 Home | Hurricane | Boat Owners
Boat owners get answers too!
What measures should I take to mitigate a loss to my vessel?
Before the Storm
Make sure your insurance policy is current.
Review your policy to be sure you understand the coverages and exclusions. Your policy may have helpful information as to what a boat owner should and should not do if there is hurricane/storm loss/damage to your vessel.
Call your Marine Insurance agent to review any questions you may have.
Store a copy of your marine insurance policy in a water tight container away from the vessel along with maintenance logs and/or receipts for upgrades, repairs, new electronics etc.
Photograph your vessel inside and out prior to a storm.
Secure a set of over-sized mooring lines for tying your boat off in the event of a storm.
Have extra lines and fenders.
Check all deck cleats and line chocks to make sure that they are the right size and anchored to the deck properly.
Locate multiple tie off points on your boat and ensure that they are properly secured/bolted.
Check all automatic pumps to make sure they are working.
Check all anchor/navigational lights to make sure they are working.
Once the vessel is secured, take photographs to show a claims adjustor of its condition prior to the storm.
Have an exact plan of where you will take your boat and remember that YOU are responsible for your boat.
Remove all canvas, cushions, and removable items.
What should I do if my vessel is kept at a marina?
Remember, you, the owner, are responsible for YOUR vessel even if you keep it at a marina.
Check the marina’s hurricane plan.
Review the marina’s procedures as to what you must do in the event of a hurricane.
Follow the same procedures listed below for a vessel that is in a slip or dock.
Make sure your batteries are charged and are capable of running your automatic bilge pumps during the storm. Determine if you will need backup batteries. Turn off all electrical devices to conserve battery power for your bilge pump.
Check and double all lines with rigging crossing spring lines fore and aft. For tidal rise and surge be sure your lines are arrached high on the pilings and attached securly so lines will not slip off. Protect all lines from chafing with tape, rags, rubber hoses, etc.
Use fenders for protection from pier, pilings and other boats.
Remember first and foremost, safeguard human life. Do NOT stay aboard your vessel
How should I protect my yacht/boat if it is kept in a slip or at a dock?
DO NOT STAY ON BOARD
Use mooring lines larger than your normal dock lines as your primary lines. Use your every day dock lines as secondary lines.
If your boat is in a slip, the slip should be 140% of the beam of the boat, and the piling should be no less than 6’ above your rubrail at mean high water.
Cross tie across a North/South facing canal if possible.
Ensure that boats tied “up wind” of you are tied equally as well as your boat.
Inform neighbors of your cross tying, so you do not block in anyone.
The dock line should wrap around pilings twice and then finished with three half hitches.
Ensure cleats on the vessel are anchored properly, thru bolted with large backing plates, and that cleats are of adequate size.
Protect all lines from chafing with a piece of plastic hose.
What do I need to know if my boat is kept on a trailer?
Determine if you will need to haul your boat to a safe area.
Check over your trailer completely including tires, bearings, axels, etc. so if you need to relocate your boat, your trailer is travel ready.
Select a safe place to store your boat and trailer, such as between buildings.
You may want to consider letting half the air out of the trailer tires and filling the boat 1/3 full of water to help hold it down. To protect your trailer’s springs, place blocks between the frame members and the axle inside each wheel.
Tie the boat down to the trailer.
Tie the trailer to trees or any other stationary objects with heavy lines securing the boat from all four directions. You may want to use screw anchors secured in the ground.
How should I protect my boat if it is on a lift?
Remove electric motor covers.
Cover motors with heavy plastic.
Run the lift as high as possible.
Tie the boat to the lift.
Tie the lift to the piling to eliminate swaying.
Make sure the drain plug is removed from the boat so it does not fill with water and become too heavy for the lift capacity.
Plug the engine exhaust (inboard engines).
After a storm/hurricane, then what?
Photograph any and all damage to the vessel before anything is moved.
Remove any items left aboard to protect against looters.
Secure any openings to protect against further weathering and damage.
If machinery has been submerged or has gotten wet, machinery should be “pickled.”
Make necessary repairs to prevent further damage.
Get an estimate from a reputable repair facility.
This estimate will need to be approved by the insurance company PRIOR to the work beginning.
Contact WWW your Marine Agent 800.783.5085 or log on to www.marineins.com for a list of insurance companies’ 24 hour claims hotlines.
Call as soon as possible to report any and all damage that may exceed the windstorm deductible. They will give you a claim number and schedule for an adjuster to contact you.
Do not stay aboard any vessel during a hurricane.
Take care of your family first and stay in a protected and safe place.
Make sure you have done all that can be done in anticipation of the storm.
Stay tuned to news broadcasts and weather advisories concerning the hurricane so that you will know when the danger has passed.
BEWARE! When winds and seas warrant, marine agencies remove their boats from service and will NOT be available to rescue foolish boaters.
For more information regarding your vessel and hurricanes, visit http://disaster.ifas.ufl.edu/PDFS/CHAP07/DPR-0718-web.pdf
Call your WWW Marine Insurance Agent 800.783.5085 before the storm to be sure you are hurricane prepared. www.marineins.com
Note: This is general information and does not change or supersede your policy provisions, which vary by policy and state.
|