Hurricane Information for Boats in Slips

At the beginning of each boating season, all Kingman Yacht Center slip customers must file – and have approved by Kingman Yacht Center – a written Boater's Hurricane Plan. This form notifies marina management of your plan to move your boat in the event of a hurricane threat.

This form is effective only for one season so it is important that you fill out the Boater's Hurricane Plan each year, even if we have previous plans on file. This written plan provides us with a directive of your intentions for securing your boat in the event of a hurricane. Clearly specified options and pre-authorizations allow us to mobilize boats quickly, and save us from frantically locating owners when time is most critical.

Waiting List for Hurricane Moorings:
Because of heavy demand for mooring rentals, we are unable to offer the option of reserving a hurricane mooring for the season. If any moorings become available at the time of a hurricane alert, we will rent them to those boaters who requested on their Plan to be included on our Hurricane Mooring Waiting List. Indicate your interest in this option when you complete your Plan.

Marina Evacuated if Storm Threatens to Hit the Northeast:
Those who have lived through hurricanes in New England know how highly unpredictable these storms are. When Kingman Yacht Center management determines that a given storm poses significant threat to our harbor, we will request an evacuation of the marina. At risk are our facilities and property, and your investment in your boat.

In recent years, a few customers complained when hurricanes lost steam or changed direction after we called for a complete mobilization of boats. While that’s certainly an inconvenience, we must err on the side of caution. Please understand that hurricane evacuations are not profitable events. We lose 4-6 days of normal business preparing for the storm and resuming operations – which translates into a loss of as much as $10,000 per storm.

Preparation is Key to Minimizing Damage:
Those who lived through1991's Hurricane Bob with us know that Kingman boats were spared the devastation sustained in most other Cape harbors. We attribute this to luck and preparedness. "Bob" was a classic example of how unpredictable hurricanes can be, making landfall in New England just 24 hours after veering off Cape Hatteras. Having customers' plans on file allowed us to haul, move and secure boats and property on only 24 hours notice (a schedule we hope not to have to repeat!) Boats in our harbor escaped with minimal damage. Other marinas subsequently adopted our Hurricane Plan and insurance companies recommended it to their insureds.

Please note that, in the event of a Hurricane Mobilization, all boats in slips must be removed from those slips. The boat owner is solely responsible for evacuating his boat from the marina property in all cases. He may either do so himself or request, through his Hurricane Plan, that the marina assist him if it is able.

In several recent storms that either moved too fast or changed course, we left boats docked in the back basin. Regulations, however, clearly call for the complete evacuation of this area.

In future storms, if time and conditions permit, these regulations will be carried out and enforced - and for good reason. If, as forecasters predict, we are hit by a Category 4 or 5 storm, or are hit at high tide under the right conditions, docks and boats left in the back basin will be destroyed. A storm similar in magnitude to the 1938 Hurricane with a storm surge would cause pilings to snap, destroying any boats left in the basin. Even during Hurricane "Bob," a mere Category 2 storm, a tidal surge caused the docks to rise nearly to street level, with only the last 12 inches of pilings remaining above water.

Your Cooperation is Important.....
We cannot overemphasize the importance of filing your Boater's Hurricane Plan. Not only is it a requirement of your dockage contract, it is also the most important document we will have for your boat in the event of a hurricane. If you have any questions about how to fill it out, please call.