Can your boat survive a direct hurricane hit? Absolutely. Our boat has weathered two direct hits—Hurricanes Marty (Cat 1, 2003) and Irma (Cat 4, 2017)—with minimal damage. Additionally, it has been within 50 miles of the center of at least a dozen other storms.
Since 2003, I’ve studied why some boats survive hurricanes with minimal damage while others – not so far away – are totaled. I’ve learned that choosing the right place to put your boat and then ensuring that she stays there are keys to having your boat survive a hurricane.
Too many boaters don’t make a conscious decision about where they’ll put their boat if a hurricane is forecast for their area. Articles on hurricane prep often focus on securing the boat but not on choosing a safe location initially. All the preparation is futile if the spot isn’t safe to begin with. It’s essential to make an informed decision about where to place your boat well before a storm is forecast as it can significantly increase the chances of your boat surviving a hurricane with minimal damage.
I see the same thing with hurricane plans required by insurance companies: they ask where the boat will be kept, but rarely about why that location was chosen or what features make it a good choice. Then they ask for the details of how the boat will be prepped. When insurance companies discuss location, they talk about broad geographic locations, such as “north of the Florida/Georgia line” or “not above 12⁰ N.”
And yet, in storm after storm, we see almost total destruction of boats in one marina or boatyard while boats just a mile or two away largely survived.
It’s not just luck.
It’s possible to predict which places will fare best.
We tend to think of hurricanes as being about wind, since that’s how they are classified. Actually, they’re a combination event of wind, waves, surge, rain, and debris. All of these must be considered when picking the spot for your boat, along with factors like ability to get there and evacuation options.
The more information you have about various possible places in your area, the better decision you can make. Don’t just rely on a friend’s assessment or photos on a website. Look at everything to see how protected or open the location is to damage from each of the damaging forces:
Wind
Waves
Surge
Rain
Debris
Each site has its pros and cons. No single factor outweighs the others. It’s the combination of protections that will determine your boat’s safety, considering the specific storm’s details. For instance, a location might be well-protected from wind but vulnerable to storm surge. Balancing these factors is key to selecting the best spot.
Decide on the best location for your boat long before a storm is forecast. Choose your spot, know how long it takes to get there, program the route into your navigation system, and do the same for a backup location. This preparation ensures you can act quickly and efficiently when a storm approaches.
Want to learn more about how to assess various locations – boat yards, marinas, anchorages, and other options – for their ability to protect your boat in a hurricane?
Join hurricane prep expert Carolyn Shearlock for an in-depth step-by-step blueprint for everything storm-related, from choosing your spot and how to make sure your boat stays there, to weather watching and dangers after the storm. She’ll be leading Hurricane Readiness: A Blueprint for Boaters, an American Sailing online course, on July 18 at 4:30 PM Pacific, 7:30 Eastern. In it, you’ll see over 150 photos to show exactly what to look for and do, and get four downloadable documents including a checklist to use when assessing various locations to put your boat.
In “Hurricane Readiness: A Blueprint For Boaters,” Carolyn will explain how to effectively prepare your boat for a hurricane to increase your boat’s chances of surviving a storm.
Topics Covered:
Choose the best location for your boat.
Gather the proper supplies ahead of time—no last-minute scramble.
Watch the weather and understand the fine points of the forecasts.
Assess the risks and implications of hurricane season.
Prepare a comprehensive hurricane plan both for yourself and your insurance company.
Develop detailed hurricane checklists.
Know when to stop monitoring forecasts and start preparing.
Execute your plan with step-by-step guidance.
Stay safe during preparation and in the aftermath.
Learn how all of your decisions and actions work together to influence what happens to your boat should a hurricane hit—not just the “big things” from a “Top 10 Tips” article, but all the little details that can make a crucial difference. As Carolyn says, “There’s no single trick to keeping a boat safe; it’s the sum of all the precautions you take. You need to learn and implement them all.” This course will equip you with the exact knowledge needed to prepare and execute a comprehensive hurricane plan tailored to your specific situation.
About The Author: Carolyn Shearlock is a seasoned sailor with extensive experience in hurricane preparedness for boats. Having weathered two direct hits from hurricanes, she has dedicated herself to understanding why some boats survive storms with minimal damage while others do not. Since 2004, Carolyn has been sharing her expertise and practical advice with the boating community, helping countless boaters protect their vessels from hurricane damage.
Don’t Miss American Sailing’s Upcoming Online Class
HURRICANE READINESS: A BLUEPRINT FOR BOATERS •HOSTED BY CAROLYN SHEARLOCK
THU JUL 18 • 4:30PM PT HURRICANE READINESS: A BLUEPRINT FOR BOATERS Learn how to prepare your boat for hurricanes with proven strategies and detailed planning.
Hurricane Readiness: A Blueprint for Boaters Join expert Carolyn Shearlock in this comprehensive online class to learn how to prepare your boat for hurricanes. With 17 years of experience, Carolyn's proven strategies cover everything from pre-season planning to post-storm safety, ensuring your boat's best chance of survival in hurricane-prone areas.
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