Hurricane Preparations. If your area is prone to hurricanes, it is better to prepare than to be sorry. The preparation involves getting both your boat and boat dock prepared for the hurricane season. You want to ensure that you do all the dos and not the don’ts of hurricane preparation. Following is a list of the dos and don’ts of hurricane preparation owners of boat docks need to make:
Do: Strap Down Your Boats Ashore
Store your boat ashore by strapping it down using an anchor such as helical anchors drilled into the surface to hold your boat in place. If you keep your boat ashore without securing your boat with an anchor, the jack stands can come loose due to rocking back and forth and result in damaged bulkheads and hulls.
Do: Use Floating Docks and Tall Pilings
Marinas are most affected by hurricanes. If a hurricane destroys your boat dock, you are better off at rebuilding your boat dock with a floating dock and 16 to 18 feet tall pilings. Floating docks will protect your boat because they allow them to rise and fall with the movements of water and gust without stressing and stretching the lines.
The likelihood of your boat sustaining damage if docked on a fixed boat dock is higher than if docked on a floating dock. If your floating dock with tall pilings is installed at a well-sheltered marina, we suggest adding additional lines and stripping anything that may cause windage.
Do: Store Your Boat Ashore on Higher Ground
We recommend that you store your boat ashore on higher ground. The higher the ground, the more secure your boat will be during hurricane season.
Don’t: Use Floating Docks with Short Pilings
If your floating dock has short pilings, it is likely not to survive hurricane season. If you have a floating dock with short pilings, you should take it out of the water or move to a more sheltered area.
Don’t: Use Low-lying Seawall to Protect Boats
If a low-lying seawall protects your boat, it will not hold up during a hurricane. If the water rises above the seawalls, it will cause severe damage to your boats regardless of how well you have secured them to your boat dock. You are advised to move and secure your boat with an anchor ashore or move them to another marina or a location that offers better protection from the hurricane.
Don’t: Cramped and Stationary Boat Docks
If the slip for your boat is too tight, you will have a harder time securing the dock lines during hurricane season. If the slip is too loose, it will cause your boat to slam into the pilings. As an additional measure, add devices to the nylon lines or pilings. The device will help the boat rise and fall during the hurricane.
When hurricane season comes to your area, you will be prepared. For more information on boat dock installation, contact EZ Dock, Texas, at 800-654-8168 for a quote if you reside in Texas, Oklahoma, or New Mexico.
