Boating In Rough Conditions
Some days, the water cooperates with you and you have clear skies and calm seas as far as the eye can see. No waves jostle your boat, no swells sweep up over the sides, no torrential rains pour down on your craft.
But weather is unpredictable, particularly out in a large body of water like the Atlantic Ocean or one of the Great Lakes. Squalls can sweep in seemingly out of nowhere even if the forecast looks clear as a bell.
Your boat starts dipping and pitching in the water, causing you to start panicking and wondering how to get to safety.
This guide to boating in challenging waters comes to you courtesy of your friends here at Yankee Boating Center in Lake George, New York. We don’t want to hear about any sinking boats out there that could have been prevented by using the right strategies to deal with difficult weather! Follow these tips to keep yourself on course and upright the next time you encounter a squall.
Check The Forecast
Sure, the weather can be inaccurate at times, as we noted above. But it’s still wise to keep an eye on the week’s forecast in advance of your boating trip. Weather can change very quickly, so even if things look fine one day, they may have changed significantly by the day of departure. Use apps to keep track while you’re on the water, and also be vigilant when looking out at the horizon. Sometimes a drop in temperature and oncoming grey skies can be a signal that you need to make haste to shore. Having a transmitter radio that can pick up weather data can also be useful if your phone or GPS fails to get a signal.
Slow Down & Turn On Lights
If you find yourself swamped in fog or rain, then you may want to rev your engine and head back to the dock as quickly as possible. But this can leave you vulnerable to hitting something in the lowered visibility. You need to give yourself more reaction time in bad weather conditions, so slow down and take your time. This will also reduce stress on your hull. Try to lessen the effects of swells by turning your boat to a 45° angle. Have your passengers keep an eye out for any other boats or debris in the water.
Use your boat’s navigational lights to improve your visibility in fog, rain and high winds. You’ll help other boaters to see you in addition to being able to see more of what’s around you.
Ride It Out
If worst comes to worst, then you’ll simply have to wait out the storm. This may actually be the safest course of action sometimes! If your boat is pitching around all over the place, then it may be time to aim your bow towards the swells and wind and stay in one place until the storm has passed. Your hull will not get the full force of the swells this way so you won’t feel as much of the impact of waves and winds. Hopefully, the skies clear soon and you can make your way to safety!
We hope this guide helps you to be more confident in difficult weather conditions. If you’re interested in renting boats, visit our Lake George Marina & Boat Rentals location. For boat sales, you can check out the Thousand Islands Sales Center. And you can also visit our Lake George Showroom & Service Department if you want to see what we have or talk to one of our experienced mechanics about servicing your craft. Yankee Boating Center proudly serves the city of Haverstraw, New York.