Sailing Safely During Hurricane Season

One of the biggest benefits of living in a coastal area is being able to take advantage of all the excellent boating opportunities. No matter where you live, owning a boat involves spending a lot of extra time and money to care for it and maintain it. But when you live in an area that’s prone to hurricanes and tropical storms, you also need to take extra precautions to keep your boat safe.

Waiting Out the Storm

Need a place to dock your boat? Make sure you’re familiar with your marina’s rules. Some marinas require that boats be taken out of the water under certain weather conditions. If you can leave it there during a hurricane or storm, see if they have any special rules for how your boat should be secured.

When choosing a marina, look for one built after 1992 and has floating docks with tall pilings. After Hurricane Andrew, many marinas were rebuilt to better handle extremely strong storms. Since the extra water from storm surges can be very damaging to boats, even more so than the high winds, floating docks and tall pilings will allow your boat to move with the water. Just make sure to slack your anchoring lines.

If you’re determined to go boating during hurricane season, it’s very important to plan your route carefully. The Boat Galley advises knowing where the nearest hurricane hole or protected marina is at all times and planning your route to stay within a day’s travel time of the next hurricane hole or protected marina.

Looking for a good hurricane hole where you could wait out a storm? According to BoatSafe.com, you’ll want to find a deep, narrow cove or inlet surrounded by sturdy trees that will block the wind and serve as a tie-off for anchor lines. Ideally, this location would be far enough inland to avoid the strongest winds. Just remember that hurricane holes can attract lots of boaters and no matter how good you are at securing your boat, there’s always a possibility that your boat could be damaged by another boat that’s not as well secured.

Watch the Weather

Of course, you’ll need to pay very close attention to the weather. Sometimes, you might have a few days notice before a hurricane or tropical storm moves into an area, but that’s not always the case. If there’s even the slightest chance that a storm might be headed your way, it’s always best to play it safe. If you’re getting two different forecasts that say significantly different things, or a forecast is saying one thing and you’re seeing different conditions around you, it’s best to stay put.

Stay in Contact

If you’re out on the water when a storm starts to roll in, or you aren’t sure that you’ll be able to make it to shore before a storm hits, O’Bryan Law recommends frequently contacting the U.S. Coast Guard or other agencies to keep them up to date with your position. That way, if you need assistance, they’ll have an easier time locating you.

Secure Your Belongings

If a storm is coming, you’ll need to secure anything on your boat that’s moveable or detachable. This includes sails, furniture, antennas, rigging, cushions, and canvas. Not only can they be damaged, they could cause damage to other property in the area if the wind picks them up.

After the Storm

Once the storm is over, remember that there are still hazards you’ll need to watch out for. If a storm surge was strong enough to flood docks and the surrounding areas, there’s a good chance a lot of debris got carried out into the water. It’s not always easy to spot debris, particularly if a piece of it is partially under water. So if you’re planning to set sail shortly after a major storm has passed, be particularly careful to look for signs that debris might be in the water. Accidentally hitting a piece of debris can potentially damage your boat.