Closing Boat for Season-Prep for Hurricane Season

Here in Florida you are guaranteed a Hurricane Season, if, when, where, how strong/weak is anyone’s guess – and maybe even go unaffected! In any event if you leaving for any extended time you need to close the boat up. There are many articles that cover this and its encouraged that you take time to read them. Here are some minimum recommendations:

1. Move your boat to a Marina so it is on the hard, safest place for your boat is on land, properly secured
2. Remove everything from your boat including seat cushions
3. Clean you boat – waxing exterior will only help the gelcoat, cleaning the interior helps extend its life. But keep in mind, mold shows up when things aren’t cleaned and moisture available
4. With regards to your engine – read your engine manufactures recommendations for storage and follow through, don’t be cheap, engines are expensive so give them the TLC they deserve
5. Your boat is on a lift – pull the plug, let the water from rains, hurricane, and surges drain out. If you don’t that extra weight from the water may collapse your lift. Remember in a hurricane power will be lost, your battery charger means nothing
6. Pull your battery out and store. Give it a good charge before storing. With plug pulled out your boat should drain, no need for bilge pump to be running.
7. Firmly fasten boat to cradle
8. Cover your boat – before you cover it, make sure it is dry inside. No chance for moisture. There are many different dry agents, as an example, place some damp-rid in the boat and have vents in cover to allow air to circulate. Firmly secure your cover
9. Raise boat in the lift to its highest point – purpose of this is to shorten the cables with less stress on them along with keeping lift/cradle/boat from swaying
10. Tie off boat lift at 4 corners to closest pilings. Most likely the lift’s pilings. Use other pilings if needed.
11. Lastly, buy a 30’ to 50’ line to attach to the bow and cleated off to the dock. In case something happens to the lift and boat is in water this will keep it from floating some place it shouldn’t

Remember any damage your boat causes you are responsible for at all times, you don’t need it getting loose in a hurricane and creating damage to your neighbors docks/boats/property