How to recover your boat after a hurricane

To recover your boat after a hurricane, follow these tips and get back on the water sooner.

Get permission first. Never try to enter a storm-affected marina or boat storage facility without permission. Bring proof of ownership. Spilled fuel combined with the potential of downed electrical wires and a host of other hazards make these facilities extremely dangerous. Don’t even think of smoking. Stay off docks until it’s safe to do so. Never climb in or on boats that have piled up together or are dangling precariously from dock pilings or other obstructions.
Remove valuables. If your boat has washed ashore, remove as much equipment as possible. Move it to a safe place to protect it from looters and vandals. It’s a good idea to put your name, telephone number, address, and email somewhere conspicuously on the boat, along with a “No Trespassing” sign.
Minimize further damage. Protect your boat from further water damage resulting from exposure to the weather by covering it with a tarp or boarding up broken windows or hatches. As soon as possible, start drying out the boat, either by taking advantage of sunny weather or using electric air handlers. Remove all wet materials, such as cushions, and save them for a potential insurance claim. The storm may be gone, but the clock is ticking on mold growth.
“Pickle” wet machinery. To “pickle” engines and other wet or submerged machinery, flush them with freshwater, then fill with diesel fuel or kerosene. Here’s how.
Consult your insurance provider. If your boat is sunk or must be moved by a salvage company, do not sign any salvage or wreck-removal contract without first getting approval from your insurance company. Proceeding without your insurer’s knowledge and approval may jeopardize your coverage.

For additional post-hurricane boat recovery tips, read more here. –BoatUS