Help Your Boat Survive a Major Storm
Simple tips that everyone can use to protect their investment

Weather is the cause of much destruction. Fortunately, modern day weather tracking systems provide a warning several days in advance, so boat owners can prepare their vessel to survive even a major storm unscathed.

If you’ve received a bad weather warning, and you have time to safely get to your boat, take the following steps to prepare your boat for a storm.

Windage

Windage is a fancy word for the air resistance of a moving object, such as a vessel or a rotating machine part, or the force of the wind on a stationary object. In the case of your boat, you want to reduce windage by removing anything from the topside of your vessel that could catch the wind.

Remove Bimini tops, cockpit dodgers, spray curtains and awnings. Sails should be removed, not simply rolled up. In strong winds, even the best rolled sail can unfurl, causing a major windage problem. Stow the man overboard gear, cockpit cushions, cowl vents, antennas, and halyards if possible. Internal halyards can be run to the masthead, preventing them from adding to the windage.

Get it Off the Boat

When in doubt, remove anything that’s not bolted down. If your vessel does suffer damage, the last thing you want is for custom electronics, personal belongings, and navigation gear to get ruined, especially if the items are uninsured.

Know Your Ground Tackle

If you’re unsure of the condition of any part of your mooring system- replace it. After storms, insurance adjusters look for worn mooring components, and inadequate scope for mooring pennants to avoid approving claims of loss.

At the Dock

In a major storm, a floating dock can float right off the pilings, taking your boat with it. If your boat is docked, tie the lines high up on the pilings themselves. Use multiple clove hitches, or a clove hitch and two half hitches so the lines will tighten on the pilings.

Avoid Scrapes

Choppy water means a scraped hull if you are tied down at the dock. Paint protection films are a simple and effective way to protect your boat’s paint from even the most severe weather. It is a fraction of the price of hull repair and can be completed easily and effectively. Click here to learn more about paint protection options.

Anchored Out

Even the most secure permanent mooring should be backed up with your own anchors during a storm. Deploy your heaviest anchor in the expected direction of the strongest winds, and your second anchor 180 ’ from that. Make sure your anchors are appropriate for the type of bottom, and are deployed as far from your boat as possible. The more horizontal line the anchors have, the better they’ll hold.

Chafe

In a storm lasting several hours, most metal fittings will chafe away your lines. Chafing gear can be made from almost any sacrificial material, like a pair of old denim jeans cut in strips.

Chafing gear has to stay in place or it won’t work. It’s not pretty, but you should duct tape your chafing gear, making sure to cover more of the line than you think is necessary to accommodate lines shifting and stretching.

Lines

Whenever possible, key dock lines should be doubled or lead heavily loaded lines to winches before belaying them on cleats. Don’t carry more than one heavily loaded line to a single cleat because if the cleat goes, the boat goes. Ideally, the time to test the strength of your deck hardware is well before a storm. Check for proper backing plates, bolts, and strength of the deck and the fitting itself.

Hauling Out

Hauling is a good idea if you can stow the mast, and get it to high ground. Don’t park under a tree.

On or Off the Boat?

The question of whether to remain on or off your boat in a major storm is case by case. Sure, you may increase its chances of survival by fending or adjusting lines. At the same time, you also increase your chances of getting killed or injured. No vessel is worth that.

Finally

We suggest taking photos of all your storm prep. In the event your insurance company questions the loss of your boat, it helps to have pictures to prove your loss.

Careful preparation of your boat will give you peace of mind, minimize the damage in a storm and ensure your insurance company steps up with a minimum of negotiations.

Boat Restoration
Some things to consider when you are taking on a re-build

Even the most conscientious boat aficionado can find ways to improve and enhance the boating experience. From the mundane tasks of necessary detailing to splurging on high end upgrades, sometimes it’s hard to know where to begin. Diversity Marine customers approach us with questions ranging from advice on bottom paint to recommendations of how to prevent their interior from fading unnecessarily. We’ve heard it all, and here are a few tips to assist the baffled boat owner.

Exterior Detailing

It’s no mystery that health of your hull is key to staying afloat. Detailing and restoring your hull is a time-consuming process, and should ideally be checked off your list long before boating season arrives.

If you think you don’t have the time to spend on exterior detailing, we have written extensively on the topic showing you how to do it in no time and make maintenance as easy as ever. We have written about maintaining your exterior and your engine bay, check them out and you will be surprised how easy it can be.

Interior/Window Detailing

The interior of your vessel is just as important, as it’s where you live, cook, sleep, and relax out of glare of the sun. Detailing your interior will eliminate any odours of mildew or diesel fumes that may have accumulated during winter storage. Paying attention to the interior will reveal any larger issues like damage or sun-fading of leather seats, carpeting, or wood panels. Diversity Marine offers specialised detailing packages to address and revive those problem areas.

To prevent sun damage, we recommend installing marine grade tinted window film. Window tint keeps the inside of your boat cooler in the summer, saves on A/C costs and prevent fading, cracking and damage to the interior of your boat. Window tint is proven to improve your boat’s appearance, while protecting you from dangerous UV-A and UV-B rays.

See our line of window films here, and check out our interior detailing blog right here.

Audio Systems

A high quality audio system is resilient to the marine environment. Having a reliable audio system that plays your favourites adds fun and enjoyment to every excursion. Here at Diversity Marine, we don’t know where we’d be without our tunes. Victoria has a handful of really great audio installation companies that focus on boat owners, so if you need a recommendation give us a shout.

If you are looking for some marine upgrades, like window films and paint protection, Diversity Marine Films has you covered, and can get you sorted out and on the open water in no time. Send us a note, we would love to hear from you.

Be Prepared For Winter
Tips for storing your boat safely on land or at sea

Since the stormy season is coming it is a good idea to go over some possible solutions to safely storing your boat during a storm. Protecting your personal watercraft from storm damage both on the water and on land is paramount, and although the size of your vessel will play a major part in what you can and cannot do to protect your property from an approaching storm, here are a few ideas that might be beneficial to you.

If Your Boat Must Stay On Water

DRY DOCK: You can have the marina place your vessel in dry dock, in a secure boat hangar. If this is your intention, make sure your arrangements are made far enough in advance to get your boat secured safely before a storm arrives.

BERTH: You can berth at a dock with sturdy pilings that offers reasonable shelter from water and storm surge. Double all mooring lines, but remember to leave enough slack to allow for rising water. Crossing spring lines should be rigged fore and aft and secured high on pilings. All rough points should be wrapped with tape, rags or rubber hose to prevent chafing and breakage. Install extra fenders to protect your boat from rubbing against the pier or other boats.

ANCHOR: You can anchor your boat in a protected harbour with a bottom that allows a good anchor hold. You would need heavy anchors for this option; however, your boat can more easily respond to changes in the wind and water this way without the danger of striking docks or other boats. Three points of contact with the harbor bottom are recommended for anchoring in this manner.

If your boat can be easily removed from the water on short notice, the options for an approaching storm are much more simple.

Protecting Your Boat Out of the Water

INDOOR STORAGE: Your boat will be better protected from wind damage and flying objects if it is stored on its trailer inside your garage or shed.

SECURE IT OUTSIDE: If you must store your boat outside during a storm, be sure to strap it securely to its trailer and cover it. Not only will a cover help protect it from falling or flying objects, but it also prevents sun, rain and wind abrasion damage. Secure your trailer to a solid foundation, if possible, and let out at least half of the air in the tires.

TRIM FOLIAGE: Trim back large, dead or dying trees and branches that could fall on your watercraft storage space in a strong storm.

Tips For Everyone

No matter where or how you secure your boat during a storm, you should always remove all movable equipment and gear. If it cannot be removed, it needs to be secured to the boat. Anything that can come loose in a storm should be removed or secured. You can also seal windows, doors, and hatches with duct tape to enhance the watertight integrity of your boat.

With a bit of preparation, you can greatly increase the chances of your boat surviving the hurricane season and providing you with many more years of fun and enjoyment on the waves!