[Kevin]

Just read this today:

Katrina boat losses ‘far surpass’ Florida toll

BoatU.S. has confirmed its earlier estimate on the amount of damage that Hurricane Katrina caused to recreational vessels in the Gulf Coast region. The Aug. 29 hurricane caused between $650 million and $750 million in boat losses. Of that amount only about half, or $300 to $400 million in damage, was covered by insurance.

BoatU.S. says Katrina’s losses “far surpass” last year’s four-hurricane total of about $330 million in damages, as well as the $500 million in losses attributed to 1992’s Hurricane Andrew — which until now was believed to be the single most costly natural catastrophe to affect recreational boating. Hurricane Katrina also destroyed an estimated 75 percent of the marinas along 150 miles of the Gulf Coast.

On the heels of Katrina, Hurricane Rita wreaked havoc on coastal areas of eastern Texas and the Louisiana bayou on Sept. 24. Figures for boat losses attributed to this storm aren’t expected for a few more weeks.

No figures on Wilma yet...