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It’s August. Your eye is on the weather map, and it doesn’t like what it sees: a tropical storm bearing down on the Greater and Lesser Antilles that will likely reach the Florida coast within days. At risk is your prized vessel, and a plan must be put into action to protect it. But where to start? According to an article in Cruising World, planning for the safety of your boat and where it will survive best is a lot like the real estate business: location, location, location.

You may think that a secure marina would be the best place to batten down during a hurricane. But maybe not. Does the dockmaster have a hurricane plan in place? If not, will you be required to evacuate? The physical characteristics of the marina—its surroundings as well as the layout, construction, and design of its piers and slips—are all vital factors in your boat’s safety. And despite your best efforts, perhaps your slip neighbor may not have been so diligent in his. Loose boats in a marina wreak havoc.

The key to your docking plan should be long lines (the longer the better) to accommodate a predicted storm surge. A good rule of thumb: Storm lines should be at least as long as the boat itself. According to the BOAT/U.S. Catastrophe Team, nearly 50 percent of the thousands of boats damaged during Hurricane Andrew could have been saved by using better dock lines. By the time you’ve completed docking your boat, it should resemble a spider in the center of a web.

Canals, rivers, and waterways are usually better alternatives to marinas, although many of the same problems exist. In canals, try to secure your boat in the center, tying the boat to both sides using the ‘spider web’ technique. Move as far up the canal as possible; the boat will be better protected from storm surge and the possibility of blocking access to other boats is reduced. In wider canals and waterways, secure your boat to anything available: trees, secure pilings, and anchors. The more lines and anchors, the better. Again, use lines as long as possible.

Hurricane holes also offer an alternative to crowded marinas. In the ideal hurricane hole, strong tall trees and root lattices can help protect the boat in high winds. They also make excellent terminal points for dock lines and anchors.

Another favorable alternative is storing your boat ashore. A study by MIT after Hurricane Gloria found that boats stored ashore were far less likely to sustain damage than those kept in the water. Boats stored ashore should be well above the anticipated storm surge levels—difficult because most marinas and yards are at or near existing water levels. But the same study states that boats tipped off their jack stands during a storm surge still suffer less damage than their counterparts in the water.

There is much to do in the event of a potential disaster, and a well-organized list is essential that includes items like extra lines, chafing gear, fenders, anchors, swivels, shackles, duct tape, and bung plugs. Don’t forget, you’ll need a dinghy or some other method for getting ashore after you’ve secured your boat. And always make sure your boat’s batteries are fully charged.

Hopefully you won’t find yourself at point-blank range from a hurricane anytime soon. But for a certainty, the key to surviving such an encounter is planning ahead.

Since 1981, Miami Marine Specialists has been supplying the North Miami area with dependable boating sales, parts, and service. Our staff is fully factory trained to keep up with the latest technology upgrades in all of our products and is multi-lingual, working closely with customers in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, which enables us to provide a unique degree of service.

Come by the next time you’re near the Haulover inlet at Keystone Point Marine in North Miami. We’re right on the water and ready to help with all your boating needs.

Miami Marine Specialists

With new and improved technology elbowing its way into virtually every sector of the marketplace today, it follows that the boating industry would eventually feel its effects. Not unlike auto racing, which has seen the debut of FIA’s Formula E series, the first-ever fully electric racing series on the planet, boating has wheeled out the electric boat.

Okay, so boats powered by electricity aren’t exactly new; in fact, they’ve been around for over 120 years. Electric boats were popular from the 1880s until the 1920s, when the internal combustion engine became dominant. With the dawning of the 1970s and the energy crises, people again looked to this quiet and potentially renewable marine energy source, now a timely entrant to boating with its many green selling points.

Each year, boats typically go into hibernation for the long winter. But what about boaters in the warmer weather climes? Is there a way to keep boats safe and go boating despite occasional freezing spells?

You may be shocked to learn that, according to BoatU.S. insurance statistics in a recent article in BoatingWorld.com, the state with the most reported cases of freeze-related boat damage isn’t Minnesota. It’s California. And Southern states such as Florida also rank high, mainly because boaters in sunshine states are less prepared.

By far the greatest danger of winter boat damage comes from water, a liquid that expands when it freezes. If you plan to use your boat year-round, as many in Florida do, where temperatures occasionally dip below freezing, winterize systems such as the water holding tank, showers, livewells, faucets and the head system and don’t use them during the winter. It’s way too much hassle to winterize and recommission every time you want to go out, so take a bucket instead.

The other water-related issue is water in your engine systems. With an outboard, simply tilt it down to drain it and bump the starter to clear the water pump. With a closed cooling system, double check that your antifreeze is up to snuff. For an I/O or inboard, be sure after every use to drain the water that remains internally. Usually, there are drain plugs in the block and on the back bottom of the exhaust.

For winter fuel, fill ’er up with non-ethanol gas to eliminate the chance of phase separation, which happens when ethanol sinks to the bottom of the tank and mixes with water (gas and water don’t mix). If you can’t find ethanol-free gas, use STA-BIL’s marine formula.

Keep in mind that boating in cold water requires greater vigilance and more attention to safety; a person falling overboard in colder water can become incapacitated in minutes. But obviously the benefits are huge if you can keep your boating dream alive all year.

Since 1981, Miami Marine Specialists has been supplying the North Miami area with dependable boating sales, parts, and service. Our staff is fully factory trained to keep up with the latest technology upgrades in all of our products and is multi-lingual, working closely with customers in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, which enables us to provide a unique degree of service.

Come pay us a visit the next time you’re near the Haulover inlet at Keystone Point Marine in North Miami. We’re right on the water and ready to help with all your boating needs.

Miami Marine Specialists