This week?s article comes to us courtesy of Sea Tow. Take a gander at some ideas for preparing now as we are officially into the 2014 Hurricane Season.
Despite Forecasts for a Less Active 2014 Hurricane Season, Sea Tow Urges Boaters to Start Preparing Now
Friday, June 13, 2014
Sea Tow Services International, Inc., the nation?s leading on-water marine assistance provider, urges boaters not to let the official 2014 Atlantic hurricane season (June 1-November 30) forecast lull them into complacency. While the University of Colorado has predicted just nine named storms this season ? down from the 18 they forecast last year ? with three becoming hurricanes and only one reaching major hurricane status (Category 3-5), boaters still should be prepared.
?It?s hard to predict how many named storms and hurricanes actually will form in any given season,? advises Capt. Joe Frohnhoefer, founder and CEO of Sea Tow. ?Witness last year when only two hurricanes formed while the forecast was for nine. For that reason, we urge all boaters to start planning now, just in case the season is more active than expected."
With this in mind, Sea Tow offers boaters the following five tips from its experienced Coast Guard-licensed Captains on how to prepare for the upcoming hurricane season.
Get started now:
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Ensure You?re Insured. A boat that is damaged by a hurricane can wind up costing far more to fix than a marine insurance policy costs annually. Review your boat policy?s requirements and be sure to comply with them. Boat owners whose insurance requires them to relocate their vessels out of a hurricane zone should do so by the date specified in their policy. Call Sea Insure with any questions you may have, 877-568-1672.
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Man with a Plan. Most insurance providers require a formal written Storm Plan detailing where and how your boat must be secured during a major storm. Designate a responsible person to execute the plan if you are out of town when a hurricane threatens. Download a template here.
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No Loose Canno