Here are guidelines for securing your boat at a marina:
- Tie high on pilings to allow for rising water.
- Run extra line and double tie every knot.
- Purchase rope, duct tape and other materials early before supplies run low.
- Cover all tie lines at contact points with rubber to prevent chafing.
- Disconnect shore power.
- Verify battery power is sufficient to run bilge pumps throughout and after the storm.
- Remove or secure all deck gear, radio antennas, outriggers, rafts, sails, tops, canvases, curtains, booms and dinghies and all other objects that could blow away or cause damage.
- Insert plugs in engine ports.
- Close fuel valves and cockpit seacocks.
- Install fenders to protect the boat from rubbing against the dock.
- Use duct tape to seal windows and hatches.
- Remove all canvas, chains, life preservers and other equipment to reduce wind load.
- Ensure fire extinguishers and lifesaving equipment are in working order.
- Keep copies of boat registration and insurance in a safe place NOT on the boat.
If you choose to take your boat out of the water
or have your boat on a trailer:
- Park the boat/trailer in the garage or near a building.
- Fill the boat no more than halfway with water to add weight. (Overfilling can damage the trailer.)
- Remove outboard motors (if possible).
- Let some air out of trailer the tires.
- Place blocks in front and back of the tires to prevent rolling.
- Lash the trailer down with heavy ropes or chains.
For more hurricane information, please go to the National Hurricane Center website at: www.nhc.noaa.gov.
Courtesy U.S. Coast Guard
