How to Prepare a Boat for Hurricane Season and Idalia

SPRINGFIELD, Va., Aug. 28, 2023 – With Tropical Storm Idalia about to reach hurricane strength, Florida boaters need to consider preparing to minimize or prevent damage to their boats, says Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS). The advocacy, services and safety group has more than 40 years of experience salvaging boats after hurricanes and in analyzing how they are harmed by hurricane events.

BoatUS offers a Tropical Storm Idalia, three-step game plan for any type of recreational boat owner:

1. If your boat is of trailerable size, take it out of the water and bring it home. Locate it in an area away from trees.
2. If you have a bigger boat, consider hauling it out. Some insurance policies will help you offset the cost for a “hurricane haul-out” to lower the risk for damage, but there may not always be time. Check your policy.
3. If the boat will need to weather the storm in a marina slip, add extra lines, chafe protection and fenders. Remove anything that can catch the wind, and ensure doors and hatches are tight and deck scuppers clear so the boat sheds water easily.

All Florida boat owners have free recreational boat hurricane preparation information available at BoatUS.com/Hurricanes, including information on how to weather the storm in the slip or store ashore, on a boat lift, in canals, or at marinas and boat clubs. Videos, downloadable preparation guides and checklist are available. “Our goal is to give every boat the best chance to come through the storm unscathed,” said BoatUS spokesperson Scott Croft.

BoatUS has nearly 200,000 members in Florida, more than any other state. Go to BoatUS.com/Hurricanes for more.

About Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS):

Celebrating more than 55 years, BoatUS is the nation’s largest advocacy, services and safety group with nearly 800,000 dues-paying members. BoatUS is the boat owners’ voice on Capitol Hill, fighting for their rights. The TowBoatUS® fleet is available 24/7 to assist our members on the water when boats break down or run aground with some 600 vessels and 300-plus locations across North America, bringing our members safely back to the launch ramp, marina or dock. On the road, we are The Boat Owners Auto Club™, helping ensure roadside trailer and tow vehicle breakdowns won’t slow you down. BoatUS offers GEICO boat insurance policies that give boat owners affordable, specialized coverage and the superior service they need. Award-winning BoatUS Magazine is the largest circulation recreational marine publication in the U.S. with engaging content that speaks to the passion for boat ownership, while our 501(c)(3) nonprofit BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water offers the nation’s only free online boating safety course and many other programs that keep boaters safe and our waters clean. Visit BoatUS.com.

• 

  About The WON

  The Women's Outdoor News, aka The WON, features news, reviews and stories about women who are shooting, hunting, fishing and actively engaging in outdoor adventure. This publication is for women, by women. View all posts by The WON →