Less Damage To Boats Stored, Tied Down Ashore

The Latest Trend in Boat Hurricane Preparation: Tie Her Down

BoatUS Finds Less Damage To Boats Stored, Tied Down Ashore

 With Hurricane season officially beginning June 1, forecasters are predicting a "near normal" year of storm activity, which means there's a good chance that tropical storms will strike the US coastline. However, BoatUS has found a new tactic for preparing for incoming storms - using tie downs with boats stored ashore  - that has proven to significantly lessen the impact of storm damage.

"We've known for a long time that the most effective storm preparation tactic a boat owner can do is to remove the boat from the water and store her ashore in a location above the anticipated storm surge," said BoatUS Director of Damage Avoidance Bob Adriance. "That's why we created the Hurricane Haul-out Coverage overage included in all our boat insurance policies that helps defray the cost to remove a boat from the water."

"But over the last few years, we've now learned that if you add tie-downs on both sides of a boat that are secured to deck cleats and either embedded in the concrete pad or deeply screwed into the earth with helical anchors, you can almost eliminate storm damage from all but the most severe storms. Of course, you also have to include other measures, such as reducing windage by removing roller-furled sails and biminis, and ensuring that jack-stands rest on a firm surface, but if you want the least damage and want to get back on the water after a storm as quickly as possible, pulling the boat from the water and firmly tying her down are a winning plan," added Adriance.

BoatUS also offers free online help with the web's most complete Hurricane Resource Center designed specifically for boaters, clubs and marinas at www.BoatUS.com/Hurricanes. It includes detailed storm-tracking information as well as the no-cost, downloadable Boater's Guide to Preparing Boats and Marinas for Hurricanes.

All BoatUS boat policies include "Named Storm Haul-out Reimbursement." When a boat is in the path of a NOAA-named storm (within the five-day "cone"), a boater is eligible to be reimbursed for 50% of the cost of labor, up to $1,000, to have the boat professionally hauled, prepared and tied-down, or moved to a safe location. With BoatUS, a hurricane haul-out "claim" does not penalize a policyholder.

LightSquared Files for Bankruptcy

Thanks to Boaters Who Spoke Up: "Save My GPS"

 Nearly a year ago, Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) began asking recreational boaters, anglers and the marine industry to speak out about the potential loss of reliable GPS - the country's sole electronic navigation system. A private venture, LightSquared, backed by billions of dollars in funding, had plans to build a nationwide 4G broadband cellular telephone network but unfortunately, tests had shown this plan would interfere with GPS signals creating grave safety concerns. The company recently announced that it has filed for bankruptcy after the build-out of the network was halted by the FCC.

"Boaters can appreciate having GPS first hand," said BoatUS President Margaret Podlich. "They know it will get them safely home, help them find the best fishing, meet friends for an afternoon raft-up, and greatly speed their rescue if the day goes bad. We thank the 18,000 boaters and other GPS users who wrote the FCC asking the guardian of the nation's airwaves to ensure the future integrity of the GPS signal, and the FCC for listening and acting on our concerns."

Even with the company's May 14 Chapter 11 filing, LightSquared continues to be a challenging adversary, stating, "The voluntary Chapter 11 filing is intended to give LightSquared sufficient breathing room to continue working through the regulatory process that will allow us to build our 4G wireless network." Under federal bankruptcy law, LightSquared would maintain exclusive control for several months over the right to craft a path to emerge from Chapter 11. The company originally asked the FCC for permission to build 40,000 network ground stations across the country. Recent government reports concluded interference issues with the GPS system could not be overcome.

BoatUS is a member of the Coalition to Save Our GPS, which worked to resolve this threat to the GPS system. After losing their only other viable navigation system (LORAN) in 2010 after the Department of Homeland Security shut the system down, boaters now solely rely on GPS for electronic navigation. The US Coast Guard's emergency search and rescue system, Rescue 21, also now uses GPS to locate stricken vessels on over 41,746 miles of coastline, and mariners also rely on GPS-enabled communications with DSC VHF radios and emergency beacons to provide location information.

Boat Ramps are Like Security Checkpoints at Airports: Nobody Wants to Wait in That Line

Don't Be That Guy

Memorial Day is coming up. It's a time to slow down and remember every soldier that has made a sacrifice, suffered death or a life changing injury so that goobers like me could run around covering bass tournaments and filming fishing shows. Two simple words: "Thank You."

But look, I'm convinced that if I ever stop filming fishing shows, I could show up on any boat ramp in America on Memorial Day weekend and film a best-selling blooper tape of people struggling on boat ramps.

Look, do me a favor. Do us all a favor. Don't be "that guy." If you're reading this and you aren't absolutely confident that you'll be a thing of perfect efficiency when you get to the ramp this weekend - well, then - fix what needs fixing.

Is your cranking battery fresh, or has it been sitting stale as last year's Christmas cookies? And please tell me you're not going to ask your wife or brother-in-law, neither of whom have ever backed a boat down a ramp in their life, to "help you." 

If you just absolutely have to rely on an amateur for assistance, then I'd recommend going to an empty parking lot for practice until they are experts at backing-up a trailer before you even consider humiliating them and yourself on ?game day' this coming weekend.

See, here's the deal, boat ramps are like security checkpoints at airports. Nobody wants to wait in that line, so don't make it worse by being totally unprepared when you're up to bat.
Boat ramps are not maintenance garages. It's not a place to tune up your outboard, organize your fishing tackle or take inventory of your water skies and inflatables.

It's not a playground either, so rein in the zoo monkeys. I love taking my kids to the lake. It's an important part of our lives. But I don't let the little crumb snatchers run rampant on the launch ramp. It's dangerous, and it's irresponsible.

Think of boat ramps as a tollbooth. Get in. Get out. And getting out doesn't mean pulling up five-feet from the water's edge and stopping. Get way out of the way before you stop to re-adjust all your equipment for the ride home.

You guys that are reading this probably don't need a lecture. Most of you are proficient bass boat owners. But "the guy" that is "that guy" probably doesn't even realize that he is "that guy." So help him out, dudes. If you have one of those guys in your life - help him get prepared - Memorial Day is not the time to be a jackknife on the boat ramp.

And by all means, speaking of being prepared, no matter how proficient you are on the ramp - make sure you call BoatUS Angler to sign-up for a membership www.BoatUS.com/angler/. You just never know when you're gonna need assistance on the road to the lake, or once you're on the water. And certainly let's hope none of us have issues on the boat ramp this coming weekend.

The Life of a Middle-Aged Boat

And What to Do About It

 With people, middle age begins at around 40. With boats, it's about the 10-year mark. And for both, it signals a time when age begins to show. But that doesn't mean life is slowing down - only that more effort is needed to stay in shape. With decade-old boats, that means taking a hard look at things that haven't been checked out over the years. BoatUS has these nine "middle age" maintenance tips on boats: 

Bilge pumps: Like a Louisiana oil field roughneck, a ten-year old bilge pump has likely lead a tough life. Switches are often the first to go, so make sure yours works fine by pouring water in the bilge to activate the pump, making sure nothing interferes with the switch. Take a close look at wire connections as they often are near or in standing water at the bottom of the boat. 

Gas hose: When it was new, the fuel hose did a great job of delivering gas to the engine. Over time, however, gas can permeate the hose wall causing damage. Take a rag around the hose, wipe it down and then smell the rag. If you smell gas, replace hose immediately. If you do have to replace, always install new hose clamps, too. 

Steering and control cable: Like an arthritic knee, bend the cable in your hands and listen for "crunching," a telltale sign that all is not well. Swelling and rust are also bad signs and indicate it's time to replace. 

Caulked fittings: The boatyard rule of thumb is that after 10 years, the bedding compound owes you nothing. Begin a schedule to periodically remove and rebed fittings, doing a few each year so the job isn't overwhelming. This will keep the leaks out that could lead to more expensive repairs. 

Prop: Eventually all props get dinged, and you may not see the damage clearly with your eye. If it's never been to a shop, now is a good time to take it to a prop shop for reconditioning, and you'll also likely save some money on fuel with a tuned prop. 

Other drive gear: If you have an inboard, the cutlass bearing might be due for replacement, especially if there's more than just a smidgen of play in the drive shaft. It's also time to take a hard look at the stuffing box. If you've had to re-tighten the stuffing box nut often, it's time to replace the packing. 

Exhaust manifolds: If you boat in salt or brackish waters and you still have the original manifolds, thank your lucky stars they haven't failed yet. Now is the time to do some proactive maintenance to replace them. "Leaking manifolds can destroy an engine," said BoatUS Seaworthy Magazine Associate Editor Chuck Fort. 

Seacocks/Through Hulls: If it's been years since one has been fully opened and closed, it could be frozen, and that's useless. Make it a point to work seacocks a few times each season and while you're there, check the hose clamps. 

Standing rigging: When was the last time you had a close look at all of the fittings and mast attachments (even the ones up high)? Ten years is a long time for rigging on boats that are raced, but even those used for day sails can suffer from the cyclical loads that cause stress cracks, and saltwater can cause corrosion in swaged fittings not easily seen by the naked eye.

For more information on inspecting middle-aged boats from BoatUS' Seaworthy Magazine, the publication for BoatUS insureds, go to BoatUS.com/middleagedboats.
About BoatUS Seaworthy Magazine: 

Published four times a year by BoatUS Marine Insurance, Seaworthy's pages are filled with case studies that provide insight into how to avoid accidents, breakdowns, injuries and the "unexpected" circumstances that can jeopardize the safety of your boat and guests. Annual subscriptions are available for $10 at www.BoatUS.com/seaworthy. For a free online insurance quote, go to www.BoatUS.com/insurance or call 800-283-2883 .