What To Do With A Trailerboat In A Hurricane

There's much written about securing your boat before and during a storm, that is if your boat is moored or docked, but what about the trailered boats?

BoatUS,the nation's leading advocate for recreational boaters provides the following helpful advice.

BoatUS' Helpful Hurricane Storage Tips

ALEXANDRIA, Va. September 12, 2011 - As hurricanes approach the US mainland, it used to be that boaters on the coast only had to worry about making storm preparations. However, Hurricane Irene's large destructive path recently showed that trailer boaters located far inland need to make preparations as well. For those who keep a trailer boat in their backyard, driveway or marina parking lot, Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) has these helpful hurricane storage tips as we enter the "peak" 2012 hurricane season, which runs through November 30.

Do a trailer check-up now: Inspect your trailer today to ensure it will be operable when it's needed. Bearings should be greased, tires inflated and lights working.

Plan your escape: Map out an evacuation route and make the decision early if you are planning to take the boat with you or leave behind. Bridges may have restrictions on towing boats.

When the Storm Strikes

Take it home: Remove all loose gear such as fenders, cushions or any extra other equipment and gear like rods, tackle boxes and electronics and store at home. This includes the boat's papers.

The boat "wins" the garage: If you have a choice of putting the boat or car in the garage, pick the boat. That's because a boat is lighter and more vulnerable to winds. If you have to store a trailer boat outside, placing the rig next to a building (on the lee side of approaching storm) for protection is good. Keep it away from trees.

Tilt me: Remove the transom and any cockpit drain plugs and tilt the trailer tongue up so any water entering the boat exits aft through scuppers or a drain hole. Let some air out of the trailer tires and chock the wheels.

Twist me: Secure gas tank caps tightly to prevent water from entering. Secure any hatches.

Bye bye bimini: Remove the bimini. Trailerable sailboats should have their masts lowered, safely lashed and any sails removed. Towing or mooring covers should be installed and secured with extra line.

Strap me: Secure the boat to the trailer with line or straps. If you have the ability, anchoring the boat and trailer rig with screw-type ground anchors adds extra protection.

Fill up the little guy: Small, lightweight and simply-built outboard powered boats and paddle craft can be placed on the ground and partially filled with a garden hose to add weight. (Rain will add a lot more water later.) This has the added advantage of giving you emergency water (non-drinking). If you choose to keep the boat on top of a trailer, ensure you add blocks between the trailer frame and springs to support the added weight.

Lift me down: Whenever possible, boats on lifts should be stored ashore or moved to a safer location in the water. If the boat must be left on its lift, remove the drain plug so the weight of accumulated rainwater will not collapse the lift. Tie the boat securely to its lifting machinery to prevent the boat from swinging or drifting away. Plug the engine's exhaust outlet and again, strip the boat. Make sure cockpit drains are free of debris.

The largest sea evacuation in history

"Freeze Coverage" Insurance Takes The Worry Out of Winter Power Outages

For Boats Up North, "Freeze Coverage" Insurance

Takes The Worry Out of Winter Power Outages and Other Snafus

Boaters who store their boats over the winter in heated storage facilities or garages have it best. But when winter storms bring power outages and the heat goes off, inside temperatures plummet. That's when a good thing can go bad quickly as the boat's motor likely has not been "winterized," causing water in the engine block to freeze. Even a small amount of ice in an engine block can exert tremendous pressure, cracking cylinder walls or other internal engine passageways leading to irreparable harm. And, unfortunately, most boat insurance policies won't compensate the owner as this kind of damage is considered a maintenance issue.

BoatUS says that's where boat owners may want to consider adding supplemental "Freeze Coverage" insurance to their boat's insurance policy to cover the unexpected consequences of winter snow and ice storm power outages. Keep in mind, however, that most insurers only offer this coverage up to the end of October.

"Adding Freeze Coverage costs very little, but will cover freeze-related damage to the single most expensive item aboard a recreational boat - the engine," said BoatUS Vice President of Marine Insurance, Mike Pellerin. BoatUS freeze coverage, for example, starts at $20 and has an October 31 deadline - after which it's unavailable until the following season.

In addition to those who store their boats in inside heated storage, Freeze Coverage may also be a smart option for do-it-yourselfers who want peace of mind and are concerned about possible winterization snafus, or by trailer boaters who occasionally travel south for vacations or fishing trips. "When your return home, any water left in the wrong place can freeze," added Pellerin.

Supplemental Freeze Coverage is usually only offered in regions with consistent below-freezing temperatures, because engine winterization is not optional there. Those in temperate states usually have this feature automatically added to their policy - including all BoatUS policies - but you should check with your insurer.

For more information on boat insurance, or to get a free quote online, go to www.BoatUS.com/insurance or call 800-283-2883.