Don’t let the slow start to hurricane season this year fool you; If you own a boat, the hurricane prep plan you build now is the difference between a repair bill and a total loss.

Despite the fact that hurricanes are categorized by their wind strength, water is the biggest killer during these events. For boats, storm surge is the biggest danger.

“Hurricane Ian, for example, had a storm surge in excess of 20 feet in some areas on the west coast of Florida, which displaced well over 7,000 vessels," says Michael Root, head of TowBoatUS.

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(MORE: 8 Key Things Experts Want You To Know About Hurricane Season)

Root explains, "In a comparison between the three, Hurricane Ian was significantly more devastating for the boating community because of the massive storm surge, which was not replicated with Helene or Milton."

Once a storm is named, it can be too late, so here’s what every boat owner should do now to protect their vessel.

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Haul out or stay?

Root says the best move is to get your boat out of the water if you can,

“There's a lot that can take place while a boat's in the water, and so it can fill up with water, it can sink, it can break loose from its tie downs, it can float away and do some additional damage."

Root says boats 40 feet or less are commonly pulled from the water because they're easier to get on a trailer.

You’ll want to move your vessel as far from tidal waters as possible. If you’re doing this yourself, you’ll want to be in contact with your marina and have a haul-out reservation as early as possible.

Root adds that boaters get into trouble by “waiting till a storm's already approaching, because haul-out facilities may be full, supplies may be harder to find and conditions can deteriorate quite quickly.”

If you have a larger vessel that can’t be moved here are some steps recommended by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission:

• Double all lines and attach them high on marina pilings to allow for storm surge.
• If your vessel is staying on a mooring, make sure it’s designed to withstand the load of your boat. 
• Remove all loose items from the boat — life rings, life jackets.
• Remove or secure any sails.
• Make sure you have anti-chafing buffers or fenders to protect the lines and the boat from rubbing against the pier, pilings or other boats.

Take photos, gather documents

In the aftermath of a storm the last thing you want to have to do is to hunt for your insurance documents. So gather all those papers and keep them in safe place.

Update or take current photos of your boat so you can show its condition before any storm damage.

And this is probably most important, take a photo of your HIN — the hull identification number — that number will be crucial if you need to file a claim, or if your vessel goes missing.

When the storm is over, the danger isn’t

Once a storm is over companies like TowBoatUS, work with local authorities to go out and recover or salvage boats.

Root explains, “It’s the after effect when you have all the debris in the local waterways, potentially underwater hazards that aren't visible because a vessel may be underwater.”

Prioritizing your safety should be paramount and preparation is the key. Peak Atlantic hurricane season runs now through October. Start the checklist this week — not the week a storm is named.