Florida is famous as the fishing capital of the world. But lately, the sunshine state has been famous for hurricanes. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission urges you to have a solid hurricane plan for you and your family’s safety. And if you’re a boat owner, you should have a hurricane plan for your vessel too. Develop a plan well in advance! When the "hurricane watch" flags are flying, it's time to employ the plan for your boat that you worked out before the storm. You can store a small boat with a trailer in a warehouse or your garage. If you leave your boat outside, attach the trailer tongue to a firm spot in the ground, deflate the tires, and lash the boat to the trailer. Place boards between the axle and frame to prevent damage to the trailer springs. If your boat is in a marina, your contract and the dockmaster will spell out your responsibilities. Remember, a vessel tied to a pier under normal situations can quickly break from the pier in periods of higher winds causing substantial damage to itself or other vessels. Do NOT, under any circumstance, plan to "ride out" the storm on your boat. For more boating safety information, visit myfwc.com
