As we begin the boating season at Kingman
Yacht Center, we would like to ask for your cooperation in reviewing
an important document for our customers - the Hurricane Plan.
We recommend that you take the time now to familiarize yourself
with this plan and equip your boat with the necessary gear.
An Organized
Plan of Action Allows Us to Mobilize Hundreds of Boats if
Threatened by a Major Coastal Storm .....
As many of you know, Kingman has developed
a highly organized plan of action to respond to a potential
hurricane strike to New England waters. Because we service more
than 350 boats during hurricane season, advance preparation
is critical. Unlike smaller marinas, we must respond to approaching
storms quickly, efficiently - and early - simply to overcome
the logistics of mobilizing 350 boats before an approaching
hurricane.
Each year, we depend upon the assistance of our customers in
preparing for hurricane season. In the event that a tropical
storm or hurricane poses significant threat to our harbor, Kingman
Yacht Center will declare a Hurricane Alert and request an evacuation
of the marina. This status will affect slip and mooring customers
in different ways.
Slips .....
All boats docked at slips must have on file
an individual Boater's Hurricane Plan providing Kingman Yacht
Center with instructions for how those boats will be evacuated
in the event of a hurricane. All such boats must be moved to
an appropriate mooring or anchorage, or, if power, may be hauled
if time permits.
Moorings .....
For our mooring customers, we ask that you
secure your boat properly to minimize potential damage to your
vessel and those around you should your boat break loose of
the mooring. Early in the season, chafing gear and extra pennants
should be stowed on board. If you need assistance in determining
the proper gear, please call or stop by the Service Dept.
As soon as you learn that a storm is approaching the East Coast,
we recommend that you call us to confirm the status of storm
preparations.
Since Kingman Yacht Center's initial priority will be evacuation
of our 235 slips, we encourage all mooring customers to personally
secure their boats. Due to time constraints, we prefer that
you prepare your own boat, but if you are unable to do so, Kingman
Yacht Center will perform the preparations, time permitting,
at our standard hourly labor rate plus materials.
Although Kingman Yacht Center is fully prepared to assist boat
owners with hurricane preparations, the ultimate responsibility
for each vessel lies with its owner. With more than 350 boats
to service it is a challenge for us to mobilize every boat owner
in 72 hours. Your initiative will assist our staff when time
is most critical.
Suggested Hurricane Preparations for
Boat on Moorings
The following recommendations do not guarantee that your boat
will escape damage, but will improve the potential for minimizing
damage:
-
Secure all on-deck equipment
such as antennas, fenders, dodgers, bimini tops, hooks,
rafts, ladders, fishing gear, chairs, etc.
-
Remove or lash down sails,
particularly roller furled genoas
-
Secure mooring lines and
protect with adequate chafing gear
-
Secure the mooring with additional
pennants
-
Stow dinghies ashore
A
Note About Dinghies: All dinghies must be removed from the
Dinghy Dock during the first 24 hours after Kingman Yacht Center
declares a Hurricane Alert. After this time, The Dinghy Dock
will be dismantled and moved into the back basin. Dinghies must
be stowed ashore by owners in an area designated by marina personnel.
The Kingman Launch
will be in service at this time.
Preparation is Key to Minimizing Damage .....
"Bob"
was a classic example of how unpredictable hurricanes can be,
making landfall in New England just 24 hours after veering off
Cape Hatteras. None of Kingman's 130 heavy-duty moorings dragged
during this storm. Only five Kingman boats broke free due to
inadequate chafing gear or from collision with boats that had
dragged from other moorings across the harbor.
Those boaters who
survived 1991's Hurricane Bob with us know that Kingman boats
were spared the devastation sustained in most other Cape harbors.
We attribute this to luck and preparedness.
Your Cooperation is Important .....
We
cannot emphasize enough the importance of proper preparations.
Founded in 1932, Kingman has weathered the 10 or so hurricanes
that visited Cape Cod waters during this period. Our successes
in minimizing damage to boats and property during recent storms
attest to the importance of keeping our customers informed and
prepared. If you have any questions about gear or how to secure
your boat, please feel free to call.
We are pleased that
you have joined us this season. We wish you calm seas and fair
winds in the summer months to come. For more information:
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