Tips on Hurricane Preparation

NEWS from BoatUS Boat Owners Association of The United States 880 S. Pickett St., Alexandria, VA 22304 BoatUS News Room at www.BoatUS.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Press Contact: Scott Croft, 703-461-2864, SCroft@BoatUS.com

Get Inside Tips on Hurricane Preparation: Marinas and Clubs Tell Their Success Stories in New BoatUS Publication

ALEXANDRIA, Va., September 28, 2009 -- A new online publication for marina, boat yard and yacht club managers outlines proven techniques that could greatly reduce damage to their boating facilities whenever a hurricane strikes. The 24-page What Works, A Guide to Preparing Marinas, Yacht Clubs, and Boats for Hurricanes shares success stories as well as failures of dozens of marinas and clubs that have experienced a hurricane over last two decades. The guide is published by Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS), a national recreational boating advocacy organization that also offers marine insurance and has an industry-leading hurricane response team. “Any time a major hurricane has struck the US, our BoatUS Marine Insurance Catastrophe Team has hit the ground running, salvaging boats and processing claims,” said BoatUS Damage Avoidance Director Bob Adriance. “This has given them a unique inside look at the damage inflicted upon a variety of marinas and yacht clubs. So we asked our team to identify those facilities that have consistently fared well, often lessening or even eliminating damage to docks and boats. This guide includes the best practices and strategies learned from those marinas.” The guide covers floating docks with tall pilings, strapping down boats ashore, developing hurricane clubs for customers and club members, dealing with boats at fixed docks, moving boats to hurricane holes, and how to install better moorings. A special legal notes section, “Protecting Yourself from the Storm,” offers information equally important to any marina owner or yacht club leadership — how to protect themselves from vessel owners seeking compensation for hurricane-related damage. Also included is a sample Marina Hurricane Preparation Plan that can be customized for any boating facility, as well as a Hurricane Preparation Worksheet that can be copied and given to individual boat owners. A special advertising section featuring hurricane damage avoidance products is also included. To download a copy of the guide, go to www.BoatUS.com/hurricanes . To get a paper copy, call 703-823-9550 ext. 3525. ### BoatUS is the nation’s leading advocate for recreational boaters providing its 600,000 members with government representation, programs and money saving services. For membership information visit www.BoatUS.com or call 800-395-2628.