Hurricane storage tips

Hurricane season has come around again and its time to start planning to put your boat to bed for the summer, over the years I have learned there is no short cuts in the process and the more time you take preparing your boat for storage the less work you need to do the following season so here are some of my Top tips for storing your boat.

Deck

• Remove all sails and canvas while in the water, it can be dangerous to remove sails once the boat is in the stands and some yards will not allow you in the hoist without stripping sails off first.
• Store sails off the boat preferably some sail lofts will rent you temperature controlled spaces to store your sails, essential for laminated sails that can get damaged by extreme heat.
• Remove all running rigging, wash coil and store in a dry locker.
• Polish all stainless steel and apply a fleet wax to protect the stainless from corrosion during the layup period.
• For boats with colored topsides think about applying a protective wax to stop the sun fading the gelcoat.
• Strip all deck safety equipment and store out of the sun.
• Once in the yard drop anchor chain and store on a pallet below the boat to avoid the chain rotting in the anchor locker.
• If you have a dinghy, deflate and store upside down on the bow of the boat and secure.
• A boat cover will really protect the decks and keep the heat away from the interior.
• Top off fuel tanks and add Biocide.
• Fill water tanks and add a cap full of bleach.
• Makes sure scupper drains are clear of debris and running
• Make sure yard levels boat on stands to ensure proper drainage.

Mechanical

• Change oil on all diesel engines (acid build up in old engine oil can damage the interior of the engines)
• Remove raw water impellers so they do not deform.
• Flush Saildrives / motors with fresh water.
• Flush Dinghy outboard with fresh water
• Change coolant.
• Pickle Watermaker
• Flush raw water system with Barnacle buster.
• Coat any areas prone to rusting on the engine with an anti corrosion oil like Corrosion X.
• Service and close all Sea cocks, leave bilge pump Sea Cock open.

Electrical

• Disconnect start battery from the ignition
• If leaving solar charging reduce float voltage as per the manufacturer’s recommendation.
• If hauling for a short period and you have the capacity to charge or shore power leave some fans running on low.

Interior

• Clean all flat surfaces with a mixture of water, Vinegar and Tea-Tree oil.
• Leave Fridges and Freezers open with doors secured.
• Consider Charcoal blocks or Dehumidifier granules in the bottom of Fridges.
• Empty all heads and disinfect, add Vinegar and cover with Cellophane.
• Open cupboard doors to aid ventilation.
• Place all soft covers, sheets and pillows in air tight vacuum bags.
• Lift floor boards in each room to aid ventilation.
• Foil windows and hatches internally to block light and heat entering the boat.
• Invest in a boat minder to check the boats interior regularly and change dehumidifier capsules.
• Put down traps for crawling insects and make sure flying insects cannot get into the boat through any vents.

This is no way a definitive list but maybe its useful to someone who had not considered some of the items above a little extra time and effort at the end of the sailing season can save you a lot of time and money when you go back for your boat in the Winter, Good luck and have a great summer.