BOATERS BLOG

Hurricane To-Do’s – Are You Ready?

Prepare your boat(s) to ride out the storm and make sure you are financially ready to ride out the storm with proper insurance on your boat(s).
As the hurricane season churns into full swing, it is important to prepare yourself, your family, and your boat for the worst. Please read our list of the most important things to do before a hurricane comes your way.

Develop a detailed plan of action to secure your vessel in the marina (if permitted).
Alternatively, you may remove your boat from the threatened area or take your boat to a previously identified storm refuge. Specifically identify and assemble needed equipment and supplies. Keep them together and practice your plan to ensure it works before the hurricane season. Arrange for a qualified and capable friend or a licensed professional captain to carry out your plans if you are out of town during the hurricane season.

Owners of non-trailerable boats in wet storage have options that include the following:

• Secure the boat in the marina berth;
• Moor the boat in a previously identified safe area; or
• Haul the boat.

Owners of boats remaining in a marina berth can take the following precautions:
Double all lines. Rig crossing spring lines fore and aft. Attach lines high on pilings to allow for tidal rise or surge. Make sure lines will not slip off pilings. Inspect pilings and choose those that appear the strongest and tallest, and are installed properly.

Cover all lines at rough points or where lines feed through chocks to prevent chafing.
Wrap with tape, rags and rubber hoses or leather. Install fenders, fender boards or tires if necessary to protect the boat from rubbing against the pier, pilings and other boats.

Fully charge the batteries and check to ensure their capability to run automatic bilge pumps for the duration of the storm.
Consider backup batteries. Shut off all devices consuming electricity except the bilge pumps, and disconnect shore power cables.

Secure, secure, secure.
Lash down everything you are unable to remove such as tillers, wheels and booms. And after you have made anchoring or mooring provisions, remove all portable equipment such as canvas, sails, dinghies, electronics, cushions, biminis and roller furling sails.

Do not stay aboard. Winds, during any hurricane, can exceed 100 mph and tornadoes are often associated with these storms. Above all, safeguard human life. Climate experts at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) continue to predict active Atlantic Hurricane seasons in the coming years. We could experience several named storms each year, a few of which may have the potential to become major hurricanes. These predictions reinforce the need for boaters in hurricane-prone regions to have preparation plans in place. Boat owners and the marine community should take proactive measures to minimize the potential for injuries and damage to their boats and other property. Remember, key factors in protecting your boat from hurricanes or any severe storm are planning, preparation and timely action.

Check your lease or storage rental agreement with the marina or storage facility.
Know your responsibilities and liabilities as well as those of the marina.

Maintain an inventory of both the items removed and those left on board. Items of value should be marked so that they can be readily identified. You should also consider maintaining a video or photographic record of the boat and its inventory in a secure location other than the vessel itself for future reference.

Consolidate all records including insurance policies, a recent photo of your vessel, boat registration, equipment inventory, and the lease agreement with the marina or storage facility. Ensure that you include the telephone numbers of appropriate authorities, such as the U.S. Coast Guard, Harbor Master, National Weather Service, and your insurance agent, and keep them on hand.

For more information on hurricane preparedness, or to download a hurricane information pamphlet contact NBOA Marine Insurance at 1-800-248-3512 or visit www.nboat.com for details.

Read More About Your Boat Insurance Policy

• Go to our Boat Insurance Guide Homepage page to go back to the boat insurance basics.
• Go to our Physical Damage Coverages page to see what is covered in your boat insurance policy.
• Go to our Policies page to see what is NOT covered in boat come boat insurance policies.
• Go to our Boat Towing and Personal Property Insurance page to see what is covered in your boat insurance policy.
• Go to our Medical Payments page to read about medical liability insurance.
• Go to our Uninsured Boater Coverages page to read about uninsured boater insurance.
• Go to our Boat Insurance Rates page to check all the possible factors that affect your boat insurance rate.
• Go to our Boat Insurance Myths page to dispel some common misconceptions about boat insurance coverage.
• Go to our Boat Insurance Tips page for some helpful pointers on choosing the right boat insurance policy.
• Go to our Lay-up Coverage page to see why you should keep your policy active during the lay-up
• Go to our Theft Prevention Tips page to see how to best prevent your boat from being stolen.

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