2017’s Hurricane Irma caused severe damage to this sailboat.
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If a boat cannot be removed from a boat lift prior to a hurricane’s arrival, tie-downs may help prevent a total loss if storm surge dislodges the vessel from its cradle.
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SPRINGFIELD, Va., May 28, 2025 – Recreational boaters whose vessels have been impacted by a hurricane and came out relatively unscathed know it all starts with a plan. With the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season starting June 1, Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) is offering free hurricane boat preparation information at BoatUS.com/Hurricanes.

Online help is available to every boat owner (no BoatUS membership required), whether their vessel will have to weather the storm in the slip, stored ashore, on a boat lift, in canals, at marinas, boat clubs or hurricane holes.

The storm-planning help includes downloadable guides, videos and in-depth articles from BoatUS, the nation’s largest boating advocacy, services and safety group with more than 725,000 members and with more than 40 years of experience in hurricane preparedness for recreational vessels and post-storm recovery.

The simplest way to begin a customized boat hurricane damage avoidance plan is to download the one-page Hurricane Planning worksheet, which will help you determine a boat’s storage and protection options and needs, including any special equipment such as chafe protection, shackles or extra line.

Also offered is the “BoatUS Magazine Hurricane Preparations Guide,” which offers proven tips and techniques, and the “Guide for Preparing Boats and Marinas for Hurricanes” – a helpful resource for marina and boat club staff, community resiliency managers and local government organizations that focus on protecting boating facilities.

A video playlist includes nine hurricane preparation videos on a range of topics, making it easy to understand the steps to take, such as how to tie up your boat, how to set fenders, and what to do after a hurricane has come through.

If a named storm approaches, BoatUS.com/Hurricanes offers great up-to-the-minute storm tracking tools with live satellite images.

The Atlantic hurricane season officially ends November 30. For more, go to BoatUS.com/Hurricanes.

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Suggested social media post:

With the Atlantic #hurricane season starting June 1 and an above-average number of storms predicted, recreational boaters should practice the three Ps: preparation, preparation, and preparation! @BoatUS has all the hurricane prep information boaters need to prevent or lessen damage. Downloadable guides, articles, worksheets, videos, and storm tracking are all free at BoatUS.com/Hurricanes https://bit.ly/4kGeDoV #beready #hurricaneprep #hurricanepreparednessweek #beprepared #BoatUS #hurricaneseason #stormready #freeresources #weatherready

About Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS):

Celebrating more than 55 years, BoatUS is the nation’s largest advocacy, services and safety group with more than 725,000 dues-paying members. BoatUS is the boat owners’ voice on Capitol Hill, fighting for their rights. The TowBoatUS^® fleet is available 24/7 to assist our members on the water when boats break down or run aground with some 600 vessels and 300-plus locations across North America, bringing our members safely back to the launch ramp, marina or dock. On the road, we are The Boat Owners Auto Club™, helping ensure roadside trailer and tow vehicle breakdowns won’t slow you down. BoatUS offers GEICO boat insurance policies that give boat owners affordable, specialized coverage and the superior service they need. Award-winning BoatUS Magazine is the largest circulation recreational marine publication in the U.S. with engaging content that speaks to the passion for boat ownership, while our 501(c)(3) nonprofit BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water offers the nation’s only free online boating safety course and many other programs that keep boaters safe and our waters clean. Visit BoatUS.com.