Crime & Safety

Hurricane Irene: Tips to Keep Your Boat Safe

Marina owner says to get boats out of the water or tie them down.

John Salamone was working on his friend's boat Thursday when it hit him.

"Scott," the owner of in Hopatcong said. "I'm not putting your boat back in the water."

Salamone's reasoning was simple: With Hurricane Irene barreling up the East Coast and heading for New Jersey, causing , it wouldn't make sense to put his friend's prized possession at risk.

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Salamone gave Patch more tips for Lake Hopatcong boaters as Hurricane Irene nears.

GET IT OUT You can stop reading if you follow this step. Salamone said boaters can save lots of headaches—and money—if they just pull their boats out of the water.

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TIE IT UP Salamone said during the last rainstorm he had to put new ropes on several boats to prevent them from sinking. The owner said 1-inch ropes won't cut it. Instead, invest in 3/8-inch or half-inch ropes and make sure they're not old and rotted.

COVER IT UP Salamone said to put a tarp over your boat to prevent water damage. "You'll have less water going in your boat," he said. "And if you treat your cover with a water repellant, it makes a big difference. If they don't have that, the water will seep through the cover.

CHARGE IT UP Make sure your bilge pump is charged. For you non-boaters, bilge pumps remove water that doesn't drain off the side of the deck and threatens to sink a ship. Salamone said a backup battery would be a good idea, too. And if you don't have an automatic bilge pump, "you better be there to turn it on," Salamone said.

PUT ON FENDERS Rough waters mean boats bobbing around. When that happens, boats are likely to smash nearby decks or boats, causing damage. Salamone said a good pair of fenders can protect your boat from dents and worse.


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