Cocoplum Yacht Club

Hurricane Preparedness

Full Video

Documents/Resources

Cocoplum Yacht Club – Hurricane & Rain Season Suggestions
State of Florida – Hurricane Manual for Marine Interests

Things to Do Before Hurricane Season

1. Ensure that you have the proper ropes to secure your vessel.
2. We recommend a minimum of 500 feet of line (5/8 to 3/4”) over 40’ vessel minimum of 600 feet of line.
3. Buy chaffing gear (1 ¼ clear braded hose) approximately 20 feet.
4. Members must seek permission from vessel owner and/or registered Captain prior to crossing your hurricane lines over the bow of your neighbor’s vessel. It is imperative you get to know your neighbors and exchange telephone and/or email information to coordinate when the time comes to secure your vessels.
5. Please check that all the systems in your vessel are working properly (i.e. bilge pumps, batteries, float switches, generator, etc). Remember your vessel can be endangered during a rain storm if you do not provide regular maintenance to your vessel.
6. Arrange for a friend and/or a company to secure your boat if you are out of town during the hurricane season. Contact the office for names of companies that provide this service.

How to Prepare your Hurricane Lines:

• Unroll spool of rope on the dock. Don’t pull rope from the end of spool or it may twist the rope.
• Use painters tape to wrap around rope 3 to 4 times then cut in the middle. To prevent ends from unraveling, you may want to use a lighter or small torch to seal the end of the rope.
• Use a permanent marker on the duct tape to label each line. This will save you time and work when a storm threatens our area.
• The longer the dock lines, the better a vessel copes with the high tides.
• Store hurricane lines in a garbage can or container with a lid.

Hurricane Watch Issued for Our Area

1. Once a Hurricane Watch is issued for our area all owners/tenants must start to prepare their boats. Minimum of 36 hours before a Hurricane affects our area.
2. Vessel owner is responsible for providing the necessary lines to secure the vessel.
3. Cocoplum Yacht Club staff is not responsible for securing your vessel and/or personal items.
4. Once a Hurricane Warning is issued for our area, all Vessel owners who fail to secure their vessel will be fined and will be charged with any costs incurred to secure their vessel.

Steps to Tie Up your Vessel

• Transom Lines
Cross transom lines and tie to neighbor’s farthest cleat on the dock.
• Rear Spring Lines
Rear spring lines should be tied from stern cleat to forward mooring pile on both sides of vessel.
• Forward Spring Lines
Forward spring lines should be tied from the bow or forward spring cleats, to the cleats on the dock directly behind your vessel.
• Bow Lines
Bow lines should be tied across neighbors slip to the farthest mooring pile on both sides of your vessel.
• Never run your lines and/or chains under a boat without the vessel owner’s permission.

5. Use plenty of fenders and at least double up your forward and aft spring lines, as well as the bow and stern lines. Refer to the drawing provided in this packet.
6. Do not tie up vessel to fenders (6×6” wooden posts) on finger piers (they will break).
7. Where the rope comes in contact with the dock or other surfaces, you should cover the rope with chafing gear. A good chafing gear is a piece of hose secured to the line where it would rub.
8. Keep all loose gear securely stowed and locked (i.e. coolers, chairs, buckets, etc).
9. To reduce damage, remove clear curtains and bimini top.
10. Lower and secure antennas to prevent damage.
11. Cover electronics to prevent water damage.
12. Keep an inventory and pictures of all items on the boat.
13. Fill up your fuel and water tanks; this will make your boat heavier and reduce movement caused by wind.
14. Remove hose from dock.
15. Check and/or install high water alarms in your bilges.
16. Replace your dock lines every five (5) years.
17. If damages are incurred to the vessel, immediate action should be taken to save the vessel and/or equipment and prevent further loss or damage. A vessel owner is expected to take those actions that a prudent person would take to save and preserve his property. If the vessel appears to be constructive total loss, arrangements will still have to be made to remove the hull from any navigable waterway as this will be required by government authorities. The vessel should be moved to a yard or salvage facility storage area.
18. Contact our Dockmaster, Demetrius Grossi (demetrius@cocoplumyachtclub.com) for suggestions to tie up your vessel for a hurricane. Please call (305) 663-1353 or E-mail Marion@cocooplumyachtclub.com
19. Weather Websites:
National Hurricane Center – www.nhc.noaa.gov
Intellicast – www.intellicast.com
Crown Weather – www.crownweather.com