June 1 is the official start of Atlantic hurricane season, and for boat owners, that date carries a particular weight. You’ve probably seen the hurricane season checklists for boat owners: remove canvas, double your lines, charge the batteries, stow the cushions. All of it matters. But a checklist only does its job if you’ve already worked through the thinking behind it. Here are the three questions we ask every client in June, while the answer is still “not yet” rather than “too late.”
Have you talked to your insurance agent recently?
Not just paid the renewal. Actually talked. Policies change. Coverage that applied to your last boat may not apply to this one. And your deductible during a named storm event is often a percentage of hull value, not a flat dollar amount, which is worth knowing before you need it. A 15-minute call now is worth considerably more than a claims conversation in September.
Does your marina have a documented storm plan, and do you know what it is?
Many marinas do. Many slip holders don’t know where to find it. Some marinas require boats to leave during named storm events; others have haul-out protocols with specific timelines and priority queues. Find out now, while there’s time to plan around it. If your marina can’t answer these questions clearly, that’s useful information too.
Do you know where your boat goes if a storm threatens?
If it stays in the water, what’s your plan for lines, fenders, and securing loose gear? If it comes out, where does it go, and how quickly can that be arranged? The wait list for haul-outs gets long fast once a storm name hits the news. If you have a relationship with a yard, now is the time to have that conversation, before everyone else is having it at the same time.
One more note for anyone actively cruising this summer: if you’re on the ICW or heading south, add hurricane holes to your route planning now, before you need them. There is no universally safe place during a major storm, but some marinas are significantly better positioned than others, and the good ones fill up fast once a storm name hits the news. Waterway Guide has a well-researched breakdown of rated hurricane holes along the ICW, including what to look for in marina construction and why keyhole entrances matter more than most boaters realize. Worth bookmarking!
The season runs through November 30, and most activity peaks August through October. July is the right time to think through these questions. August is when you act on the answers, and the difference between those two usually determines whether a storm season is manageable or stressful.
We hope your summer is full of good passages and smooth docking. Stay safe out there.
