Securing Your Boat: Your Storm Season Checklist

Storm season is a growing concern. Named storms are increasingly forming before the official June 1 start date, and warmer ocean temperatures mean the storms intensify faster. Bottom line: the cost of waiting has risen

However, you can improve the outcomes.

Why Securing Your Boat Matters

Your boat is a major investment, how you prepare it before a storm directly affects what happens to it during one. Protect your investment. A properly secured boat is far less likely to suffer serious damage.

Protect everyone else’s, too. A boat that breaks loose can damage neighboring vessels, docks, or property.
Protect yourself legally. If your unsecured boat causes damage to someone else’s property, you could be held liable.

Storms threaten boats in more ways than one:

High winds that drive your boat into docks, pilings, or other vessels.
Storm surge and waves that lift your boat off its mooring and send it adrift.
Heavy rain that floods cockpits, bilges, and cabins.
Tornadoes, which often spin off from hurricanes, add another layer of risk.

Your Storm Prep Checklist

When a storm warning goes out, move fast:

Get to shore. If you’re out on the water, head in the moment you hear a warning.
Secure the interior. Tape down cabinets, drawers, windows, and vents.
Clear the deck. Remove anything loose that wind could turn into a projectile.
Grab your valuables. Take essential documents and personal items off the boat.
Get the boat out of the water if you can. Haul it and store it securely. If you can’t, double-moor it or anchor it in a protected area.

Check Your Coverage Before You Need It

Don’t wait for a storm warning to find out what your policy covers. Review it now, and ask your agent directly: Does your coverage include cost-sharing for hauling your boat out of the water ahead of a named storm? Some policies do — and that detail can save you a lot of money and stress when a storm is bearing down.

Have questions about your coverage? Contact us today. We’re here to help you stay protected, no matter what this storm season brings.