Inside tips on storm preparation

9:04 PM Mon 28 Sep 2009 GMT

'When the weather turns like this...' .

A new online publication aimed at marinas and yacht clubs outlines proven techniques that could greatly reduce damage to boats and boating facilities whenever a hurricane strikes.

The 24-page 'What Works. A Guide to Preparing Marinas, Yacht Clubs, and Boats for Hurricanes,' shares success stories as well as failures of dozens of marinas and clubs that have experienced a hurricane over last two decades.

While the guide is principally aimed at marinas, there are hundreds of tips for both commercial organisations, yacht clubs and boat owners about preparation for a storm.

The guide is published by Boat Owners Association of The United States(BoatU.S.), a USA recreational boating advocacy organization that also offers marine insurance and has an industry-leading hurricane response team. While hurricanes are the bete noir for the USA, the advice applies equally for any bad storm, be it typhoon, cyclone or hurricane.

Boat US are very well placed to give such advice for a unique reason: 'Any time a major hurricane has struck the U.S., our BoatU.S. Marine Insurance Catastrophe Team has hit the ground running, salvaging boats and processing claims,' said BoatU.S. Damage Avoidance Director Bob Adriance. 'This has given them a unique inside look at the damage inflicted upon a variety of marinas and yacht clubs.

...there’s advice to ensure THIS does not happen (in Majorca last year) - photo by John Rodriguez - .. .

'So we asked our team to identify those facilities that have consistently fared well, often lessening or even eliminating damage to docks and boats. This guide includes the best practices and strategies learned from those marinas.'

The guide covers floating docks with tall pilings, strapping down boats ashore, developing hurricane clubs for customers and club members, dealing with boats at fixed docks, moving boats to hurricane holes, and how to install better moorings.

A special legal notes section, 'Protecting Yourself from the Storm,' offers information equally important to any marina owner or yacht club leadership -- how to protect themselves from vessel owners seeking compensation for hurricane-related damage.

Also included is a sample Marina Hurricane Preparation Plan that can be customized for any boating facility, as well as a Hurricane Preparation Worksheet for individual boat owners. A special advertising section featuring hurricane damage avoidance products is also included.

To download a copy of the guide, go to www.BoatUS.com/hurricanes .

About BoatU.S.:
BoatU.S. is the nation's leading advocate for recreational boaters providing its 600,000 members with government representation, programs and money saving services. For membership information for U.S. based readers visit www.BoatUS.com

by Sail-World Cruising