The hurricane season may seem a long way off, but spending a little time now planning how you will protect your boat from the next storm could mean the difference between minor scratches and the total loss of your boat. To help boaters plan their hurricane strategy, the experts at the BoatU.S. Marine Insurance Damage Avoidance Program have a information packed Web site at www.BoatUS.com/Hurricanes that can help boaters customize their own hurricane plan now.

The information comes from the experiences of the BoatU.S. Insurance Program's "Catastrophe Team". This field response team consists of claims adjusters, salvage specialists and transportation staff that are on the front lines of recreational boat storm recovery and damage assessment.

"We see all of the bad stuff - especially the boats that could have been saved if there had been more effort made," said the Director of the BoatU.S. Damage Avoidance Program, Bob Adriance. "With every storm, we learn more about which preparations work and which ones don't. Sharing this information allows boaters to make smarter decisions in hurricane planning."

The information available at www.BoatUS.com/Hurricanes includes:

 A free, downloadable Guide to Preparing Boats and Marinas for Hurricanes and a Hurricane Preparation Worksheet
 Hurricane Preparation: Location, Location, Location
 Strap Down Boats Stored Ashore
 Canals, the Ultimate Hurricane Holes
 Chafe Protection in Storms
 Hurricanes and Ropes
 How Secure is Your Marina Likely to be in a Hurricane?
 Moorings That Can Stay Put in a Hurricane
 Sample Marina and Boat Club Facility Hurricane Plans from Texas, Virginia, North Carolina and Florida

The Web site is a good way to stay informed whenever a storm threatens to come ashore, with extensive storm tracking features available including "spaghetti" landfall strike probability models. Also included are live satellite images, wind band information, NOAA advisories, and a hurricane message board to share experiences.