BoatUS can help coastal Louisiana and western Gulf Coast boaters prepare for Francine with a free hurricane preparation checklist, how-to videos, storm-planning guides and more. (credit: Amy Beth Krisanda)
Download hi-res photo

BoatUS hurricane preparation information for boat owners includes helpful diagrams on how to best protect a boat stored in the water, such as here when a slip is not available. (Credit: BoatUS)
Download hi-res photo

SPRINGFIELD, Va., Sept. 9, 2024 -- With Tropical Storm Francine expected to reach hurricane strength before hitting parts of coastal Louisiana and the western Gulf Coast this week, recreational boat owners have all the hurricane preparation information they need at BoatUS.com/Hurricanes.

The website from Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) offers help to every boat owner, whether a boat will have to weather the storm in the slip, stored ashore, on a boat lift, in canals, or at marinas and boat clubs. BoatUS is the nation’s largest boating advocacy, services and safety group with more than 725,000 members and with 40 years of experience in recreational boat hurricane preparedness.

“We can help give your boat the best chances for survival or less damage,” said BoatUS spokesperson Scott Croft.

The storm-planning help, easily downloadable and all available free, includes a BoatUS Magazine Hurricane Preparations Guide, Hurricane Preparation Worksheet you can easily take to the boat to review to ensure you haven’t missed anything, and a Guide for Preparing Boats and Marinas for Hurricanes — a helpful resource for marina- and boat club staff, community resiliency managers and local government organizations that focus on protecting boating facilities.

A playlist that includes nine hurricane preparation videos makes it easy to understand the steps to take and additional articles, such as how to use protected canals, or why some lines break before others, are also available.

Visit BoatUS.com/Hurricanes for up-to-the-minute storm tracking tools with live satellite images and checklists for what to do before and after a hurricane strikes.

Go to BoatUS.com/Hurricanes for more.

###

Suggested social media post:

TS #Francine is expected to reach #hurricane strength and make landfall in coastal #Louisiana this week. Boat owners who need to prepare for storm surge, high winds and rain have free planning help from @BoatUS at https://www.BoatUS.com/Hurricanes  #stormwatch #stormready #hurricaneprep #hurricanepreparation #gulfcoast #coastallouisiana #louisianaboating #boatus

About Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS):

Celebrating more than 55 years, BoatUS is the nation’s largest advocacy, services and safety group with more than 725,000 dues-paying members. BoatUS is the boat owners’ voice on Capitol Hill, fighting for their rights. The TowBoatUS® fleet is available 24/7 to assist our members on the water when boats break down or run aground with some 600 vessels and 300-plus locations across North America, bringing our members safely back to the launch ramp, marina or dock. On the road, we are The Boat Owners Auto Club™, helping ensure roadside trailer and tow vehicle breakdowns won’t slow you down. BoatUS offers GEICO boat insurance policies that give boat owners affordable, specialized coverage and the superior service they need. Award-winning BoatUS Magazine is the largest circulation recreational marine publication in the U.S. with engaging content that speaks to the passion for boat ownership, while our 501(c)(3) nonprofit BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water offers the nation’s only free online boating safety course and many other programs that keep boaters safe and our waters clean. Visit BoatUS.com.