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Kevin St. Clair with St. Clair Superyachts featured on the cover of Waterfront Times giving his expert advice for yacht owners to prepare for storms and hurricanes.

Storm Prep Control Room

Waterfront Times article featuring Kevin St. Clair and his Hurricane Wilma experience

Featured in Waterfront Times

Hurricane Experience Built From Results, Not Theory

Waterfront Times featured Kevin St. Clair’s firsthand experience surviving aboard a yacht during Hurricane Wilma and the lessons that helped shape his approach to yacht hurricane preparation.

Since 1997, Kevin has navigated more than 200,000 nautical miles aboard yachts and developed his storm strategy through real-world preparation and experience.

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Educational and informational purposes only. Always consult your insurer, marina, dockmaster and captain before making hurricane preparation decisions.

🛟 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

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.
NOAA Marine Forecast — Miami: Wind, seas, hazards

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 (Station 8722951)

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 (AccuWeather)

Live Weather Radar — Fort Lauderdale

Real-time rain bands and intensity to visualize approach and timing.

Open Radar ↗ Source: AccuWeather
Hero image promoting professional yacht management services by St. Clair Superyachts, a Florida-based yacht brokerage and advisory firm. Image features a luxury motor yacht cruising in South Florida with branding for free yacht management and crew referrals when purchasing a yacht. St. Clair Superyachts provides yacht management solutions for owners in Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Palm Beach, and throughout Florida, including crew placement, maintenance oversight, operating cost control, refit planning, and owner representation. Led by Kevin St. Clair, former superyacht captain and engineer with decades of experience managing yachts for UHNW owners, featured in Waterfront Times and SuperYacht Times. Trusted yacht management services for serious yacht owners seeking operational clarity, reduced risk, and experienced guidance in Florida.