Hi all:

For 13 hurricane seasons I have always hauled my boat and put her on the hard during hurricane season except for one time when I left her in a canal in Ft. Lauderdale Florida (supposedly out of the hurricane box) where I had three hurricanes come within one hundred miles of her.  After that Floridian experience I quickly returned to the Caribbean where I felt safer from hurricanes (inside the hurricane box).  I have not thought of doing an "in-water-layup" until it was mentioned to me by my insurance broker that the  cost was the same for insurance.  Certainly a lot less hassle than hauling out and I am wondering if it would also potentially be safer than on the hard, [I saw pictures of the boats in Spice Island boatyard after Grenada's hurricane Ivan where the boats were toppled because the jack stands were pushed through the hulls of the boats].

My question is: What are other member's thoughts about laying up ashore vs laying up in the water for hurricane season.  Any caveats?  I put Liahona in a cradle on concrete for a number of years but cradle prices are now exorbitant and It always takes me three days on each end of the season to prepare for haul and relaunch.  

Granted haul out allows servicing of various items out of the water (I have never done the service on the bow thruster in the water so that might be a new experience) etc.  I am wondering if there are other issues such as bottom paint longevity, galvanic or stray current corrosion (although I never leave the boat plugged in while in the water except when I am aboard and when the caretaker plugs it in for 6 hours every other week to top up batteries) etc, etc.

Frank discussion is welcome. 

Gary S. Silver

s/v Liahona   Amel SM #335    Puerto Del Rey Marina  - Puerto Rico