If you own a boat along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States you need to have a hurricane plan. This is an update to a post I wrote back in 2017. I’ve add a list of some of the best advice from around the web and links to new resources.
Prepare Before Hand
Preparation is the key to riding out a storm with minimal damage. No matter what size boat you have or where you plan to store it, these resources will give you the information you need to ride out the storm with as little damage as possible.Based on the source material provided, here are the key takeaways from each section regarding hurricane preparation for boaters:
Introduction: The Reality of Storm Preparation
- Boaters often become anxious in late August as the “cone of uncertainty” approaches their home ports.
- Many boaters believe they are prepared by simply adding an extra line to a cleat, but wreckage after major storms suggests otherwise.
- While high wind speeds get the most attention, the critical details that actually sink boats are chafe gear, piling height, and surge.
1. The Boat Lift Trap
- Boat lifts are often seen as safe “high and dry” options but are actually mechanical liabilities during a hurricane.
- Heavy rainfall (six to 12 inches) can add enough weight to a boat to physically collapse the lift machinery if the drain plug is not pulled.
- If a storm surge reaches the hull, the boat can float off its bunks and grind against the lift motors or pilings.
- High-rise racks are also at risk; older steel racks may lack the structural support to withstand modern wind-load standards.
- To reduce windage for boats staying ashore, some owners dig holes for sailboat keels so the vessel sits lower to the ground.
2. The PVC Paradox: Chafe Protection
- Using PVC tubing as a chafe guard is a dangerous myth because it acts as an insulator.
- Nylon lines generate intense internal heat as they stretch and contract during a storm; PVC traps this heat, causing the line to melt from the inside out and form “micro-welds“.
- Polyester (Dacron) sleeves are a superior alternative because they are more abrasion-resistant and do not trap heat.
- An ideal “Surveyor’s Alternative” is to use a hybrid arrangement: lead a polyester line through the chock for chafe resistance and join it to a 3-strand nylon line for shock-absorbing stretch.
3. The “Spider Web” Strategy
- A boat kept in a slip should be suspended in the center of a “web” using at least 12 lines.
- 3-strand nylon is recommended for these lines because it can stretch up to 40% of its length.
- Lines should be at least as long as the boat, though doubling the length is even better to provide a lower “angle of pull”.
- Longer lines allow the vessel to rise vertically with a 10–14 foot surge without increasing tension to the breaking point or ripping cleats out of the deck.
4. Surge vs. Wind
- While wind pressure quadruples when wind speed doubles, surge is the primary destroyer of boats.
- High surges can submerge breakwaters and seawalls, increasing the “fetch” (the distance of open water) and turning a protected harbor into an open, breaking bay.
- Piling height is a critical success factor; boats on tall pilings (e.g., 18 feet) can float up and stay put, whereas short pilings may allow an entire floating dock to lift off and wash away.
5. Insurance Considerations
- Many insurance policies include Named Storm Haul-Out Coverage, which may reimburse up to 50% of the cost (often capped at $1,000) to move a boat before a NOAA named storm.
- Boaters should check if their policy covers “Agreed Value” rather than “Actual Cash Value”.
- Agreed Value ensures a payout based on the amount settled when the policy was written, rather than a depreciated check that may not cover a replacement.
6. Documentation and Evidence
- An insurance claim often depends on proving “due diligence” through a thorough evidence trail.
- Pre-storm photos should be taken of the hull, deck, interior, serial numbers, and registration.
- Boaters should maintain an inventory of electronics and receipts for recent upgrades to justify the boat’s value.
- A “Final Shot” of the boat in its storm configuration serves as legal proof that the owner took reasonable measures to safeguard the vessel.
- Hiring a licensed marine surveyor for damage estimates carries more weight with adjusters than simple repair shop quotes.
7. Personal Safety
- The most dangerous mistake a boater can make is staying aboard the vessel during a storm.
- Visibility in 100-mph winds is effectively zero, and even “sheltered” holes can experience massive, life-threatening seas.
- As Admiral Chester W. Nimitz noted, safety measures should be taken while it is still possible to do so, as nothing is more dangerous than being “grudging” with precautions.
Conclusion: Off-Season Preparation
Boat owners should review their haul-out coverage and physical preparations well before a storm hits to ensure their vessel is a “spider in a web” rather than a liability.
True preparation occurs during the off-season by inspecting cleats for proper backing plates and upgrading piling heights.
Boat Hurricane Preparation Checklist by BoatsUS- BoatsUS analyzed 20 years of insurance claims to learn what works and what doesn’t work to prepare boats for hurricanes.
Hurricane Preparation Checklist by www.boatsafe.com A handy checklist so you don’t forget anything important.
Hurricane Preparedness for Boat Owners from the University of Florida Good information on how to prepare Trailerable Boats, Non-Trailerable Boats in Dry Storage, Wet Storage, and Boats Remaining in Marina Berth.
How to Secure Your Boat for a Hurricane from Boating Magazine Gives some great tips including using auger-type tie-down anchors and securing a boat on a lift.
How To Document Boat Damage For Insurance Claims
Essential Hurricane Boat Insurance Strategies
Guide To Preparing Boats & Marinas For Hurricanes
How to Tie Up Your Boat for a Hurricane or Storm
Hurricane Center – Chafe Protection for Your Boat
Hurricane Preparation for Vessel and Boat Lift
Make a Plan for Hurricane Season
Progressive Hurricane Preparedness Checklist
Severe Weather and Emergency Plan
Videos
Preparing Your Boat for a Hurricane from Florida Sea Grant
This informative video shows you how to store your boat during a hurricane.
Preparing Your Boat for a Hurricane from West Marine
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In this guide, I have listed some of the most useful websites and videos I can find. Do you have a great resource that I missed? Do you have information that might help other boaters, or a question about preparing a boat for a hurricane that you need answered? Please, leave a comment below.