KEY WEST BOATS FORUM-Hurricane preparation for a 2019 FS on a 13k lift. (2024)

Re: Hurricane preparation for a 2019 FS on a 13k lift.

Do the co*ckpit drains provide enough drainage for heavy rainwater or is it necessary to remove the drainage plug which would be difficult to do on the lift?
How much does the bilge pump help in this situation? I'm assuming the batteries would totally discharge and the trickle charger would also be off due to loss of power leading to the bilge pump not working.

For sure you will want to remove the drain plug to avoid overworking the bilge pump and draining the battery. You can unscrew the plug from inside the boat, through the bilge access hatch. I do it all the time on my lift.

The deck drains are separate from the bilge. The deck drains dump directly overboard. The bilge collects water from all other areas of the boat (that are not the deck). That can amount to a significant amount of water for a boat out in the open during a heavy storm.

By the way, another risk for a boat on a lift is surge. Make sure you plan for that. I know about how much surge I can handle before the boat would want to float off the lift. If more than that is forecasted or materializes, I know I need to get the boat off the lift. I have a boathouse roof and the risk is floating up into the roof structure. But without a roof the risk is having the boat float off or at worst, get banged around in water. This contingency may factor into whether or not you should leave the bilge plug in.

If there is risk of significant surge, my boat gets trailered back on land a couple days in advance of the storm.

I know a lot of people who keep boats on lifts that don't have trailers. Even if you never trailer boat, I'd buy a beat up trailer that kind of fits the boat just for quick and short storm haul out.

I was front row center for Hurricane Ian. Me and my neighbor took our boats and lift covers off, and stowed them away. Our lifts, docks and cover frames survived with zero damage. Those that left covers and boats on the lifts tended to have serious damage, with several boats blown off the bunks just in my canal alone. The boats catch wind and shake the hell out of pilings. Happened to a buddy two houses down. His boat beat the hell out of his lift pilings, and knocked his dock sideways. Others had their boats blown off their lifts. All we had to deal with was wind. Water was thankfully sucked out of the harbor, and not stuffed up in it.

My boat was parked in between my house and my buddy's, and I left it attached to the truck. The only damage I had was from branches that blew in and nicked the vinyl in a few places. I figured if the surge got bad enough to float the boat there, it would stand among the very least of my problems.

Walkereast wrote:Re: Hurricane preparation for a 2019 FS on a 13k lift.

Do the co*ckpit drains provide enough drainage for heavy rainwater or is it necessary to remove the drainage plug which would be difficult to do on the lift?
How much does the bilge pump help in this situation? I'm assuming the batteries would totally discharge and the trickle charger would also be off due to loss of power leading to the bilge pump not working.

Do not remove drain plug unless you want to sink your boat. Storm surge you want the boat to float. Tie boat off loosely with six lines but not excessively lose that boat can bang into lift pilings. Self bailing co*ckpit will drain a lot of water. What reaches the bilge so be it. Have both batteries in great condition. After storm passes, if no power have a portable generator and a pump.
I'm in swfl just off the ICW for 19 yrs lift kept. Best advice, check in with a hi & dry marina to see if they will pull you out and block in their lot. You might get lucky. But don't wait til last minute, get the boat to them 3 days early. Notify insurance company you moved the boat. Some policies pay you to do that.

Sent from my moto g stylus using Tapatalk