June 1 marks the official start of the hurricane season for boaters.Emergency management experts urge citizens living in a coastal area to be prepared well before the hurricane season begins, and know what to do in the event a catastrophic storm makes landfall.
As boat owners, our responsibilities are two-fold - prepare our homes and our boats to weather a storm.
At best, you have 36 hours to prepare both for a hurricane, less if a warning is issued and you are required to evacuate. Get a hurricane plan in place early to make preparing your boat as efficient and quick as possible when a hurricane watch is issued .Purchase items needed for a hurricane preparation kit.
Check your cleats for adequate strength - replace weak back plates and bolts with aluminum back plates and stainless steel bolts.
Make a checklist and keep it handy. If the time comes to implement your plan, you will be less likely to forget something important.
Take an inventory, preferably by video, of the interior, exterior, and the items in your boat. Keep it in a safe place in case you need to file an insurance claim.
Find a sheltered "hurricane hole" if you plan to anchor your boat out, and make a plan to get there quickly and safely.
Take action during a hurricane watch, which is issued 36 hours in advance of a hurricane making landfall.Don't wait until a warning is issued; it may be too late to move your boat, and preparation will become difficult because of congestion due to evacuation notices.Also, the storm's outer bands of rain and wind will hinder your efforts.
Decide which plan to implement for your boat and take the recommended steps:
Hurricane Preparation - Trailerable Boats
Hurricane Preparation - Moored Boats
Hurricane Preparation - Boats Anchored Out Before moving anything, photograph or video all damage to the boat thoroughly.
Contact your insurance company to file a claim.
If your boat is sunk, do not sign any salvage agreements without prior approval, and get your engines "pickled" right away by a marine mechanic.
Take steps to reduce further water damage or weathering by securing openings that may have leaked.
Clean your boat as quickly as possible to reduce mildew and rotting.
With your insurance company's approval, get an estimate to repair the damages from a reputable facility.
As boat owners, our responsibilities are two-fold - prepare our homes and our boats to weather a storm.
At best, you have 36 hours to prepare both for a hurricane, less if a warning is issued and you are required to evacuate. Get a hurricane plan in place early to make preparing your boat as efficient and quick as possible when a hurricane watch is issued .
Before Hurricane Season Begins
When a Hurricane Watch is Issued
Take action during a hurricane watch, which is issued 36 hours in advance of a hurricane making landfall.Don't wait until a warning is issued; it may be too late to move your boat, and preparation will become difficult because of congestion due to evacuation notices.Also, the storm's outer bands of rain and wind will hinder your efforts.
Decide which plan to implement for your boat and take the recommended steps: