Preparing Your Boat Dock Before Hurricane Season in Florida
Hurricane Season in Florida
Hurricanes have a strange reputation in Florida. Technology advances allow us to predict the strength and path of a storm long before it hits. News channels and their online articles work to ensure a storm is not a surprise to anyone. Such forewarning is a luxury those living in Florida 100 years ago could only dream of. For them, hurricanes would have been sudden and terrifying events with life-threatening winds and flooding.
But what once was fearful now feels flippant. The only “flooding” seems to happen on social media, where photos of flimsy lawn chairs knocked over in the backyard are captioned with facetious descriptions: “Never forget!”
If you live on the water, however, you have every reason to be seriously concerned about how much potential damage a hurricane can cause to your boat, boat dock, and even your home.
What do you need to do before hurricane season starts?
Start by checking the integrity of your boat dock. Here are our recommendations to prep a boat dock for storms.
The Integrity of Your Boat Dock
Have you heard this line before?
“That’s not going anywhere!”
It is an unspoken rule when securing anything that you give your efforts the seal of approval by saying, “That’s not going anywhere!”
What makes for a good boat dock that will not budge during a major storm? As “Q” in Q-ICE Builders stands for “quality,” we want to give you peace of mind that your boat dock will withstand the storm with the best possible infrastructure.
After reading this blog post, you might need to check your boat dock to see if it was constructed with proper bolting in your sway-bracing and carrier beams. Also, ensure that your boat lift motors are in good condition, as these are crucial for raising your boat out of the water during a storm surge.
Properly Bolting Your Sway-Bracing and Carrier Beams
Every properly designed structure accounts for movement caused by the wind or other elements. Boat docks must withstand crashing waves, flooding, and high winds characteristic of hurricanes. Some dock builders cut corners by using screws where they should have used bolts.
To clarify, all boat docks are held together with screws where necessary. Having repaired countless docks after storms, we know this is a pressure point worth addressing so you do not wake up to severe and unnecessary damage to your dock and boat.
The best time to start preparing for hurricane season is actually at the beginning of the dock construction process. Our unique anchoring system secures piles from uplift, and Q-ICE Builders is proud that none of our docks have been lost in a hurricane for 20 years.
If you have questions about the quality of your boat dock or want to start the construction process, we offer a free consultation. Our expert dock builders can evaluate your situation and assess whether your core structuring needs upgrades to withstand hurricane season. We also recommend installing chafing gear to protect your dock lines and mooring lines from wear during rough weather.
Double Check Your Insurance & Your Deductible (Check Out Our Example)
Now is the time to double-check your insurance policies on your home and boat dock. You do not want to wait until a storm is coming to consider your coverage in the event of storm damage. The extra work pays off in the long run in case the storm is unpredictably stronger than expected, especially given the vulnerability of a dock to the wind and waves.
Another note regarding your insurance policy is to double-check your deductible. For some, deductibles are a small percentage of the house’s value. This could be problematic, however, since many lake houses are significantly more valuable than their non-lake counterparts. In Central Florida, there are several “Chain of Lakes,” including the Butler Chain of Lakes in Windermere, Harris Chain of Lakes in Tavares, and Clermont Chain of Lakes in Clermont, which elevate the value of a home even further since boat owners have access to multiple lakes.
For example, if your insurance deductible is 3% of the value of your $3 million house on the Butler Chain of Lakes, that is $90,000, which may even be more than your dock is worth. Talk with your insurance provider and research options that make the most sense for your property and situation. This proactive step can make a difference in a successful insurance claim.
When checking the Butler Chain of Lakes active listings, for example, you will scarcely find a property for under $2 million, which shows that your deductible could be higher than you thought.
Protect Your Investment
Hurricane season in Florida lasts almost half the year. For this reason, it makes perfect sense to protect and upgrade your investment to withstand higher-category hurricanes and tropical storms.
Securing your boat in hurricane holes and removing loose items from your dock are helpful. Extra lines should be added to your mooring lines to provide additional security. Ensure your bilge pumps are working to handle any water that might get into your boat during a storm.
Before a storm, relocate your boat to a safe location or use a boat lift to keep it out of the water. Double-check weather forecasts regularly to stay updated on severe weather alerts, and move any loose gear to a secure place to prevent it from becoming hazardous debris.
Let’s work together to make your boat dock your new “favorite room,” starting with the peace of mind that it is built with quality and integrity long before a storm comes your way. Connect with your insurance company to ensure you have the right coverage and understand your policy details.
Contact Q-ICE Builders if Your Dock Suffers Major Damage
If your boat dock should suffer major damage during a storm, contact Q-ICE Builders to schedule a consultation and learn how we can restore it and better prepare the dock to withstand the next storm.
How to Prep a Boat Dock for a Storm FAQs
How do I secure my boat dock during a hurricane?
Secure your boat dock by removing all loose items, tying down or removing boats, and ensuring all connections are tight. Use heavy-duty lines and secure cleats to anchor boats, and consider additional fenders to prevent damage.
What materials should I remove from my boat dock before a hurricane?
Answer: Remove any non-essential items such as furniture, grills, fishing gear, and other loose objects. These can become dangerous projectiles during high winds.
Are there any dock-specific hurricane preparations I should consider?
Answer: Yes, ensure that your dock’s electrical systems are shut off and protected from water damage. Also, check that the dock’s decking and attachments are secure and in good condition to withstand high winds and storm surges.
