Well folks, the Fall breeze is coming in. With that being said, so is Hurricane Season.

Weathering the local waters of the Chesapeake or off in distant shores, here are Three Tips to remember when securing your vessel for the season:

Dock lines:

Inspect your lines for any damage/chafe. They may be holding up adequately in a decent breeze, however when heavier winds and current pickup, your dock lines will need to sustain higher loads.

If your lines seem to be chafed or  just looking rough, please bring them on by Bacon’s and we will be glad to help you with some good quality new lines to help ensure the safety of your boat.

Moored on Anchor:

Many boat owners will put their vessels out on a mooring, if the Marina they are in is narrow. This way the boat will not hit the docks.

Though this method is widely used, quite often the correct mooring setup is NOT properly in place. It is highly recommended to use a bridle system, this way the boat will face into the wind, being held at two points from the bow. Having a single line attached to the bow, puts all the load onto one spot (usually a cleat) which can cause wear in that area and in some cases may lift the cleat if heavy enough breeze/current. Believe us, majorly being second hand consignment shop, we have just about seen it all.

Batteries:

In general, boat owners should always check their batteries to make sure they are up to charge and capable of working for an extended period of time without an external power source. It is highly recommended to test your batteries on a load. You can do this with a battery load tester, or some battery chargers/inverters may have this option built in (however you would have to trust that equipment is also accurate).

Hurricane season can bring some very harsh winds and rain, more so than any other time of year. So when that water makes its way into the boat, you need to trust your batteries to operate the bilge pumps. If you find that your battery or batteries are insufficient/older, come by Bacon’s where we can swap out your core and get you a quality lead acid or AGM for a competitive price.

Bilge Pump:

Lets face it. This is what keeps boat owners up at night, “Did I flip the Auto-Switch to on before I left”. Yep, we’ve all been there.

A few things to keep in mind when inspecting your Bilge pump. The age, even though it may be pumping out water, it is possible that the little impeller in there may be starting to fail. Thus, not pumping out the GPH(Gallons Per Hour) intended for that pump. Clear from any Blockage; you want to check the bilge to make sure it is clean and clear from any debris that could possibly clog the bilge pump. Clean Bilge’s Save Boats.

If you may think that your bilge may need replaced, come on by or call Bacon’s and we would be glad to assist you with this quick and easy project. We stock new and consigned pumps/switch’s to fit all budgets and boat types.

There are multiple areas every boat owner must check to ensure the best protection for their vessel. Always be sure to check those special areas. If you have any questions about the safety of your boat, especially when a storm is coming, come on by or call us. We would be glad to assist with whatever products you may need.

To keep track of any major storm, click here: https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/