Hurricane Prep and Storm-Season Boat Storage in Connecticut

Of the 10 hurricanes NOAA records in Connecticut since 1851, 9 arrived in months our season rule marks as in the water at Hartford (May, Jun, Jul, Aug and Sep) and 1 in the other months; 1 fell in months marked launch or haul-out. At Bridgeport the count is 9 in months in the water. 0 have come since 2000 and 2 were Category 3 or stronger.

In NOAA's record, Connecticut impacts fall most often in September (6), August (3) and October (1). In those months a boat at Hartford is in the water in September, in the water in August and launch or haul-out in October by our season rule, and in the water in 4 of the 6 season months overall, so settle storage before June 1.

21 of 56 live Connecticut listings list enclosed indoor space; 21 list covered and 28 outdoor spaces. By city: Gaylordsville (16; 0 enclosed), Bridgeport (6; 0 enclosed), Groton (6; 1 enclosed) and Mystic (6; 6 enclosed). The most enclosed listings are in Mystic (6) and Old Saybrook (4). None lists climate-controlled units. Listings span 18 cities. Prefer a wind-rated building outside the flood zone.

Move it at once. 21 Connecticut listings list enclosed space; book one before June. All but 1 of the 10 Connecticut hurricanes on record came in months a boat at Hartford is in the water by our rule, so expect to move it from use, not from storage. Hartford averages 4.5 inches in October, so check the site drains.

Listings span 18 Connecticut cities. The largest groups are Gaylordsville (16 listed), Bridgeport (6 listed), Groton (6 listed), Mystic (6 listed) and Bridgewater (5 listed). For covered spaces, Mystic (6) and Old Saybrook (4) lead. Statewide, 28 list open lots, 21 covered parking and 21 enclosed space, so a boat owner can usually choose between shelter levels in the same city.