A Boat Owner's Guide to Hurricane Preparation

Hurricane preparation is an important safety process - and boat owners have a few extra steps to tackle. Read on to discover these essential hurricane preparation tasks.

Understand the Risks to Your Boat

Hurricanes can bring heavy winds, lightning, hail, and powerful rains. All of these harsh weather conditions can cause expensive boat damage.

Hurricanes also create large and powerful tidal surges, which can tear boats away from their moorings and toss them about. Items on board can be lost or damaged - and the boat can be heavily impacted as well.

A bit of hurricane preparation before the storm arrives can help reduce the chances and severity of the damage, saving you money in parts replacements and repairs.

Prepare for a Possible Insurance Claim

Dealing with an insurance claim after a hurricane can be stressful enough...especially if you don't know where all the required documents are located. Take some time to gather up all the necessary legal documents such as the insurance policy, boat registration, and slip rental agreements. Place them into a secure waterproof container that can be easily  taken with you if evacuations happen. 

It's also wise to document your boat's current condition. Create video and photographic footage of your boat and everything on it. This can help when filing a claim to showcase the damage left by the hurricane.

Store Your Boat Strategically

Once a hurricane watch is issued, you will want to start planning your boat storage strategy.

How to Store Boats Ashore

Load your boat onto your trailer and tow it away from the water. Try to take it somewhere that is on higher ground and further inland. Whenever possible, store the boat inside.

For boats that have to be kept outside, there's a few extra steps. Position the boat and trailer away from surrounding fences, trees, or your house. Then, lash the boat to the trailer, deflate the tires, and secure the trailer to the ground. Weigh the boat down and remove all loose items, such as fishing gear. Finally, tape or board up all the windows.

How to Store Boats At The Marina

Remove any sails, canvas, outboard motors, and other items that are not permanently attached to the boat.

Then, use the right strategy for the given location. For areas sheltered from open water, berthing at a dock works well. For protected harbors with firm sediment, anchoring is a good approach. For coves and inlets surrounded by trees, use the hurricane hole approach.

Need professional maintenance help with preparing your boat for hurricanes? Want to shop boats for sale? Whatever you need, the experts at The Ski Shack are here to help. We have dealerships in Springfield, Branson, and Shell Knob, Missouri. We also proudly serve those in Nixa, Missouri.