This is hurricane
season. Boat owners along the Virginia coasts and sounds should
already have a plan to reduce the effects of a hurricane on their
vessel.
The following
guidelines will not ensure the boat or its occupants will escape
damage or injury; however, a well-planned strategy will help
increase the chance of escaping damage and injury.
Hurricane boat
plan
Determine if you
will trailer or haul your boat, secure it in the marina, or move
to a previously identified hurricane mooring. Keep in mind the
hazards hurricanes present: wind, tidal surge, and wind-driven
waves.
Check your insurance
policies to know your responsibilities as well as those of your
marina or storage area. Gather insurance policies, registrations,
inventories and other records. You may need them when you return
to check on your boat.
Allow sufficient
time in your plan to strip your boat of all movable objects
(canvas, sails, dinghies, radios, cushions, etc.). Lash down
everything you cannot remove (tilers, wheels, booms, etc.).
Practice your plan to see how long it takes to implement. At least
one other person should know your hurricane boat plan in case you
are out of town when the storm threatens.
Removing your
boat from the water
Trailerable
Boats:
Remove the boat
from the water.
Avoid exposure
to the wind and park away from trees.
Lash the boat to
the trailer and secure the boat with heavy lines to a fixed
object, preferably from four directions.
Remove half the
air from the tires. Block the tires to prevent rolling.
Seal door
openings and tape windows that may break.
Remove sails,
rigging, and other loose objects.
Hauling:
Be sure the
marina can haul your boat and store and secure it quickly.
Check into
prearranged contracts for hauling and have an alternate in
case the marina cannot meet the sudden demand that would be
generated by an approaching hurricane.
Leaving your boat
at the dock
Double all lines
and protect them from chafing.
Make sure boat
will not strike a roof as water levels rise.
Make sure that
cleats and winches are well secured to the boat.
Adjust lines to
accommodate unusually high or low water.
Install fenders
to protect boat from rubbing against a pier, filings, and
other boats.
Cut off all
electrical devices except bilge pumps for the duration of the
storm.
Remove all loose
items (canvas, sails, dinghies, radios, cushions, etc.) and
Lash down
everything you cannot remove.
Seal doors and
openings and tape windows that may break.
Do not stay
aboard!
Anchoring your
boat in open water
Select a
location that offers the best protection from wind and storm
surge.
Before leaving
the dock, remove sails, riggings, and other loose articles.
Lash down those items that cannot be removed (tiller, wheels,
etc.). Seal doors, openings, and tape windows that may break.
Avoid channels
and tidal currents.
Leave early for
your site because of the danger of high winds and strong
currents. Bridges may be locked down to accommodate land
evacuation.
Do not tie up to
other boats.
Practice runs
should be made to determine accessibility, depth of water,
location of bridges, and to locate obstructions and objects on
which to secure lines.
Make sure cleats
and winches are well secured to the boat.
Cut off all
electrical devices except bilge pumps for the duration of the
storm.
DO NOT STAY
ABOARD!
After the storm
Be sure it is
safe to travel before you return to your boat.
Remove water
from the boat.
Check for damage
to your boat and the marina before you leave your mooring.
Beware of
dangling wires, fuel leaks, weakened docks and bridges, and
objects floating in the water.
A thorough check
of seaworthiness and damage should be made and findings
conveyed to your insurance agent, and to owners of property
damaged by your boat.
Know what your
liabilities are and what your insurance company's
responsibilities are.
