6 Things You Can Do to Protect Your Boat During a Hurricane
Hurricane Irene may have skirted Southwest Florida, but storms continue to line up in the tropics as hurricane season heats up. Follow these important steps to protect your anchored boat during a storm.
- Charge batteries and ensure automatic bilge pumps work. Shut off fuel lines
- Protect your engines. Cover engine room vents and plug exhaust pipes at the stern with plywood and/or duct tape.
- Remove, stow or lash down loose deck items i.e. bimini tops, canvas, plexiglass, antennas, outriggers, etc. Clean out cabin fridge and cabinets as rough seas will cause them to open.
- Seal windows, hatches and doorways. Use duct tape to cover all openings and seams.
- Protect electronics. Remove them from the boat and cover both the holes and gauges with plastic and duct tape.
- Anchor your boat. Position your boat with its bow in the direction of prevailing winds, then set two anchors at a minimum. Don't use a stern anchor or your boat may be overtakine by large waves. Anchor length should be ten times the depth of the water to compensate for storm surge and swing.
If you prefer to store your boat, consider
Hamilton Harbor Yacht Club. Our steel-reinforced concrete boathouse is designed to withstand hurricane force winds up to 150 mph. Storing your boat at Hamilton Harbor could also save you up to 20% on your boat insurance and provide you with more coverage options.