How to Secure a Boat in a Hurricane

All boaters and sailors need to know how to secure a boat in a hurricane. Here’s why: A hurricane is an extreme weather phenomenon that can hit an entire region and cause a lot of damage. No place is safe from a hurricane, but how do you protect your sailboat from damage?

What Exactly Is A Hurricane?

A hurricane is a big area of low pressure that forms over huge bodies of warm ocean water. This hurricane has warm temperature to sustain itself, like the sun, and it’s the same effect as a heat lamp. The big winds blowing around in the storm are like the power cord that keeps this storm spinning on over the water.

What Does A Hurricane Look Like?

A hurricane looks just like a tornado from above with high winds spinning in circles, pulling up water from the ocean into a spiral or funnel shape. It’s always black at the center because it’s moving fast and sucking all of the heat up to cool off its spiraling motion, just like when you lift your arm up fast to make your hand turn red from friction.

How to Secure Your Boat For A Hurricane

Thankfully, there are some simple steps you can take to protect your sailboat from the destructive power of a hurricane.

Step One: Prepare your boat

If you have a powerboat, it could be a good idea to put it in storage before a hurricane hits. It would be very difficult to remove the anchor from the water to keep from being dragged out to sea. If you must leave your boat, tie it up securely and make sure all lines are in good condition and will hold for as long as possible.

If your sailboat is not stored inside, here are some tips on how to secure it:

Remove all loose items from your boat.

Get off the boat, and if possible, get it in a dry dock. You may be able to move the boat onto pavement or solid land, but only if it is not too windy or stormy outside. Be sure the winds are not so strong that they will tear your sailboat from its mooring or sink it.

If you can’t put your sailboat in a dry dock, try to remove all of the things that could fly around the deck and cause damage during a storm. Take down any sails and secure them with ropes. Tie down any equipment sitting on the deck of your boat with heavy-duty lines, nets, or straps. Make sure all of your lines are secure and that you have the right length.

Find a secured place to tie up your boat. Put your sailboat in a protected location, such as a marina or boatyard, or a closed-in trailer or shed. Be sure you don’t put it in an area where high winds could get under the deck and lift it up in the air, tipping over the side. If possible, position your boat so that it will be sheltered from wind and waves, but not so close to any trees or structures that could be destroyed by high winds. Never put your sailboat in any kind of structure that is not solidly built.

Step Two: Secure the hull of the boat

After you have secured your boat near land, trim all sails and make sure winches are tightly secured. Always secure loose gear on deck first. If there is a possibility of getting the sailboat into a marina or other secure place, push it off to one side if possible.

Step Three: Lower the sail

If you have a roller furling sail, get it down. Then secure the halyards to the boom. Make sure they are not under any kind of strain that could cause them to break. If you do not have a roller furling sail, get the mainsail down as quickly as possible and tie off the halyard to prevent it from being blown away by strong winds.

Step Four: Prepare your lines

Prepare all of your lines before they are needed. You can use nylon line if you need something quick and easy. Make sure the lines on your boat are in good condition and will hold if necessary.

Step Five: Secure your fridge and other essential items

If you have a fridge on your sailboat, prepare it right away. Make sure it is off and unplugged, and that there is no gas leak in the boat. If you have a freezer, secure it to something so that it doesn’t blow away or get thrown around by strong winds.

Step Six: Secure all loose surfaces

There are many things on your boat that could be blown around during a hurricane, damaging or breaking everything in sight. You can secure them with ropes or straps so they will not be blown off of the boat by high winds. Tie down any sails or other equipment you have out on the deck. Secure anything that could be thrown around inside of the boat as well.

Step Seven: Check for damage after the storm

After the storm, check your sailboat for damage. You may need to call a local marina for help with this. Report any kind of damage or loss immediately and file a claim with your insurance company. You may also be able to submit a claim with your home insurance company if you have property elsewhere that has been damaged by a hurricane.

Step Eight: Do not use your boat before you have it checked out by a professional

If possible, wait to use your boat until it has been checked by a marine surveyor. This person will look for any kind of damage that can be easily repaired, and give you an estimate of the cost it will take to get your sailboat back into decent condition. If there is serious damage to your boat, it may be better to invest in a new one if necessary.

Final thoughts on securing your boat in a storm:

World Sailing Charters never messes with strong storms of any kind!

Hurricane season is a year-round concern for people with boats, and you can never be too prepared. In addition to the steps to take before a hurricane hits, you should keep your boat properly maintained at all times. Proper care of your sailboat will make it easier for you to get it back into decent shape after a hurricane passes through your area.

source https://www.worldsailingcharters.com/secure-a-boat-in-a-hurricane/

How to restore a boat easily

Learn how to restore a boat easily with these simple steps. At World Sailing Charters, we know that boat restoration is the process of returning a boat to good usable condition and to be structurally sound and seaworthy. You can do this yourself or with the help of someone with experience in boat restoration.

In this article, we’ll give you some of the best tips to get your boat back into sailing shape. If you’re restoring a boat and want to learn how to build a simple boat then we suggest you check out our latest article on that process.

Let’s begin restoring your boat!

What You’ll Need to restore a boat

There are some tools that can make your job much easier when restoring a boat. Good quality tools are needed to ensure your boat will last for many years. You can choose to buy a complete restoration kit, or simply buy the tools as you need them for your project. Most of the restoration kits and tools come with detailed instructions, so you don’t have to worry about losing time by getting it wrong while working on your boat. The most important tools include:

1. Air compressor – Used to inflate the tires for the boat and other inflatable equipment.
2. Cordless drill – Used for driving screws, drilling holes, and other similar tasks.
3. Hammers – There are several types of hammers to choose from, all with different uses. These include claw hammers, nail pulling hammer, chisel hammer, and sledge hammers for demolition work.
4. Jack – Used to lift and move your boat on the trailer.
5. Spanners – Small tools used for tightening up nuts and bolts.
6. Torpedo level – This is a good tool to help you check if your boat is level, even if the water is undisturbed.
7. Ball peen hammer – Used to wipe, clean, and smooth small surfaces of metal objects, such as blocks of wood or engine parts before painting them .

Tips on How to Restore A Boat Easily

1. Perform A Structural Inspection

Before you start with any restoration work, make sure your boat is structurally sound. To do this, you need to have a few general inspections done on your boat. The first one to do is a hull check, which should check whether there are leaks in the keel area, and whether any parts are damaged. The second check is for the boats interior and deck areas. Make sure everything is in good condition and free of water leaks and rust. The last check is to check the electrical system, which should be of the highest quality.

2. Inspect The Hull

Before using any boat you have restored, it is necessary to inspect the hull, especially if it is small. You can do this by using a torpedo level and a torpedo gauge. You should also use your mirror to check the bottom of the boat for any cracks or leaks. If you see any cracks or leaks, which would indicate bad structural integrity of the hull, you need to repair them as quickly as possible.

3. Remove Excess Water

Remove excess water from your boat to avoid corrosion and dry rot. You can do this by using a hose fitted with a pressure nozzle on the hull. This will remove water from the boat quickly and efficiently. You can also use an automatic bilge blower if you want to remove all of the water in short amount of time. A manual bilge blower works faster than an automatic one, but is harder to use for cleaning large areas.

4. Remove Exterior Wood

If you have to remove some wood from your boat due to rot or minor damage, use a chisel and hammer to remove it. Be careful not to hit the metal components of your boat in any way, as this will damage the metal. The wood can then be replaced with a good quality piece of wood.

5. Remove The Old Fuel Tank
   Your fuel tank will most likely need replacing if it is beyond repair. To remove it, you have to drain the tank first. Then, remove the fuel line from your boat and unscrew the fuel tank. If you have a low profile boat, you can do away with the fuel line altogether by opening the holes and installing a rubber hose on each end of the old fuel line where it connects to your boat.
6. Remove Metal Stains

To remove metal stains from your boat, first you have to clean the area with a cloth to ensure no residue or dirt is left behind. Use a wire brush and a 50-50 solution of white vinegar and water to remove the stains. Rinse the area with water after this. Any remaining rust can be removed by rubbing with steel wool soaked in rust remover.

7. Repair Any Metal Damage

Metal damage can be caused by hitting a rock or some debris while on the water. No matter how serious the damage, you have to repair it as soon as possible so you don’t end up hitting something even harder and causing more damage to your boat. To repair the metal, use an angle grinder with a wire brush to remove any rust and paint. Wash down any dirt or rust from the area, paying close attention not to damage any other parts of your boat.

8. Replace The Sails
   If you have a sailboat, and some of its sails are damaged, it is necessary to replace them. The same goes for the bowsprit and the jib, as they can be easily broken from hitting another object. To repair these parts, first remove any tarnished or rusty parts using wire brush and some sandpaper. Covering any rusty areas will prevent the new material from rusting. Next, add new material to the sails using epoxy or marine sealant.
9. Scrub Barnacle Off The Exterior
   Barnacles and other debris can get stuck to the exterior hull of your boat, this is why it is necessary to scrub it off using a wire brush. The easiest way to remove barnacles is by using an angle grinder with wire wheel attached to it. This will remove all barnacles and other debris from your hull.
10. Paint The Hull

Use a power washer with a fan tip to clean the bottom of your hull, and then screw on new zincs. Now you have clean metal ready for painting. Use a brush to paint your hull. After that, you can remove the excess paint from the hull using a rag, then smooth the surface using a fiberglass scraper.

source https://www.worldsailingcharters.com/how-to-restore-a-boat/