In Florida, extreme weather and hurricanes simply come with the experience. Keeping your personal possessions safe during hazardous weather conditions is a big concern for people who live in areas that are prone to storms—and the same goes for Florida yacht owners. It can be a challenge to know exactly what the best course of action is in the case of a hurricane, but there are a couple of different boat storage and preparation methods that can safeguard your ship against the damage that a hurricane can do. Here are some tips from a provider of yacht services in Fort Lauderdale:
- Secure boats to the shore: During a hurricane, heavy wind and treacherous conditions are inevitable. Boats that are stored ashore during a hurricane with jack stands used to support the hulls can easily be rocked back and forth when gusts start to intensify. As the wind persists, the jack stands can be rocked out of position, causing the boat to be blown over. Strap your boat down to a secure anchor set in concrete, or helical anchors that are drilled into the ground, and fasten them with straps that offer little to no stretch. This method has proven to be an effective one at reducing the damage that vessels experience during a hurricane.
- Store boats in a marina with floating docks and tall pilings: When marinas experience the brunt of hurricanes, they often choose to incorporate floating docks with tall pilings into their rebuilding efforts. This is because floating docks allow boats to rise and fall as the water level shifts. In many cases, boats that are stored in floating docks have been only minimally affected by hurricanes; marinas with fixed docks often experience greater losses during storms. If your boat is kept at a marina with floating docks, the best thing to do in case of a hurricane is to strip your boat of anything that creates windage, since your boat itself is less likely to be affected in the case of a storm.
- Make a plan long before hurricanes arrive: No matter how you choose to safeguard your boat during extreme weather, the important thing is to make sure that you have a plan in place. Work with the marina where your yacht is stored to find out what they recommend for their boat owners during a hurricane. Once a hurricane warning is posted, you can ensure that you take all of the necessary steps to prepare your ship for the weather.
Keep your mind at ease, and don’t waste time worrying about extreme weather when you have comprehensive yacht services in Fort Lauderdale to turn to. At Starboard Yacht Group LLC, we have been providing exceptional yacht management services to our customers for a decade. We have years of experience caring for yachts in Florida, and we know exactly what to do when a hurricane rolls in. Work with us to develop a plan, and rest assured knowing that our team can work with you on any repairs or maintenance services that your ship might need after a storm. Call us today to find out more about the services that we offer.
Categorised in: Yacht Services