Hurricane Dean Bears Down on Gulf of Mexico

With Hurricane Dean aiming its sights on the Gulf of Mexico, boaters along the coast from Texas to Alabama should take steps to prepare their boats. To help them with this task, Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) has some free tips and “tools” available.

The BoatUS “ Hurricane Resource Center,” a storm-related Web site located at BoatUS.com/Hurricanes, includes a hurricane preparation worksheet, an in-depth Guide to Preparing Boats and Marinas for Hurricanes, and checklists for what to do before and after a hurricane strikes. All are free and easily downloadable.

The worksheet is a planning guide on steps to take prior to a hurricane, whether you plan on keeping your boat ashore, on a mooring or in a slip. It also lists gear a boater will need for hurricane preparation – items that could be sold out just before a hurricane hits.

The 12-page Guide goes into greater detail about how hurricane damages to boats usually occur, gives tips on what boaters should expect, and includes information and diagrams on how to prepare marinas and boats. Also included is a hurricane tracking chart and valuable information on post-storm recovery. The post-storm checklist can help eliminate further damage to your boat and help you get back on the water quicker.

Also at BoatUS.com/Hurricanes, boaters can see up-to-the-minute storm tracking tools with live satellite images and a “spaghetti” tracking model that shows multiple predicted storm paths on a map. Included are landfall strike probabilities, NOAA advisories, and wind band information. A series of hurricane damage avoidance articles on chafe protection, rope, moorings, and hurricane holes, as well as model hurricane plans for yacht clubs are all free to download.

There is also a Hurricane message board for boaters to share their experiences. A “links” section at BoatUS.com/Hurricanes leads boaters to other forecasts, a storm photo gallery, historical storm data and much more.

BoatUS is the nation’s leading advocate for recreational boaters providing its 650,000 members with a wide array of consumer services including a group-rate marine insurance program that insures nearly a quarter million boats; the largest fleet of more than 500 towing assistance vessels; discounts on fuel, slips, and repairs at over 870 Cooperating Marinas; boat financing; and a subscription to BoatUS Magazine, the most widely read boating publication in the U.S. For membership information visit www.BoatUS.com or call 800-395-2628.