2017 Hurricanes Wreck 63,000 Boats

The Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) estimates that more than 63,000 recreational boats were damaged or destroyed as a result of both Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma, with a combined dollar damage estimate of $655 million. The figure is for boats only, and does not account for damage to engines, trailers or other equipment.

These numbers are strikingly close to damage figures for 2012’s Hurricane Sandy, which remains the single-largest industry loss in the United States, with more than 65,000 boats damaged and more than $650 million in estimated losses.

Breaking down the 2017 season storms, Hurricane Irma damaged or destroyed 50,000 vessels with approximately $500 million in recreational boat damage. About 13,500 boats were damaged or lost costing $155 million in boat damage as the result of Hurricane Harvey.

“These two storms were as different as night and day,” said BoatUS marine insurance program vice president of claims, Rick Wilson. “The boats that were hit the hardest by Harvey were located on a relatively small slice of Texas coast, while we saw damage to recreational vessels from Irma in every corner of Florida.”

Check out some of the damage done to recreational boats duringHurricane Irma below.