Any Hurricane Prep Tips for boats
 

As of right now, the track for hurricane Isabel appears to be heading right for US. :eek:

Although it is likely to change; what precautions can we take to help protect our boats from damage?

My boat is in a dry storage facility and I have no trailer, so it will have to ride out whatever happens. The building is rated at 115 mph. What precautions (if any) could I do to prevent any possible damage?

Bill R,
Hopefully no one will see the force of this storm, start by taking it very seriously, life and limb are more important than the boat...and this storm is packing 160 mph winds, rent a trailer and head west. have plenty of water, if the storm hits , you will be without, power and more than likely no sewage, and this can last more than a day or two, those large tupperware containers or 55 gal drums are a good way to store water. if you have a genarator you are in good shape , if not you may want to buy one before they are all gone. and triple in price. also fill up all the cars and truck, and boat as well. good luck

Call you insurance agent...

I experienced Andrew when I lived in So FL. I supply electrical equipment to power companies so I was very involved with the rebuild of Homestead. I can tell you first hand the only prep for a 160mph hurricane is to leave the area long before it hits, it's gonna tear up EVERYTHING.

Say some prayers that it fizzles out before landfall.
 

I was in Andrew's northern eye-wall. Never want to do that again. 160mph sustained winds spells total destruction. EVACUATE.:( :( :(

At 160+ Mph start driving now! They are right, you can't prep for a storm like that except to leave the area of impact.

Rent a trailer, and get out of Dodge. If that storm hits at Category 3 or higher, you're gonna lose your boat and everything else. Don't screw around with this. Drive west as fast and as soon as you can. I've been through a couple of bad storms. Until you've been there done that, there is no way to understand what they can be like.

Tabs up and Drives Out!!! And HANG ON!!!

All the ply-wood and screws in the world aren't going to help at 160+ mph winds

Of course getting out of dodge is a good idea, but short of that there are things you can do.

Of course you should provision up. The usual batteries and water is good, but remember the power could be out for a while.

Ice (a large icechest full) and charcoal are good to have. Your freezer will not be working and all of your meat will be thawing. You will need to BBQ it since electric stoves won't work. Gas is great if you have it. Not to make light, but hurricane food is great eating.

Gas up the cars, because the station's pumps will not work while the electricity is out.

First aid kit is useful as is vodka. (Good for antiseptic and drowning sorrows when the storm is over.)

Also, a battery operated radio or tv is a good thing to have.

Good luck.

All of those preps are great EXCEPT if it's a Category 4 or worse yet a 5. If a "5" makes landfall, just remember Miami after Andrew. That is what you are in for. And all the ice, vodka, batteries, or anything else ain't gonna mean nothing cause you ain't gonna be there. I've been through these storms, if it looks like it's a 4 or a 5, don't be a hero, get the hell out of there. I'm sorry but there just isn't any plainer way of saying it. GET OUT if it looks like it's gonna get real bad. It's not worth your life. Good luck to all who have to deal with this. Outlaw

I was in Hurricane Andrew and I can tell you that you want no part of it. As far a preping your boat? Well what can you do to prep your boat for being hurled 30 feet in the air and landing on concrete... again & again.

Really get a trailer and head west or else your going to be showing us pictures of your devastation next weekend.

Best of Luck
Roby

I'm about as ready as I'm gonna get. 3 of the four boats are ready and strapped down to the boat lifts. Now I'm glad I opted for those 16" dia 60' piles. Also have the boat filled with 280 gallons of fresh gas to run the genny. Hopefully it won't hit us.

I, too, am starting to get a little nervous. I have my new boat sitting on my lift and no trailer. Is there any precautions I should take. I'm on a lagoon and not on the open bay. TIA

If on a lift you may want to leave them loose and just put a 20-25 foot dock line on them. If there is a 10-15 foot storm surge and it is tied down to the lift it may be held down as the water comes up and sink on the lift.

RUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I already plan to get out. I hope to be as ready as possible.

Go West Young Man! :D

Bill,
If you don't have access to a trailer and need to move her to high ground, give me a call. I may be able to help you out. (804) 790-1730 H, (804) 759-2116 P.
Jay Marks
RPBA

Do NOT leave the boat on a lift!
You're best off having the boat hauled out an put on blocks..

I'm already noticing some erratic tides down here.
We usually see a 2' tide change in Delray.. It was nearly 4' yesterday...

All the boats there we're blocked up during the Dec storm in'92 were lost in the 10+ storm surge, at least in our town. My boat just sat on the lift with another 5' before the water would even begin to touch the bottom of the boat. We plan on riding this one out the same way, although my biggest concern are the winds, not the surge.

Pull the boats out of the water, from what I've heard your insurance will pay $500.00 for the haul in severe weather. I would call to confirm.....




:crazy: zzie

Thanks for the push Tim, he aint kidding, after only an hour, I was beached, literally, you think the women woulda seen that happenin?????

Some good boat-related hurricane reading:

Hurricane preparation

Although if your boat is in dry storage and you don't have a way to move it, about the only thing you can do is call your insurance agent. A relatively flimsy drystorage building + 160 mph winds = lots of crushed fiberglass.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words...

Mike,
Where was that pic taken?

Winds are down to "only" 120 right now. Still too soon to tell where it is going.

Oh well, if it gets creamed, then thats what insurance is for, and I have good insurance - right Sy??

Sy? SY?? :)

Bill,

The pic was from somewhere in Florida, though I don't know if it was Opal or Andrew. I'd be real skeptical about those "rating" numbers... seems to me that it sounds good, but what does it really mean (sort of like a power rating on an amplifier :D )

Maybe your girl Isabel will help you buy a new 'Gun! :eek: