Decommissioning for Hurricane Season

[flm]

Any decommissioning checklists for the tropics? We're hauling our boat in Antigua - steel cradle for hurricane season. Our first time doing this. In particular, suggestions on what to use to keep sun from blasting through large hatches that will be frequently opened by yard employees to air out the boat. We have OceanAir shades but don't want the sun to bake them. One thought was to purchase windshield sun protectors from an auto supply store.

[Hud3]

I kept my boat in Antigua for the last two hurricane seasons. I don't have a checklist, just common sense items, like stripping off anything that the wind will have fun ripping apart, pumping out the fresh water system, topping up the diesel, doing a thorough cleaning job down below, tilting up cushions for air circulation, and keeping the sun out. I had Sunbrella hatch covers made, which do a super job of keeping it cooler below. I also installed a Nicro solar vent fan in the head's overhead hatch. It did a very good job of airing out the boat. I didn't sign up for the "airing out" service, and still there was very little mildew come Fall.

Where are you keeping it? Sounds like Hugh Bailey's yard, with the steel cradle.

[flm]

Yes, Hugh Bailey's yard. We are in process now of doing most of the practical things you mentioned. We considered having Sunbrella hatch covers made but couldn't figure out how to secure them so the wind wouldn't rip them off. We have Lewmar Medium Profile hatches. How did you secure the hatch covers and what type of hatches do you have?

[Hud3]

I have Lewmar "Ocean" hatches. The covers have bungy cord sewn into the perimeter, with means to adjust the tension. There's a flange all around the outside edge of the hatch that the bungy cord can slip into. They've been through 60 knots + gusts, and stayed on.

Here's the hatch profile...

[Hud3]

I think if you don't want to go to the trouble of hatch covers, you could just tape some aluminum foil on the inside of the hatches.

[JamuJoe]

Flm,
I hauled for the season in La Ceiba, Honduras. I did use full tarps - they would not survive a storm, but will provide some protection from the sun. I cut openings for my solar powered vents. I also use air-circulating dehumidifiers.

Here's my checklist, which I am certain will continue to evolve:

Empty holding tanks, treat with chemical
Top off diesel tanks, treat with biocide
Close fuel valves
Secure sails, halyards, sheets
Clean heads
Empty and clean refrigerator, leave open
Remove perishibles from pantries
Remove all garbage, clean containers
Clean and store clothing in sealed bags
Clean and store carpets with mothballs in sealed bags
Drain or vacum bilges
Clean all overheads and walls & wipe down with vinegar
Clean all flooring
Turn on dehumidifiers
Turn off all AC & DC switches except outlets
Wash decks
Take photos of boat on stands (for insurance claim)
Fumigate interior with insect bomb
Cover boat with tarps
Lock boat
Secure any loose items in cradle area
Give key and contact information to yard manager

[osirissail]

I would add two more important but always overlooked items - -
- - Plug through-hulls or close seacocks, plug anchor hawse pipes and vents for the engine room/lazarettes to prevent insects, rats, etc. from taking up residence in your plumbing hoses or interior of your boat.
- - Drive a steel or copper grounding bar/rod deep into the earth under your boat and connect a heavy electrical wire from the grounding stake to your boats electrical ground system. This is to dissipate lightning strikes or static discharge damage to your internal electrical/electronic systems. Remember, your boat is "grounded" when it is floating in the ocean - on land your boat does not have any electrical "grounding".