Hurricane Season Boat Prep Checklist for Baldwin County Boaters
If you keep a boat anywhere along the Gulf Coast (Fairhope, Daphne, Foley, Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, or here in Silverhill), hurricane season isn't something you can plan around. It's something you plan for. Every year we get calls in the panhandle days before a storm from boat owners scrambling to prep a vessel that hasn't been touched since last season. The boats that come through storms in the best shape are almost always the ones that were maintained and secured well ahead of time, not the ones prepped the night before.
Here's what we recommend every Baldwin County boat owner have in place before a storm is even on the radar.
1. Know Your Storage Plan Before Storm Season Starts
Decide now, not during a hurricane watch, whether your boat is coming out of the water, moving to a trailer, or riding it out at the dock. Marinas fill up fast with haul-out requests once a storm is named, and boat lifts and trailers get booked solid. If you don't already have a hurricane haul-out arrangement with your marina, June is the time to set that up — not August.
2. Check Your Electrical System Now, Not During the Storm Watch
This is where we see the most avoidable damage. Bilge pumps are your boat's first line of defense against rising water at the dock, and a pump with a weak battery, corroded terminals, or a stuck float switch will fail exactly when you need it most. Before hurricane season ramps up:
Test your bilge pump and backup pump under load, not just with a quick tap of the switch
Check battery connections for corrosion — salt air causes this faster than most boat owners expect
Make sure your battery is fully charged and holding a charge, or install a solar trickle charger if the boat will sit for an extended watch period
Confirm your automatic float switch actually triggers the pump
3. Secure Lines and Fenders for Worst-Case Scenarios
If you're riding out a storm at the dock, standard dock lines and everyday fendering aren't enough. Use extra-long lines rigged for storm surge (tide can rise several feet beyond normal), double up on chafe protection at every point a line touches a cleat or piling, and add extra fenders, including improvised ones like tied-off tire fenders for high-impact zones.
4. Remove Anything That Can Catch Wind or Break Loose
Canvas, biminis, outriggers, antennas, and anything loose on deck should come off or come down. Wind loading on a bimini top can put serious stress on its frame and mounting points, and loose gear becomes a projectile in high winds — a risk to your boat and to everyone else's nearby.
5. Inspect Thru-Hulls and Drain Plugs
A boat that's sitting at a dock or on a trailer for days during a storm watch needs to be watertight. Check thru-hull fittings for wear, make sure seacocks operate freely, and confirm your drain plug is properly seated if you're hauling out.
6. Document Everything
Take photos of your boat, its position, and how it's secured before the storm. This matters for insurance claims and gives you a clear before-and-after record if anything does go wrong.
When to Call a Professional
If it's been more than a season since your electrical system, bilge pumps, or batteries were inspected, don't wait for a storm watch to find out something's wrong. We offer pre-season inspections specifically built around storm readiness — checking your electrical system, batteries, bilge pumps, and thru-hulls so you're not troubleshooting a dead pump with a hurricane two days out.
FAQ
How far in advance should I prep my boat for hurricane season? Start your prep in early summer, before any storm is named. Waiting until a watch is issued means competing with every other boat owner in Baldwin County for haul-out slots, trailers, and marina space.
Can I leave my boat in the water during a hurricane? It depends on your marina, your boat, and the storm's severity. Many boat owners in protected marinas ride out lesser storms at the dock with proper storm lines, while others haul out for anything named. Talk to your marina about their storm policy well before hurricane season.
What's the most common cause of storm-related boat damage we see? Electrical failures — specifically bilge pumps that don't run because of dead batteries or corroded connections — combined with inadequate dock lines that don't account for storm surge.
Dees Marine offers pre-hurricane season inspections for boats throughout Baldwin County, including Silverhill, Fairhope, Daphne, Foley, Gulf Shores, and Orange Beach. Call or text 251-216-3337 to schedule your storm-readiness check.