Securing your vessel

FORT MYERS, Fla. – Along with securing your house, you also need to secure your boat before a storm.

The best storm plan for your boat is to leave town with your vessel in tow. But if that is not an option, experts say take time now to make sure your boat is storm ready. Some simple checks include making sure your bilge pump works and making sure everything that is not strapped down on the boat, is moved indoors. Never ride out a storm on your boat.

Whether your boat is on a lift, on a trailer, or in the water, you need to invest in good, strong lines, preferably non-nylon which are more likely to chafe and stretch. Make sure anything you tie a line to is secure.

For more tips on how to secure your boat this storm season, check out the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.