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The best place to find out what insurance companies will require.... is of course to speak with insurance companies.
In 2021 while
shopping for a
boat, I also shopped for
boat insurance. What I found was that policies and requirements varied greatly between companies.
One company required that I take my boat north of a specific line of latitude (roughly the Florida--Georgia border) during the entire 6-month hurricane season. Another company said the same thing, but was willing to grant me a two-month exception while I was having the boat re-fitted in
Florida. Another company didn't require moving the boat out of
Florida, but did impose a $4000 extra "hurricane premium surcharge" if I didn't move it north. The
current company I am with does not require moving the boat north, but does increase my deductible substantially (by a factor of 3) for any damage caused by a "named storm".
My point is that there is no uniformity among insurers regarding hurricanes. You have to check with several of them and compare what they offer and what they require (and what they will be
charging you for that coverage).
Most insurers (but not mine, for some unknown reason) require that you create a "hurricane plan". While I am not required to have one, I have one anyway. It's foolish not to. The time to be figuring out what to do if a hurricane is coming is long before hurricane season even starts, not when the
Weather Channel is warning that a Category 3 is barreling toward you.
If you will be cruising during hurricane season you need to have multiple plans, depending on where you are if/when you get a hurricane warning. It might be best to
haul out; it might be best to run from the storm; it might be best to find a hurricane hole or safe harbor and set three anchors. It depends on so many factors when you are traveling. There isn't one plan that fits all situations. The time to be checking out options and
marinas and facilities and hurricane holes and distances and depths etc. is in the comfort of your home, with good
internet, and lots of resources to do your
research.
Don't be intimidated or overwhelmed by the prospect of hurricane preparation. It's part of boat
ownership. And it's easier than ever to be ready, because tropical
weather forecasting is so much more accurate than ever before in
history, and there are so many resources available on the web to help you plan.
Good luck with your upcoming boat
purchase. Enjoy your travels! Drop us a line from time to time to share your journey with us. :-)
Bob
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