St. Clair Superyachts
Storm Prep Control Room
NOAA Marine Forecast — Miami
Official marine wind, seas, and hazard updates for the Miami coastal waters.
Open Forecast ↗ Source: NOAA
NOAA Tide Chart — Port Everglades
High/low tide windows and currents for Station 8722951 (Port Everglades).
Open Tide Chart ↗ Source: NOAA Tides & Currents
Live Weather Radar — Fort Lauderdale
Real-time rain bands and intensity to visualize approach and timing.
Open Radar ↗ Source: AccuWeather🛟 Florida Yacht Hurricane Prep Checklist (Owner’s Reference)
This is the reference Kevin St. Clair uses to organize prep discussions. Every yacht, crew, dock, and insurance policy is different—coordinate decisions with your captain, dockmaster, and insurer.
1) Know Your Real-Time Conditions
- Marine Forecast (NOAA) — wind/sea state & advisories: weather.gov/marine/mflmz ↗
- Tide Station — Port Everglades (8722951): NOAA tides ↗
- Live Radar — Fort Lauderdale: AccuWeather radar ↗
Layer forecast + tides + radar to anticipate direction, timing, and load windows.
2) Relocation Planning
- Pre-confirm haul-out options and yard capacity; don’t rely on waitlists during an event.
- Verify bridge schedules/lockdowns and position early if a move is likely.
- Know alternate mooring sites and approach routes in advance.
3) Mooring & Lines
- Assess pilings, cleats, and bollards; replace suspect hardware before storms.
- Set wide-angle springs; add chafe gear at all contact points.
- Consider 8-point or storm-rated anchors where appropriate to your vessel and berth.
4) Fuel & Power Systems
- Top off tanks; manage condensation risk in warm, humid conditions.
- Work with a licensed marine electrician to define non-essential breakers.
- Individually load-test house bank batteries; replace weak banks as a set.
5) Exterior Clearance
- Remove biminis, canvas, cushions, sails, flags, tenders & boards not required for mooring.
- Secure or stow all loose deck gear and dockbox items.
6) Engine Room & Bilges
- Test bilge pumps and alarms; confirm backup power paths.
- Inspect through-hulls, clamps, strainers; address corrosion/weak points.
- Clean bilges so intrusion is obvious during checks.
7) Insurance Readiness
- Photograph the vessel after prep is complete (interior & exterior).
- Document serial numbers and key locations.
- Verify hurricane rider requirements; this checklist doesn’t replace policy obligations.
8) Crew & Contact Plan
- If you’re out of state, designate a captain/responsible party.
- Do not assume marinas can manage individual vessels during an event.
Pro tip: Stay Safe.
St. Clair Superyachts • Protecting Superyachts & Owners Since 1997 • +1-305-STCLAIR • stclairsuperyachts.com
Disclaimer: Educational reference only; not operational instructions. Follow your captain’s guidance and insurance requirements for your specific vessel and berth.
