With Fall here, the hurricane season is about to get worse and the Southeast United States will deal with more intense storms. This is especially a bigger concern for people who own boats on the coast. Last year, the 2023 Atlantic Hurricane Season was the fourth-most active season on record! There were 20 named hurricanes in 2023, with the most damaging storm occurring in late September. So, what type of damage should expect from these types of storms and how can you protect your boat?
Hurricane Damage to Boats
Without a doubt, hurricanes can cause an incredible amount of damage. Just last year, Hurricane Idalia caused $1 billion in damages alone. Although many of the hurricanes last year were regarded as “fish storms,” it’s still capable of destroying a boat. If a boat is caught up in a hurricane, you can expect damage such as:
- Structural
- Engine
- Electronics
You can also expect machinery failures, damage to steering systems and engine controls, and water damage that can lead to rot. To show what kind of state boats can get stuck in, let’s look at Hurricane Ian. During Ian, there was a billion dollars worth of damage to boats. These boats were left piled up on each other, lodged into buildings, and stuck in trees months after the hurricane struck. Without a doubt, your boat is going to get destroyed if it’s left at the mercy of a hurricane.
How Can You Protect Your Boat
If you have a boat in Florida or another Southern state, you might be wondering what you could do to protect your boat from a hurricane. The best way to protect your boat from flying into the nearest tree is by getting it out of the water. If you have a trailer, then you should remove your boat and relocate it to a safer destination that is far away from the coastline. You can store your boat in a garage or another storage facility.
If you cannot remove your boat from the water, you need to secure your boat and reduce the boat’s surface area. You can secure the boat to the dock with thicker lines to keep the boat from swaying and chafing gear to protect the structure of your boat. You should remove expensive electronics to ensure they are not damaged by water and close your hull valves to prevent internal damage.
Before the storm hits, you should record the state of your boat for insurance purposes and make sure everything is closed. Yet, all of these measures do not mean your boat will be safe.
Sell Your Boat Before a Hurricane Hits
Without a doubt, hurricane season is stressful and expensive for many people. Not many people can get insurance for their boat. Even taking protective measures can be expensive and still does not guarantee that your boat will be one piece after the storm. So, before you have to sell your boat for pennies on the dollar, you should sell it to us!
Sell Us Your Boat will give you the best quote for your used boat! We even buy damaged boats!