The Ft. Lauderdale region has certainly seen its fair share of hurricanes in recent years. As a business that provides boat repair in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, we’ve seen firsthand the kind of damage these storms can have on even the strongest, sturdiest vessels. We’ve learned that hurricanes can be highly unpredictable, meaning there’s no surefire way to be certain that your boat will be free of damage. However, there are several steps you can take to lower your risk.
With hurricane season quickly approaching, we thought we’d share some basic ways to avoid needing boat repair in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. We hope you won’t need to use these tips, but we also strongly encourage you to be prepared for the worst.
- Prepare strong moorings: The best thing you can do to protect your boat from hurricane-related damage is to ensure that your moorings are strong and secure. You should have these moorings prepared well before you might need to use them, and they should be in an inland area. Remember that hurricane winds can hit from every direction, so test that the moorings are strong from every angle. When a hurricane warning is issued in your region, move your boat to its moorings right away.
- Seal any openings: If you have any leaks or cracks, it’s imperative that you get them taken care of before hurricane season hits. You should also seal windows and portholes, as winds and water can go in through these openings and cause serious damage.
- Don’t block others: The safety of your boat is important, but so is the safety of everyone else’s. Be a considerate boat owner, and take care not to block any other vessels from getting out.
- Remove loose items: Anything that isn’t tied down securely to your boat could easily fly off of it in the event of a hurricane, potentially causing damage to other boats or injuring people nearby. To prevent this from happening and protect your own belongings, take a thorough inventory of your boat when a hurricane warning is issued and make sure you take all loose items with you.
- Expect the unexpected: As we’ve already mentioned, part of the serious danger of hurricanes is how unpredictable they can be. Sometimes they can cause much more damage than expected, and sometimes they can avoid a supposed target area completely. Because of their unpredictable nature, you should always be prepared for the worst during hurricane season. Have a checklist ready to go so that you can take care of your boat at a moment’s notice. If you’re going to be out of town at all during hurricane season, pick a trustworthy and experienced fellow boater to take care of your boat for you.
- Put human safety first: We know it can be financially and emotionally devastating to endure serious damage to your boat. But you should always keep in mind that protecting yourself, your family and other people is the most important thing. If the local authorities order people to leave or stay inside, don’t risk trying to save your boat. Possessions can be replaced, but your life cannot.