Now, let's talk hurricanes ....

[Buccaneer]

As you might have guessed by now, I'm thinking hard about a move East.
(My California suntan is baked in permanently, and I've a hankerin' to go exploring.)

I keep reading this insurance quote I got, and there's this part about Hurricanes -- with a requirement to have the boat ABOVE 36 degrees from 1 June to 1 Nov?
Above Norfolk?

Now I know I'm from the Left Coast and all, and I know I don't know 'nuthin 'bout them Hurri-Canes (I know, not a laughing matter),
but I was also thinking to live aboard for the next 2-3 years whilst gallivanting about the Eastern Seaboard, and the idea of shoveling snow off the decks and finger piers does not appeal.
So, what's a guy to do here?
How far south can/should I go to not have frostbite on my delicate parts, and yet still avoid the most probable path or those boat-buster storms y'all have?

The thought of "winterizing" a boat and ... not using it ... for months at a time (something UNHEARD OF over here), just seems -- -- -- anathema.

 

[whoover]

The last time I called about future insurance my company wanted me north of Jacksonville for the hurricane season.

Walt Hoover

 

[Freestyle]

Tampa has not had a direct hit in over 100 years. I pay $6200 for $265k hull value and 10 percent windstorm deductible. I may be able to save some money keeping the boat elsewhere but I live in Tampa and that's where I enjoy the boat everyday.

Hurricanes eat up two weeks per year in preparation and fear for those of us lucky enough to not lose a year dealing with the damage.

Keep the boat where you want to live and develop the best action plan for that area. Then implement the plan when the weather guesser puts you in the middle of the cone. Always, remember, you can buy another boat.

Bruce

Freestyle
1985 62 CPMY (54MY with ext)
Tampa

 

[JD5652]

If you're traveling around the east coast , New England and Chesapeake Bay is gorgeous in the summer... aka hurricane season.... head south around October and be in Chesapeake mid-November.

.... Or pay the piper on named storm coverage...

 

[rwaldrop13]

I'm the poster child for "hasn't had a direct hit in Gulf Coast Florida". Fort Myers took a direct hit from Ian in Sept 2022 and it wiped out every marina east of the Franklin Lock on the Caloosahatchie River. We were a total loss and the insurance company tried everything to avoid paying out, until I got the state CFO office involved. We were in full compliance with our company approved hurricane plan, and the marina had almost 30 years of history - that did not include a 19 foot storm surge at the storm's peak. That being said, East Coast a lot of companies seem to believe "north of Chesapeake Bay" or "north of Delaware Bay" is their key requirement. If I'd had that option, or been able to get up the river to east of the first lock, I might still have a boat today, but the storm was predicted to hit Tampa Bay until 6 hours before it turned and hit Ft Myers. So I have to lean towards the "north of..." precaution if you can do it.

 

[Bugsy]

Don't think poster is "on the same page". North of any latitude in hurricane season is in summer waters!! As so many can tell you, OP....go to the Chesapeake or Great Lakes in the summer and go south to Florida in the winter. No snow to shovel and no hurricanes to avoid!

 

[yachtsmanbill]

Don't think poster is "on the same page". North of any latitude in hurricane season is in summer waters!! As so many can tell you, OP....go to the Chesapeake or Great Lakes in the summer and go south to Florida in the winter. No snow to shovel and no hurricanes to avoid!

At least 100 miles up the Tenn-Tom.

 

[rwaldrop13]

Don't think poster is "on the same page". North of any latitude in hurricane season is in summer waters!! As so many can tell you, OP....go to the Chesapeake or Great Lakes in the summer and go south to Florida in the winter. No snow to shovel and no hurricanes to avoid!

I agree. I was trying to give worst-case scenario, sorry everyone!

If you're on the Gulf Coast, you can go up Mobile Bay into the Tenn-Tom Waterway, and up to Tennessee/Kentucky... Also up the Mississippi. Gulf Coast SW Florida you can go up the Caloosahatchie River above the locks, but apparently Lake Okeechobee is not a good place to ride out a storm. Between Labelle, FL and Clewiston are several storm holes.