Here it is again, hurricane season. The season people up and down the coast dread, the season for probability cones, Jim Cantore and storms with names they’ve never heard before. That time of year when dropping air pressure over northern Africa is nightly news and people are crossing fingers they won’t find out just how unprepared they really are.
Family, homes and evacuation routes top the preparation lists for coastal residents, but boat owners have added responsibilities. Some marina contracts and insurance policies even require an evacuation or haul-out plan.
The safest place for boats during a hurricane will always be away from the storm, so small boats should be trailered and hauled inland. But that’s simply not an option for larger boats, which must either anchor/tie down or get hauled out. According to a study done by MIT after Hurricane Gloria, the best protection for your boat is getting it out of the water. In fact, TowBoat US/Charleston recommends a “haul-out” as the #1 precautionary measure to protect a boat from hurricane damage. Even The US Navy’s Naval Research Lab Marine Meteorology Division does not consider the Port of Charleston to be safe harbor during hurricane-force winds. “The truth is leaving your boat in the water is taking a big gamble,” said Ron Gift, General Manager of The Charleston City Boatyard. “Not only do owners have to worry about securing their own boat, they have to really be concerned if all other nearby boats are going to stay in place. One broken line, one loose boat can do millions of dollars of damage to boats up and down the dock.”
Charleston City Boatyard is the only area company to offer a program that gives members priority haul-out protection. The annual membership plan, called Hurricane Haul, provides owners a guaranteed, orderly haul-out prior to any named storm threatening Charleston throughout the season for one flat fee. “We wanted to give customers affordable assurance that their boat will be protected, plus make it easy and organized because nobody needs extra hassle when a storm’s bearing down,” said Gift. “Then, if we have another safe year without hurricanes, we honor our members with a free haul-out for any service they might need.” Only 50 memberships are offered each year before the boatyard reaches capacity. The Charleston City Boatyard is the highest yard around Charleston at about 16 feet above sea level and outside FEMA’s 500-year flood plain.
Contact The Charleston City Boatyard at (843) 884-3000 or find more Hurricane Haul information at www.thecityboatyard.com.
