maybe be able to work out a short term arrangement.