Batten Down the Hatches - How to prepare for a hurricane -Sailboats

Abbreviated from the St. Petersburg Times at http://www2.sptimes.com/weather/SP.1.html

Batten Down the Hatches!

Diane

Preparing your Sailboat

Take action early -- don't wait until a hurricane warning is declared. The storm's fringe activity will make preparations difficult.

•  If your boat is stack-stored in dry storage and you have a trailer, consider securing the boat at home.
• Pulling the boat out (unless you can put it in a garage) just gives you new risks (e.g. lots of sideboard to withstand wind). No guarantees either way.
• If you have a trailer and are in an evacuation zone, consider taking the boat with you.
• If your boat will remain in berth, before hurricane season check the strength of primary cleats, winches and chocks. They should have substantial back plates and adequate stainless steel bolts.
• Purchase extra mooring lines and chafing gear in advance; they may not be available just before a hurricane.
• Protect lines from chafing by covering rub spots with leather or old garden hose. Double all lines, with rig crossing spring lines fore and aft. Attach lines high on piling to allow for tidal rise or surge.
• Seal all openings with duct tape to make the boat as watertight as possible.
• Charge the batteries for the automatic bilge pumps.
• Reduce dock or piling crash damage by securing old tires along the sides of the boat.
• Remove loose gear from the deck (bimini), store securely inside your boat.
• Wrap a line around roller furling and sailcover. 
• For a boat stored on a trailer, lash the boat and trailer down in a protected area. Let the air out of tires before tying the trailer down. Place blocks between the frame members and the axle inside each wheel. Secure with heavy lines to fixed objects from four different directions, if possible.
• If you prefer, remove the boat from the trailer and lash down each separately.
• Remove the outboard motor, battery and electronics, and store them.
• Small boats can be filled with water to give them added weight after lashing down.
• If you like your boat more than you like your car; put the boat in the garage and leave the car outside.