Hurricane Prep for Docks, Boat Lifts & Seawalls
A practical checklist for Space Coast waterfront owners, before the season, before a storm and after it.
General guidance. Follow your insurer, HOA, marina and equipment manufacturer instructions, and local evacuation orders.
Before the Season
- Look over pilings, cleats, hardware and fasteners for corrosion, rot or looseness
- Check the seawall cap, joints and the ground behind the wall for sinkholes or washout
- Have your boat lift serviced: cables, motor, switches and power supply
- Photograph everything as it stands for insurance records
- Know your HOA and insurer rules about boats, lifts and canopies
When a Storm Is Coming
- Remove the boat according to your plan; a lift is not hurricane storage
- Take down canopy fabric and secure the frame per the manufacturer
- Shut off power at the breaker for the dock and lift
- Remove or tie down loose items, lines, chairs and fuel containers
- Photograph the dock and wall again
After the Storm
- Stay off a damaged dock until it has been checked
- Treat downed lines and wet electrical equipment as live
- Look for leaning wall panels, new voids or washout behind the seawall
- Photograph damage before moving anything and call your insurer
- Call a marine contractor for an assessment if pilings, decking or the wall look compromised
When To Call Us
If pilings shifted, decking is lifting, the wall is leaning or the ground behind it has dropped, call for a storm-damage assessment. Early repairs are usually smaller repairs.