As experienced boaters know and newbies will soon learn, boating isn’t always blue skies, sunshine, and calm seas. That might be the ideal, but the reality is that sometimes those skies turn dark and threatening, sunshine is replaced by wind and rain, and your day on the water turns downright nasty—and, if you’re not prepared, even dangerous.
Though odds are those picture-perfect days will likely be far more in abundance, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have a plan, or some battle-tested tactics, on how to deal with stormy weather. Here’s a primer, from how best to predict what days will be a washout to how to weather a storm you can’t outrun and make it safely back to the dock.
Plan Ahead
The obvious first piece of advice? Always check the weather forecast before you leave the dock. Weather apps and the local news can give you a broad view, but boaters should check the actual local marine forecast from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. These forecasts—available on the internet at weather.gov/nwr or broadcast via NOAA Weather Radio on VHF—are updated every one to three hours, more often in severe conditions. They include wind direction and speed, wave height, barometric pressure, chance of precipitation, and storm warnings, extending up to 25 miles offshore in coastal areas.
No matter what the forecast, your boat should be in tiptop condition anytime you leave shore. Follow maintenance schedules to make certain your engine is in good running condition, check that your battery is fully charged and onboard electronics functional, and double-check all safety equipment, including flares and signals, first-aid kit, safety kit, and life-jacket inventory. If it’s not obvious, there should be one of the latter for every passenger aboard, and they should be worn—not stuffed away in a locker. Don’t rely on just a cellphone. Have at least one working VHF radio on board, ideally a fixed-mounted version at the helm and a handheld backup VHF with fully charged battery should you lose power or, in extreme cases, be forced to abandon ship. Depending on how big the waters are that you’re venturing out in and the distance from shore, satellite-based locators such as an emergency position-indicating radio beacon or personal locator beacon should also be aboard. Make sure everyone knows the location of all the above items, as well as how to use them.
Even with a favorable forecast, weather can change quickly. While on the water, continue to monitor the conditions. If you have access to barometric readings, watch for falling pressures, which typically mean bad weather isn’t far off. Many VHF radios, including handhelds, include a weather alert function to immediately warn of severe weather. Make sure it’s active. It’s also a great idea to have an escape plan if you need to run for cover. Take note of the nearest ports, sheltered harbors, bridges or other areas that could provide safe haven should the weather turn snotty.
Make Preparations
Don’t just rely on data; trust your senses. Dark clouds, changes in wind direction or temperature, and increasing wind, waves, and whitecaps can all be signs of a coming storm. Fluffy white clouds that build upward to a flat, anvil-shaped top (cumulonimbus incus) also indicate that a storm is brewing, as can fog, rain, and even the action of other boaters. If you see a sudden increase in boats heading in, scan the skies and check the weather forecast; they might know something you don’t.
If you do encounter bad weather, consider the simplest solution first—getting off the water. “If you can, just turn around and head home or to the dock,” suggests Aidan Reisig of Eckerd College Search and Rescue, a one-of-a-kind college program in St. Petersburg, Florida, a state where some areas average more than 100 thunderstorms a year. If that’s not an option, “pull up the radar and see the breadth of the storm that you’re looking at, how large it is,” Reisig continues. “A lot of the time, especially during the summer, you’ll get smaller storms that cover only a few square miles. You can just head around them to avoid them.”
Should dealing with the storm become inevitable, prepare for what’s to come. The captain’s first course of action should always be to double-check that everyone aboard is wearing a US Coast Guard-approved life jacket or personal flotation device. Next, make your boat more visible to other boaters in a storm’s lower-light conditions by turning on navigation lights. Instruct the crew to look around the boat for any loose gear that might get tossed about in the waves and potentially injure passengers, as well as valuable items that could be lost, and stow or lock down everything of concern. If your boat has a cabin, batten down the hatches. Shut windows, doors, hatches, portholes—any opening that could allow water to enter and cause potential flooding. It’s also a good idea to hit the bilge pump to get rid of any water that might already be aboard and making the boat sit lower in the water.
Fight…or Flight?
If it’s safe to try to make it to the nearest port for protection, proceed at the slowest speed that maintains enough power to maintain steering and headway. (This is exactly why we Boating boat testers check for minimum planing speeds.) Head into the waves, taking them on a 45-degree angle off the bow or stern, and tacking, if necessary, to maintain course. This should prevent the boat from getting swamped, keep the propeller in the water, and allow the hull to best handle potential pounding. If forced to run in following seas, “throttle management is essential,” Reisig says. “Trim high, and make sure you’re not catching up to the wave in front of you. You could broach (lose steering) or stuff the bow.” Avoid taking waves on the beam. In addition to a rocky ride, you could capsize. As to the crew, gather them near the centerline, on the cockpit floor of open boats or inside the cabin on larger vessels. In addition to protection, it will add stability and keep the boat more maneuverable. For comfort, Reisig suggests keeping some type of foul-weather gear aboard, even in summer, to fend off chill and, in extreme cases, hypothermia.
In severe conditions, waiting out the storm might be the safest course of action. Depending on the area, sheltered coves and even bridges can offer shelter. Anchoring in open water should be a last resort, but if you have no other choice, point your bow into the waves and drop anchor from the bow to prevent swamping. Make sure your anchor light is illuminated, and keep constant watch for other boats. In addition to the state of the seas, lightning is one of the biggest concerns. The highest areas on your boat are at greatest risk of getting hit, so stay as low as possible in an open boat, and shelter in a cabin if available. If you have time before the storm hits, lower or stow tall items such as antennas, towers, outriggers and fishing rods. Stay away from metal objects and electrical appliances, and unplug what you can to prevent damage. Never grab or hold onto two metal items at once; it provides a pathway for lightning to travel through your body, which could result in serious injury or death.
Random science tidbit: A microwave acts as a Faraday cage, a conductive enclosure that shields contents from external electromagnetic fields. It’s a great spot to store valuable items such as a handheld VHF, phone or laptop. And speaking of that handheld VHF, it’s your best means of communication or for monitoring the storm while a primary radio is unplugged. The good news? Many summer storms are relatively short-lived, passing in 30 to 60 minutes. Give a storm an extra half-hour before getting back underway to avoid the potential for additional lightning strikes trailing the main storm.
Read Next: Avoiding Post-Storm Hazards
After the Storm
Those moments when a storm has passed are filled with a palpable relief, but this isn’t the time to simply get back underway. Take time to make sure everyone aboard is accounted for, safe and not injured. Depending on the severity of the storm, some passengers might be rattled. Do your best to calm them down and assure them that they’re safe.
If you need help or feel that the boat itself is in jeopardy, immediately reach out to the Coast Guard on VHF Channel 16 and, if you have cell service, call 911. Inspect the hull, engine compartment, bilge and other key areas for damage. Pump out any water that made its way aboard. Document anything and everything of concern that you find; you might need it for any insurance claim.
You may have turned off much of the electronics. Power everything back up, and make sure all is in working order, especially if you suspect you had a lightning strike. Finally, start the engine and ensure that it’s running smoothly. If the potential exists for more bad weather, take advantage of any lull to head home or to a safe port. If the weather has cleared and the crew is up for it, take advantage of what’s left of the day and enjoy.
Stormy weather happens, plain and simple. With proper planning, preparation and tactics, however, you, your boat and all aboard will weather the storm—and be ready to enjoy the sunny weather that follows.
