July 7, 2022
What You Need to Know About Boat Hurricane Preparation
Photo by Serhii Bondarchuk under Pexels License
Weather events such as tropical storms and hurricanes have caused some of the worst disasters in maritime history. These disasters have wreaked havoc on innumerable vessels and claimed the lives of countless sailors who decided to ride out a hurricane onboard their anchored, moored, or docked vessels.
While the summer season brings fun-filled days, many boat owners and experienced mariners who keep their boats on the Gulf or Atlantic coasts of the United States know how fickle the weather can be. If you’re a boat owner who lives in these regions, you need to make sure that your boat survives if and when a hurricane strikes.
Whether you like it or not, hurricane season is a fact of life. If a hurricane is forecast in your area, you need to prepare your vessel, whether you plan to keep it in the water or haul it out to dry storage. Veteran Car Donations has put together these tips to help you protect your boat.
- Stay in the know.
Since the next big storm to make landfall during the hurricane season isn’t a question of if but of when, wise coastal boaters are always one step ahead of it. Besides tracking active storms online, they also listen to their local Emergency Management office for boat evacuation orders. If you want to keep your vessel safe or at least minimize the potential for damage, stay in the know.
- Come up with a comprehensive plan.
You need to devise a comprehensive plan to protect your boat even before the start of the hurricane season. Once you’ve come up with a written plan and checklist of the steps you need to take, be sure to test it and practice implementing your procedures. Your plan should be ready to go when severe weather is forecast.
- Know your responsibilities and liabilities.
You should check your insurance policy and lease or rental agreement with the storage facility or marina to know what the management covers and what you’re responsible for. For instance, you’d want to know if your policy pays up to 50% of the cost of hauling your vessel in advance of a storm. Additionally, your marina contract may require you to move your boat before a hurricane strikes to protect it and the marina.
- If possible, get your boat on land.
On average, boats stored on land have a higher chance of surviving a hurricane than those kept in the water. However, before you haul your trailerable boat out of the water, be sure to coordinate with your marina. You’d want to move it to a safe and elevated location, far from tidal waters, trees that could topple, and overhead wires that could come down. While you’re at it, don’t forget to remove the electronics on board and pull the drain plug to prevent water from collecting in your boat.
Avoid storing your boat on soft ground. Be sure to strap the boat down to the ground and never to the jack stands. Moreover, chaining your jack stands together will prevent them from spreading apart.
- If you can’t get your vessel on land, improve your docking or mooring location.
If your boat has to stay in the water, do your best to improve the location where it remains docked or moored. After doubling up all lines, be sure that they’re in good condition and long enough to accommodate storm surges. Next, you need to inspect the cleats and dock conditions and secure additional lines around fixed pilings.
If your boat has to remain on a mooring, consider using additional anchors to help the mooring withstand the load that your boat will place on it. A three-point anchorage helps to ensure your vessel’s ability to handle inbound and outbound tidal surges in congested mooring fields. However, if there’s plenty of room around your boat to swing as the surge passes, you’ll only need to reinforce a single-point mooring.
Are You Looking to Dispose of an Old Boat?
If your old boat is plagued with complicated issues that require costly repairs, consider donating it to us at Veteran Car Donations. We’ll use your vessel to uplift the lives of disadvantaged and neglected veterans in your local community.
We’ll put your boat up for auction and use the proceeds to help fund the life improvement programs for veterans of our charity partners. These IRS-approved 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations are dedicated to helping former U.S. service members who are homeless, unable to find employment, and suffering from disabilities and serious illnesses, including mental disorders.
Our charity partners use the funding they get from us to provide deserving veterans with free medical treatment, psychotherapy services, financial aid, family support, housing assistance, educational scholarships, employment opportunities, and many other benefits.
To return the favor, our team will pick up and tow your vessel for free anywhere in the country. We’ll also promptly send you the 100% tax-deductible sales receipt of your boat via mail soon after its sale. You can use the receipt to claim the highest possible tax deduction in the next tax season.
However, the best reward you’ll get for making a charitable contribution to us is the joy of knowing that you’re giving back to the brave men and women who risked their lives to honorably serve our nation.
Aside from boats, we accept nearly all other types of vehicles, including those that aren’t in their best shape anymore.
Want to learn more about our vehicle donation program? Go visit our FAQs page. If you have any questions for us, call us through our 24/7 toll-free hotline at 877-594-5822. You may also write to us here and we will get in touch with you as soon as we can.
Support Our Hurting Heroes Today!
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Veteran Car Donations make it easy for you to make a difference in the lives of those brave men and women who risked their lives to ensure the safety of their fellow Americans and safeguard their freedoms. Without a doubt, your car donation will touch their hearts. Call Veteran Car Donations at 877-594-5822 or fill out our secure online donation form now!
Last Updated: August 23rd, 2023