Own A Boat? Tips for Hurricane Sandy

Raymond J. Porter, owner of Porter's Seneca Marina and president of the Marine Trades Association of Baltimore County, knows a thing or two about caring for water crafts. He shared tips on what boater owners can do to prepare for when Hurricane Sandy hits early next week.

• "If your boat's in the water, the best place for it to be would be a floating pier," he said. "Other than that if it's on a fixed pier, try to get it to a hurricane hole, somewhere where it's going to be out of the wind."
• Check your knots. "Double up the lines and make sure the pumps work and everything's tied off and secured," Porter said.
• Get loose gear off your deck, and consider removing canvasses that could tear in a storm, he said.
• Ironically, taking your boat out might put you in more trouble. "The ones that took the brunt of Isabel were actually pulled out before the storm," Porter said. If you do take your boat out, take it to a marina on higher ground.
• Check with your insurance company. They may cover the expenses of a storm-related haul-out, according to Porter

The Boat Owners Association of America also shares a common sense warning on its website: "Any boat in the water should be secured in a snug harbor (don’t even think about riding out the storm at sea unless you’re the skipper of an aircraft carrier)."