Hurricane Information for Boats on Moorings

Please familiarize yourself with the Kingman Yacht Center Marina Evacuation Plan.

Each year, we depend upon the assistance of our customers in preparing for hurricane season. In the event that a tropical storm or hurricane poses significant threat to our harbor, Kingman Yacht Center will declare a Hurricane Alert and request an evacuation of the marina.

Mooring customers are required to properly prepare their boats in order to minimize potential damage to their vessels and those around them, should they boat break loose or drag. Early in the season, chafing gear and extra pennants should be stowed on board. If you need assistance in determining the proper gear, please call or stop by the Service Dept.

As soon as you learn that a storm is approaching the East Coast, we recommend that you call us to confirm the status of storm preparations.

Since Kingman Yacht Center's initial priority will be evacuation of our 235 slips, we encourage all mooring customers to personally secure their boats. Due to time constraints, we prefer that you prepare your own boat, but if you are unable to do so, Kingman Yacht Center will perform the preparations, time permitting, at our standard hourly labor rate plus materials.

Although Kingman Yacht Center is fully prepared to assist boat owners with hurricane preparations, the ultimate responsibility for each vessel lies with its owner. With more than 350 boats to service it is a challenge for us to mobilize every boat owner in 72 hours. Your initiative will assist our staff when time is most critical.

Suggested Hurricane Preparations for Boats on Moorings:
The following recommendations do not guarantee that your boat will escape damage, but will improve the potential for minimizing damage:

   1. Secure all on-deck equipment such as antennas, fenders, dodgers, bimini tops, hooks, rafts, ladders, fishing gear, chairs, etc.
   2. Remove or lash down sails, particularly roller furled genoas
   3. Secure mooring lines and protect with adequate chafing gear
   4. Secure the mooring with additional pennants
   5. Stow dinghies ashore

A Note About Dinghies:
All dinghies must be removed from the Dinghy Dock during the first 24 hours after Kingman Yacht Center declares a Hurricane Alert. After this time, The Dinghy Dock will be dismantled and moved into the back basin. Dinghies must be stowed ashore by owners in an area designated by marina personnel. The Kingman Launch will be in service at this time.

Preparation is the Key to Minimizing Damage:
"Bob" was a classic example of how unpredictable hurricanes can be, making landfall in New England just 24 hours after veering off Cape Hatteras. None of Kingman's 130 heavy-duty moorings dragged during this storm. Only five Kingman boats broke free due to inadequate chafing gear or from collision with boats that had dragged from other moorings across the harbor.