Marina manager says boat owners “need to get a plan now” before Hurricane Irma

SOUTHPORT, NC (WWAY) — All these boats in downtown Wilmington are here for the Wilmington boat show.

They made the decision to end the show on Saturday, instead of Sunday as originally planned.

But boat owners at one marina in Southport are also making plans.

Hank Whitley, the manager of Southport Marina said people who have boats need to get a plan now.

With four hundred boats on their property some are leaving while some are planning to move their boats elsewhere.

He said almost everyone who has the ability to haul a boat and their property is full at this point.

“Most boat owners are going to have a plan in place, based on what their insurance company tells them they should do and that’s always my recommendation too. We require all of our slip holders to have insurance and have a good relationship with your insurance providers, so whatever they expect you do to with your boat during a storm that’s what you should be doing,” Whitley said.

He also says the marina’s phones have been ringing off the hook with people calling about their boats.