Hurricane season officially begins June 1, but waterfront homeowners in Jacksonville know that tropical weather can develop quickly and with little warning. A dock or boat lift that's already compromised by deferred maintenance becomes a liability in any significant storm — loose hardware becomes projectiles, weak boards fail under surge loading, and a lift that's already struggling becomes a complete loss.
Pre-Season Inspection Checklist
Before June, walk your dock and check each of the following:
- Piling condition: Any lean, significant cracking, or visible marine borer damage. Compromised pilings under storm surge loading can fail catastrophically.
- Deck board security: All boards should be fastened securely. Loose boards in a storm become debris.
- Hardware integrity: Check every cleat, ladder, and railing for loose fasteners. Tighten or replace anything that moves.
- Lift cable tension: Cables should have even, consistent tension on both sides. Uneven tension can cause the boat to drop or shift in rough water.
What to Remove Before a Storm
Any item that can become airborne or act as a sail should be removed when a storm is approaching: dock boxes that aren't bolted down, portable dock steps, fender lines, decorative items, and any loose material stored on the dock. These become projectiles in sustained winds.
Boat Lift Decisions Before a Storm
Conventional wisdom on whether to leave your boat in the lift or on the water varies by storm intensity. For tropical storms and Category 1 events, most lift manufacturers say a properly maintained lift in good structural condition is adequate. For Category 2 and above, moving the boat to a dry storage facility is generally the safer choice. Whatever you decide, lower the lift cradle to its lowest position to reduce the effective sail area against surge and wind.
Post-Storm Inspection
After any significant storm, walk the entire dock and lift before resuming normal use. Check for shifted pilings, new soft spots, any hardware that's pulled out under load, and corrosion acceleration on the lift components from prolonged submersion. Catching post-storm damage early prevents it from becoming a larger structural issue through the remainder of the season.
A professional pre-season inspection is the single best investment you can make before June 1. We'll give you a written condition report and flag anything that needs attention before the weather turns — every year, the homeowners who call us after a storm wish they'd called before it.