How To Prepare & Protect Your Boat During A Hurricane

protect your boat and yacht during the hurricane season

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Yachting is a fun way to spend your time and money, but that doesn’t mean you’re in the clear when it comes to hurricanes. Boats are particularly vulnerable to damage in extreme weather conditions. If a hurricane is heading your way and you haven’t taken steps to protect your yacht, here are some tips for protecting your investment.

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Tiny sailing boat and incoming storm

Because hurricanes happen each year, it's good to protect your boat before they strike

Hurricanes are unpredictable, which is why it’s important to protect your boat from these devastating storms. Hurricanes can happen at any time of the year and cause a lot of damage to your boat, so it’s best not to wait until a hurricane is approaching before trying to protect your investment.

Invest in hurricane straps

To protect your yacht, you’ll want to invest in a set of hurricane straps. These are designed to secure your boat to the dock and keep it from being damaged by high winds. They’re also useful for keeping boats together when there’s not much room between them, like if you’re moored in a crowded marina.

To use hurricane straps:

  • Unroll the strap over one side of the dock (or other structure).
  • Loop it under the other side of the dock (or structure) so that both ends meet up at an anchor point on each end. This can be a cleat or something similar where they’ll tie off around 2 feet above water level when fully tightened down by pulling hard on each end until snug against its counterpart on either side (don’t forget about this step!).
  • Tie off with strong knots where possible, though some types come with pre-made loops at each end for easy tying off onto cleats/stanchions etc…

Secure the dock lines

When the wind starts to blow, the last thing you want to hear is “This isn’t a hurricane,” from your dockmaster. Even if you’re confident in your boat’s sturdiness, it’s still important to double-check that all of your dock lines are secure and that they’re not tangled up or frayed. When hurricanes come through, dock lines will be trying their hardest to break free from their tethers and fly away into the stormy darkness.

If you haven’t taken the time before now to make sure everything is nice and snug, it could be too late when you realize that something has come loose.

Inspect your covers

  • Inspect your canvas covers

If you have a canvas cover, make sure it is in good condition and securely fastened to the boat. Canvas covers are prone to tearing under high winds and may become too heavy for their fasteners to hold. If you find any tears or holes in your cover, we suggest purchasing a new one before the storm hits.

  • Check all lines on your boat that are used for tie-down or securing the vessel in place (to docks, moorings, etc.) These should be inspected daily until after the storm passes through.
  • Double-check that all loose items have been secured below the deck or inside lockers/cabinets.

Secure the hatches

If you are moored or anchored in the path of a hurricane, make sure that your hatches are secured. If you need to secure them, use rope or bungee cords and padlocks.

black sailboat, wooden deck, boat hurricane

Anchor out

Anchoring out is the safest way to protect your yacht from damage during a hurricane. When you anchor out, you are not at a dock and you are not in the marina. The reason this is such an effective strategy is that it gets your boat out of harm’s way.

You’ll need to make sure that there is plenty of space between other boats and any docks so that they won’t get damaged by flooding or flying debris.

Invest in a lightning protection system

white sailboat detail, boat hurricane

How does a lightning protection system work?

A lightning protection system is attached to your boat, and it prevents or minimizes the damage that could be caused by an electrical surge. The first step in installing a lightning protection system is to determine the best place for it based on where you boat most often. If you have multiple boats, consider installing one on each vessel.

What kind of lightning protection system should I use?

There are two main types: active systems and passive systems. Active systems include an ionization chamber (which uses air as an insulator), grounding cables connected to earth rods driven into the ground, ground wire or bonding cable connected directly to earth rod(s), static dissipators (which dissipate charge buildup), and surge suppressors (which absorb excess voltage). Passive systems consist of only grounding rods driven into the ground without any additional accessories.

Remove electronics and other high-value items from the boat.

To help ensure your yacht is prepared for a hurricane, you should remove any electronics and other high-value items from the boat. You should also make sure you have an emergency kit on board in case of power outages or other emergencies.

This can sound like a lot of work, but it’s important to remember that hurricanes are only dangerous when they strike land! If you’re far enough out at sea during a hurricane, this won’t be an issue for you.

Move your boat to an inland marina.

Move your boat to an inland marina. If you’re not already staying at a marina, it may be time to make new arrangements. Inland marinas are safer than coastal ones because they can’t be affected by storm surges or flooding, which means that your yacht will stay out of harm’s way until it’s safe for you to return home and enjoy it once again.

luxury yachts parked next to each other, boat hurricane

Check insurance coverage and contracts

  • Check your insurance coverage and contracts.
  • Check your boat’s hull condition.
  • Check electronics including navigation systems and autopilot equipment, radios, VHF radios, GPS units, and radar reflectors.
  • Check engine(s) and fuel systems including starters, generators, or inverters that may be on board.
  • Make sure sails are in good condition by checking stitching and material for tears or holes that could cause problems when sailing in high winds or heavy seas.
  • Inspect rigging for any signs of wear such as frayed ropes or lightly worn out cleats which could lead to them breaking during rough weather conditions causing serious damage to equipment onboard the vessel.

Conclusion

Even with all these precautions, you may still lose your boat. But if you do, it’s important to know that many insurance companies cover damage from hurricanes. If not, they can help you file a claim so that you can get back on the water again as soon as possible!

Protect your Yacht with These Tips

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