Home / Severe weather checklists
Severe weather checklists for boat owners
When a warning is issued, time is short and it is easy to forget something. These checklists for boat owners cover five kinds of severe weather. For each one you will find what to do before it arrives, what matters while it lasts and what to record afterwards so that any claim is complete from the start. Each section ends with the points worth checking in your own boat policy.
Tick items on screen or print each list on its own. To see which official warnings are in force at your berth right now, open our weather warnings map.
Storm
0 / 20 doneA storm in the strict sense starts at force 8 on the Beaufort scale. At the berth the typical trouble is chafed lines, covers torn loose and boats banging against the pontoon or each other. Out on the water the safest plan is to be in harbour before the wind arrives.
Before: when the warning comes
When it hits
Afterwards
Storm: what to check in your policy
Look at how your policy defines storm. Some wordings name a minimum wind force, often stated in Beaufort or km/h, others name none. Check too whether damage from a boat breaking loose, drifting or sinking falls under storm or under accident cover, as some policies only cover accidents in their higher tiers.
Many boat policies also set conditions for boats left unattended, for example on an exposed coast, and some seasonal policies give no cover at all in the winter months. Ask whether reasonable costs you incur to prevent or reduce damage are refunded.
Read more: Weather warnings map Reading the weather on board
Flood and storm surge
0 / 17 doneRising water lifts the boat until the lines run out of slack or the pontoon disappears. On the coast a storm surge comes with the wind, while on rivers the flood often peaks days after the rain. Your national water authority or coastguard publishes water levels and surge warnings.
Before: when the warning comes
When it hits
Afterwards
Flood: what to check in your policy
Few boat policies list flood or storm surge as a peril of its own. What usually matters is what happened to the boat: breaking loose, colliding with the pontoon or sinking may be covered as an accident, but only if your policy includes accident cover.
Check whether costs ordered by the authorities for salvage or wreck removal are included and up to what limit, and what your policy expects you to do to limit the damage.
Read more: Leaks and flooding at the berth Weather warnings map
Thunderstorm
0 / 16 doneThunderstorms often build quickly and bring lightning, hail and sudden squalls. On open water the mast is frequently the highest point around. Those who react early are already in harbour when the first gusts arrive.
Before: when the warning comes
When it hits
Afterwards
Thunderstorm: what to check in your policy
Lightning and hail are named perils in most hull policies. Check whether surge damage to electronics caused by a nearby strike is included, and whether short circuits or mechanical breakdown without an outside cause are excluded.
Write down the date, time and place of the storm. It helps to show that lightning was the cause.
Read more: Reading the weather on board Weather warnings map
Frost, snow and ice in winter storage
0 / 16 doneFrost does its damage quietly. Water left in the engine, pipes or tanks freezes, expands and splits whatever holds it. Snow makes covers heavy and ice presses against hull and pontoon. Most of the protection is done when you lay the boat up in autumn.
Before: when the warning comes
When it hits
Afterwards
Frost and snow: what to check in your policy
Many hull policies exclude damage caused by weather alone, such as frost, ice, snow, rain or sun, unless it follows from a covered event such as a storm. A cracked engine block after frost is then the owner's risk.
Check whether your policy is seasonal and gives no cover in the winter months, and what it requires when the boat is stored ashore, for example a fenced and locked yard as a condition for theft cover.
Read more: Winter storage checklist
Heat, sun and fire
0 / 16 doneLong spells of heat warm up cushions, gas bottles and batteries, and dry summers bring wildfires close to some harbours. A fire on one boat can spread quickly along a pontoon. Prevention mostly means keeping gas, electrics and extinguishers in order.
Before: when the warning comes
When it hits
Afterwards
Heat and fire: what to check in your policy
Fire and explosion are core perils in most hull policies. Check whether scorch damage to upholstery is included and note that heat or sun alone, such as faded cushions or crazed gelcoat, is usually excluded as weather damage.
Many policies require fire, explosion and theft to be reported to the police straight away. Check what your policy says about reporting and about costs you incur to limit the damage.
Read more: Fire on board Reporting a claim
If your boat has been damaged
Report the damage as early as you can. If you are a NAMMERT customer, choose your contract in mein NAMMERT and select report a claim, where you can also upload photos and documents. Our claims line is +49 3375 566 75 05, outside office hours +49 3375 29 28 95.
We handle the claim and submit it in full to the insurer, who decides on the payment. What a complete claim report contains is explained on our page about reporting a claim.
Your ticks are saved in this browser only. These lists do not replace official warnings or instructions from the harbour master, fire service or police.
