With the massive flood event currently impacting a significant part of NSW and parts of SE Queensland, it's timely to cover off on what boaters should know when it comes to flood waters. What you should and shouldn't do if you are in the vicinity or in flood-impacted areas and what do if you need to replace your boat due to flood damage.
- While boats are the only way to access many of the flooded regions, using boats for recreational purposes during flood crisis should be approached with care. As the police warn car drivers not to drive through flood waters, boaters should also be taking extreme care when operating any type of vessel in a flooded waterway. The current in the recent flood event was extremely fast-moving in many areas, due to the force of the torrent of water coming downstream. Having the capabilities to manoeuver a boat in tricky conditions is essential for safety. If a small boat is underpowered to cope with the strength of the current it may become side-on and may capsize.
- Understanding how tides and currents interact is also very important. Tides play a critical role in flooding events and boaters should be across the local area conditions.
- If boating in rivers which have been or are subjected to flood, debris poses a major threat. Objects of all shapes and sizes have been seen floating through the water. Some large objects may be visible but many logs, branches, livestock and even containers can be semi-submerged and hard to see in the murky flood water. Keep a sharp eye out, preferably have an observer to assist you and reduce speed to a minimum. Colliding with a submerged object at lower speed should lessen but not minimise the risk of major damage and injury compared with travelling at high speed.
- The flood waters will be taking some weeks to flow down into new areas and the threat is very real and ongoing. Authorities have advised that it will be well into April before the water levels start rising in some areas. So just because it’s not raining, it doesn’t mean the threat and risk has passed.
- Know the area and especially markings and markers. These floods are extensive and in many places there are few indications of where roads and land start and end.
- The same level of caution needs to be taken in open waters as the riverine flooding is heading for the open waters and many of the regions impacted such as Port Macquarie, are coastal locations. With the waters comes the debris and major items are already washing up on the east coast beaches. Some of this debris may drift offshore and will become a hazard for boaters in coastal areas.
- Boats may float but they are also secured to moorings and marinas which don’t always float entirely with the full extent of a rise in flood waters as many are secured to the river/waterway bed. There are many devastating sights of boats being washed up onshore after being dislodged from moorings. If possible, heed warnings and ensure your vessel is properly secured as potentially damaging weather events approach.
Replacing a Damaged Boat
At Jade Boat Loans we are, like many others, saddened to see the damage caused by these floods. In regard to boats, it’s easy to see from the media coverage how many vessels, both recreational and marine business boats, have been destroyed in this event. While those affected may have higher priorities than replacing their written-off boat, committed boaters are sure to want to get back into boating with a new boat as soon as is practicable.
If you do want to speed up the process, Jade Boat Loans can assist by handling the loan process while you attend to more immediate issues. If your boat was/is insured, you don’t necessarily have to wait until the insurer pays out on the existing policy. If the boat is under finance, the insurance policy should have been secured so as to cover any monies outstanding on your loan. If there is additional funds available after the lender is paid out, you can always opt to use that as additional payments on your new boat loan, when you receive the funds.
To secure a loan to purchase a new boat, simply contact Jade and you will be assigned a consultant to handle the process for you. We’ll source the cheapest quote from across our vast lender panel, arrange fast loan approval and assist with the paperwork to ensure prompt settlement.
In applying for your new boat loan you will require information about income, residential status, employment status, expenses, assets and other debts. If you have lost paperwork and financial records in the flood, your Jade consultant can assist with ideas as to how you can acquire the necessary information and documents via online portals.
You will need to handle the correct process for disposal of your written-off boat including cancelling boat registration. Your state marine authority should have details of any other steps that need to be addressed.
Floods and other major weather events can’t be avoided but taking steps to ensure the safety and security of your boat in the event of such conditions may go some way to protecting your valued possession.
If you have been impacted by the current flood or any other crisis and need assistance with finance to replace lost vessels, Jade Boat Loans is ready to assist with personalised, prompt and proactive service.
Contact Jade Boat Loans 1300 000 003 to discuss your boat loan.
DISCLAIMER: THE INFORMATION AND SPECIFIC DETAILS CONTAINED IN THE CONTENT OF THIS ARTICLE HAVE BEEN PREPARED AND ARE PRESENTED PURELY AS GENERAL INFORMATION AND NOT INTENDED AS THE ONLY SOURCE OF FINANCIAL ADVICE FOR BOAT BUYERS AND LOAN BORROWERS. FOR THOSE THAT CONSIDER THEY REQUIRE SPECIFIC ADVICE, THEY SHOULD CONSULT WITH A FINANCIAL ADVISOR. LIABILITY IS NOT ACCEPTED IN REGARD TO ERRORS AND MISPRESENTED DATA AND DETAILS HEREIN.
