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Awareness Of Environmental Conditions

Weather

You should never leave the dock without first checking the local weather forecast. Checking the weather prior to leaving the dock is just as important in planning your trip as checking for fuel and required equipment. Special attention to weather and weather indicators can make the difference in a pleasant day on the water and potential disaster.

You can get weather information from TV, radio or from one of the weather channels on your VHF radio. At certain times of the year weather can change rapidly and you should continually keep a "weather eye" out, especially to the west, in order to foresee changes which might be impending.

There are indicators that you can look for that indicate an approaching weather change:

• Weather changes generally come from the west so scan the sky with your weather eye, especially to the west.
• A sudden drop in temperature and change in the wind often mean that a storm is near.
• If you have a barometer on your boat check it every two to three hours. A rapid drop in pressure means a storm is approaching.
• Watch for cloud build up, especially rapid vertically rising clouds. Be alert for the sound of thunder.
• Watch for lightning and rough water. Remember that boats, particularly sailboats, are vulnerable to lightning if not grounded.
• Watch the weather to the west, the direction from which most bad weather arrives. However, be observant of weather from all directions.
• Fog can create problems in inlets and bays or open water. Fog typically forms during temperature changes in early morning or evening hours and can persist for long periods.
• If your weather service has indicated that a hurricane is imminent you should not leave the dock - period. Approaching hurricanes can be identified by the "feeder bands" of rain that proceed them by 24-48 hours.

National Weather Service Storm  Advisories
Small Craft Advisory Winds up to 38 mph	Gale  Warning 38-54 mph	Storm Warning Up to 73 mph	Hurricane Warning Winds over 74 mph

IF A STORM IS NEAR…

• Reduce speed and proceed with caution
• Put on PFDs.
• Close all hatches and ports.
• Head for the nearest shore that is safe to approach and duck into the lee of land.
• Put the bow into the wind and waves at about a 40 degree angle and watch for floating debris.
• Pump out bilges and keep dry.
• Change to a full fuel tank.
• Secure loose items which could be tossed about.
• Keep everyone low in the boat and near the centerline.
• Minimize the danger of having your boat struck by lightning by seeking shelter in advance of a storm. If caught on open water during a thunderstorm, stay low in the middle of the boat.
• If there is lightning, disconnect all electrical equipment. Stay as clear of metal objects as possible.
• If caught in fog, be sure to sound the appropriate sound signals.
  

Leeway

Leeway is caused by wind or current pushing your boat off course. Boats with a large amount of surface area above the waterline (freeboard) will be affected by the wind to a greater degree than low profile boats. Additionally, boats with a large keel or underwater profile will be affected by current to a greater degree than planing boats with less structure under the water. You should compensate for leeway by steering into wind or current in order to make good a straight course to your destination.

You can visualize leeway by looking back at your wake while on a steady compass heading. If your wake is not following directly behind you, but being set to one side or the other, you are experiencing leeway and should correct.

Tide and Current

Tide is the rise and fall of the water’s surface. The tidal range is the amount of difference in low tide and high tide. Tidal range and its resulting effect on the depth of the water may be insignificant in some areas but in others you may have tides that rise and fall up to fifty feet. You should always be aware of the state of the tide especially when leaving and returning to shallow water.

Current is the flow of the water either from or to the sea as the tide rises and falls. You should be aware of the effects of current on your boat. Current may flow as rapidly as five knots. If you lose an engine and are pushed along with current you could be swept out to sea or pushed aground.

Specific Local Hazards

You should be aware of, and plan for, any specific local hazards in the area in which you will be boating. You should have charts onboard for all areas you boat in. If you are boating in an area for the first time, seek assistance from other boaters or marinas with local knowledge who can inform you of additional safety precautions which must be considered.

You should be aware of any and all of the following:

• Hazardous Inlets
• Shoaling areas
• Whitewater areas
• Dams
• Locks
• Abnormal tides or currents

Make sure you check with state and/or local officials for requirements and specific conditions that may apply to a body of water on which you intend to boat. For example, some lakes prohibit any motorized vessels, while others might prohibit personal watercraft or have specific hours of operation.

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