Florida is well known for its yearly hurricane seasons, which can cause havoc for boaters in several parts of the state. Due to dangerous conditions such as tidal rise, flooding, and harsh winds, boat owners are often concerned about the safety and security of their vessels and their potential passengers.
The good news is it isn’t difficult to avoid boat damage from a hurricane as long as you’re careful. Let’s take a look at a few boat hurricane preparation tips that will help you get through the season unscathed.
Even if you believe your boat is 100% safe from damage, you should never take the risk. First off, make sure that you have ample boat insurance that will cover you in the event that an impending hurricane results in costly repairs. If your boat is kept at the marina or in a storage facility, take a look at your responsibilities as outlined by the lease or rental agreement.
As a wise cartoon once taught us, knowing is half the battle. If there’s one good thing about hurricanes, it’s that they don’t creep up unexpectedly like earthquakes or even tornadoes can sometimes do.
However, weather conditions can change drastically from day to day, so you should always be monitoring them before making plans. You can even download a hurricane app that will send you a series of alerts to be extra safe.
This probably sounds like an obvious suggestion because no one wants to be out on the water with a hurricane looming, but it’s easy to get overly confident if you’re an experienced boater. Since you’re already monitoring the weather conditions (see the above tip), then you should have more than enough time to make plans to be off the water when the hurricane starts getting close. Getting in a few extra hours of “ocean time” simply isn’t worth it.
The best way to protect your boat is to move it away from hurricane territory. If your boat can be hauled by a trailer, then remove it from the water and take it far away from tidal waters and trees that may topple over. You’ll also want to pull the drain plug and remove any electronics you have on board for further damage protection. If moving your boat isn’t an option, you’ll need to secure it by following the proper marina or mooring procedures.
To prevent damage, you’ll want to run the automatic bilge pump throughout the storm. You should definitely shut off other electronic devices so that all the power can go to the pump, but this might not be enough. It’s a good idea to add some back-up batteries just to be safe.
As a boat owner, you should always have a list of primary contacts such as your marina, insurance agency, repair company, maintenance personnel, and emergency towing providers. This will help you stay safe throughout the boating season, but can be especially important If you experience problems due to a hurricane. For added safety, keep a list on your phone and in at least one other location as a backup.
Remember even when a hurricane has passed, the danger may not be quite over.
Here are some quick tips to further keep you safe:
Following these tips will help you keep your vessel and loved ones safe during the hurricane season.
Seaspension® can assist you further by providing a shock-absorbing boat seat pedestal that will provide comfort all year long. If you have any questions about Seaspension® products, Parker Boat accessories, or other boat hurricane preparation tactics, reach out to us by calling (727) 216-9639.
Florida is well known for its yearly hurricane seasons, which can cause havoc for boaters in several parts of the state. Due to dangerous conditions such as tidal rise, flooding, and harsh winds, boat owners are often concerned about the safety and security of their vessels and their potential passengers.
The good news is it isn’t difficult to avoid boat damage from a hurricane as long as you’re careful. Let’s take a look at a few boat hurricane preparation tips that will help you get through the season unscathed.
Even if you believe your boat is 100% safe from damage, you should never take the risk. First off, make sure that you have ample boat insurance that will cover you in the event that an impending hurricane results in costly repairs. If your boat is kept at the marina or in a storage facility, take a look at your responsibilities as outlined by the lease or rental agreement.
As a wise cartoon once taught us, knowing is half the battle. If there’s one good thing about hurricanes, it’s that they don’t creep up unexpectedly like earthquakes or even tornadoes can sometimes do.
However, weather conditions can change drastically from day to day, so you should always be monitoring them before making plans. You can even download a hurricane app that will send you a series of alerts to be extra safe.
This probably sounds like an obvious suggestion because no one wants to be out on the water with a hurricane looming, but it’s easy to get overly confident if you’re an experienced boater. Since you’re already monitoring the weather conditions (see the above tip), then you should have more than enough time to make plans to be off the water when the hurricane starts getting close. Getting in a few extra hours of “ocean time” simply isn’t worth it.
The best way to protect your boat is to move it away from hurricane territory. If your boat can be hauled by a trailer, then remove it from the water and take it far away from tidal waters and trees that may topple over. You’ll also want to pull the drain plug and remove any electronics you have on board for further damage protection. If moving your boat isn’t an option, you’ll need to secure it by following the proper marina or mooring procedures.
To prevent damage, you’ll want to run the automatic bilge pump throughout the storm. You should definitely shut off other electronic devices so that all the power can go to the pump, but this might not be enough. It’s a good idea to add some back-up batteries just to be safe.
As a boat owner, you should always have a list of primary contacts such as your marina, insurance agency, repair company, maintenance personnel, and emergency towing providers. This will help you stay safe throughout the boating season, but can be especially important If you experience problems due to a hurricane. For added safety, keep a list on your phone and in at least one other location as a backup.
Remember even when a hurricane has passed, the danger may not be quite over.
Here are some quick tips to further keep you safe:
Following these tips will help you keep your vessel and loved ones safe during the hurricane season.
Seaspension® can assist you further by providing a shock-absorbing boat seat pedestal that will provide comfort all year long. If you have any questions about Seaspension® products, Parker Boat accessories, or other boat hurricane preparation tactics, reach out to us by calling (727) 216-9639.
