Florida Hardstanding with Insurance Coverage?

[siwhi]

We are heading up the Caribbean islands towards Florida where we hope to arrive in June. Our insurance which covers named storms requires us to be north of Cape Hatteras (35 degrees) by June and we can't extend the cover south and we can't take the risk ourselves. We would like to lift the boat in Florida for June - November so I can get some work and avoid sailing too far north as we want to be in the Bahamas for November.

Does anyone have any experience of yards or marinas in Florida covering storms and hurricanes as part of the hard standing contract or is insurance always negotiated separately to storage arrangements? It would be so much easier if we could rock up somewhere get the boat lifted, pay the bill and head to the airport rather than spend the next month filling in insurance applications. Thanks!

 

[richardsn9]

No direct personal experience, but several online vloggers such as Abandon Comfort and MJ Sailing have sat out hurricanes in secure shore storage sites in Florida which you could check out?

 

[Heckler]

No direct personal experience, but several online vloggers such as Abandon Comfort and MJ Saiaaling have sat out hurricanes in secure shore storage sites in Florida which you could check out?

No where is 100% safe in Florida. Ashore tied down etc makes no odds, 100-200 mph winds and nothing is safe. So I suspect you will struggle to get unsurance. And location? nah, those hurricanes can strike anywhere.

 

[TQA]

IMHO the safest haulout boatyard with a marina is Indiantown.

http://www.indiantownmarina.com/

I stored my boat there.

 

[Motor_Sailor]

I don't think anyone will cover your boats as part of their yard fees. I think you'd have to arrange cover yourself.

In north Florida, the traditional long term cruiser's, well inland, better protected than most, is Green Water Springs marina on the St Johns River.

http://gcsmarina.com/index.html

 

[Orion Jim]

I don't think anyone will cover your boats as part of their yard fees. I think you'd have to arrange cover yourself.

In north Florida, the traditional long term cruiser's, well inland, better protected than most, is Green Water Springs marina on the St Johns River.

http://gcsmarina.com/index.html

That is correct. You must provide your own insurance. Most yards require proof of insurance before they will touch your boat.

 

[skipmac]

That is correct. You must provide your own insurance. Most yards require proof of insurance before they will touch your boat.

I live in Florida and I can confirm that no yard I've ever used provides hurricane insurance. However, if you haul your boat for the season most insurance companies will give you a significant discount.

By the way, that's Green Cove Springs Marina, not Green Water. :encouragement: That's where my boat is currently hauled. I do recommend it as a reasonably safe location for storing a boat, somewhat inland so slightly protected from the worst winds but a direct hit from a major storm is always possible and if that happens all bets are off. Also as someone mentioned, no location on the US east coast is safe. Remember a few years ago hurricane Sandy? Devastated the NJ and New England coast.

One recommendation. The long term storage areas at Green Cove are a ways from the office and center of action and there is little to no security and no inspection of the boats. For long term storage in one of the remote yards I would make arrangements for someone to go inspect the boat periodically. A few years ago a couple of boats were broken into. Little stolen but the hatches were left open, at least one boat filled with rain water and sat for months. It was declared a total loss by the insurance company. Very sad.

 

[KellysEye]

I'd suggest you stop in Curacao it's outside the hurricane area. Anchor in Spanish Waters in the unlikely event that strong winds are forecast you can tie up in the mangroves.

 

[bjl]

I think you’ll find that Pantaenius will cover you if you comply with their hurricane zone requirements which might include but not be limited to standing the boat in a frame if it’s a monohull, an approved tie down regime, the removal of canvass to reduce windage. In any case, it would be worth giving them a call.