How to drive a boat in a storm??

[woodsyfeller]

This topic may have been brought up before, but I cant seem to find any posts on the subject.

I know you should always keep an eye on the weather and listen to the forcasts before you head out on the water.You should always use common sense and if in doubt stay home.With that said sometimes no matter how careful you think you are........... shyte happens.


I figure if your on the water long enough you are going to get caught in some unanticipated weather eventually.

What I would like to know how do you drive your boat if you are caught in rough water.



Ive pretty much just heard, point your bow into the waves ,slow your speed down but not so much you cant control the boat and ride it out

Avoid following shore to close, because waves bounce back and make cross waves, that can make controlling boat more difficult.

Try to get to sheltered waters or to shore and wait out storm there if possible.

I was hoping to get some suggestions or pointers on what to do if your caught out in the water from some of the more experienced boaters here.

 

[Mikeyboy]

Re: How to drive a boat in a storm??

I am new to boating myself and haven't been stuck in a storm yet but all the things you mentioned are the same things I have heard as well.

 

[mommicked]

Re: How to drive a boat in a storm??

I would add putting on Lifejackets if not already wearing them to the list!

 

[roscoe]

Re: How to drive a boat in a storm??

Actually getting to shore can be very dangerous in itself.

Getting close to shore on the windward (direction the wind is coming from) side of the lake is a good idea.
It may be wise to drop anchor there, and ride it out. Better than smashing on the rocks.

Also, if the reason you are still out in the storm is because you are disabled, then dropping anchor is a great idea.
It will generally keep the bow into the wind, slow or stop your movement, and keep you in the general area where you were last known to be.

If you don't have an anchor, use a drift sock or sea anchor.


If you have a marine radio, cell phone, or cb radio, call someone, anyone, and let them know who you are, where you are, and where you are heading.

Even if you do not need immediate help, someone will know where to look if you don't arrive back to port. You also don't want someone to send out the CG searching for you, if you are tucked safely in a harbor somewhere.

 

[rfdfirecaptain]

Re: How to drive a boat in a storm??

Still learning myself, but from experience on lakes and in the ocean: You’ll figure out the boat “driving part” in short order. The best thing you can do for yourself is make sure you did a thorough boat systems and safety check and filed a float plan with someone before you leave the dock. I think the situation dictates how you drive the boat and of course that means you need to be prepared for various “situations”.

My worst experience was in the ocean. I had to drive parallel to the shore to get back to the inlet. Swells were about 6 feet and 8 seconds apart. I would drive in the trough (area between waves) and watch my depth. As the trough moved toward the shoreline my depth got more shallow. As the depth got more shallow, the ride got more rough and the swells became more like waves. To correct I would tac back over a few swells, hitting them at about a 45 degree angle. Once back out into deeper water, I would ride in another trough a little ways farther toward the inlet before doing it all over again. While in the trough I spotted a wave that was already capping and much larger than the 6 foot swells. I only had seconds to take evasive action. I turned into the wave at full power trying to get to the wave before it broke over the top. About halfway up that wave I killed the power and tried to ride down the backside as much as possible. It was a good maneuver, but there was no time for patting myself on the back. Immediately I had to back in the trough toward the inlet. That “wave” was the first time anything like that has ever happened to me. I don’t think anyone can prepare you for that. It’s scary just looking at it headed in your direction. Once I reached the inlet it was a matter gas on and gas off to stay in between the waves. I think this is the most dangerous situation you can be in…. wind at your back with sizeable waves close together makes for a rough inlet entry. I caught a nice size wave and rode the back side of it into the inlet and into calmer waters. I had a smaller boat jump into my wake and right on my tail and follow me in. Presumably because my wake had a slight calming effect that gave him a little smoother ride into the inlet.

 

[Mikeyboy]

Re: How to drive a boat in a storm??

Yeah that does sound scary. I'm glad you made it out of that situation. I'll have to remember that tactic.

 

[Beefer]

Re: How to drive a boat in a storm??

Roscoe has some excellent advise. To add to that; when anchoring in snotty weather, your scope should be 10:1, or as much as you can based on available rode.

 

[QC]

Re: How to drive a boat in a storm??

over a few swells, hitting them at about a 45 degree angle.

This is seriously good advice when the swells, waves, wakes etc are at their worst. Keeps you from poking into the next one, and keeps you from sliding down the one you are on Good stuff!!!

 

[oops!]

Re: How to drive a boat in a storm??

we quite often get 6 footers on our lake.....i love it.....i used to buck into the waves for about 15 miles and turn around and surf the waves back.

however.
when coming from a certain side....it would be unwise to shoot straight for shore,,,,
i run close to the shore where the wind is coming from.....
then i shoot across the wakes at a 45 deg farther away from the docking point (into the waves)......i wait till i am far enough that the waves are head on to the dock.....i turn the boat in a trough. (and turn fast) then i throttle up to get on top of a wave and surf the wave right into the dock area.
my goal is not to get the passengers wet with over spray....i have accomplished that only 4 or 5 times....most times they do get some spray when the boat is side ways to the waves.

keep in mind.....i know these waters...i know the depths and i know how and where the wind and waves come from.

 

[Mikeyboy]

Re: How to drive a boat in a storm??

This is great advice that I hope I don't need anytime soon. I know that I am not nearly an experienced enough boater to be out in conditions like that just yet. That is why I am very diligent to only go out on nice days for the time being. Discretion being the better part of valor and such.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: How to drive a boat in a storm??

I've owned a boat (both power and sail) for about 15 years, and been boating most of my life . . . never really been caught in a 'storm', but have on occasion gone out when it was just too windy (I recall one time going out in tropical storm conditions when I was "young and fearless")

Of the advice that has been given, I would add the following comments.

Assuming that you are caught up is a pop-up thunderstorm or some other fast moving condition . . . you should seek the nearest sheltered water and hopefully one where you can get ashore.

In your dash towards sheltered water, you want to stay in deeper water as opposed proceeding close along the shore line. In shallow waters, the waves become bigger & sharper, which will only make handling the boat worse. Your best angle of attack (or retreat) on waves is 45 degrees, as been stated; but you cannot always do that in order to get where you need to go.

Generally in bigger wave conditions you would trim a bit higher to keep the bow up, etc.

Everybody should be wearing their PFD's, loose stuff stowed away, etc.

The weather forecasting is so much better now versus a few decades ago, and with folks having Smartphones, etc. to check on weather updates, etc., hopefully the alert boater will avoid being out in a storm.

 

[Oshkosh1]

Re: How to drive a boat in a storm??

Do NOT point your bow into the waves.
You want to take the seas quartering off of either the port or stbd side bow, and enough speed to keep steerage and headway.
Avoid taking any swell abaft the beam.
If you must, tack back an forth to maintain course.

Oh...and most importantly...

DON'T PANIC!!

 

[scoutabout]

Re: How to drive a boat in a storm??

Great topic. I still clearly remember the moment where I realized mother nature suffers the presence of our wee chips of flotsam at her pleasure. A roller was coming at me and I thought smugly - well, I've got my forward cover on and windshield closed - so I'm good. I will bob over it like a cork, maybe catch a little spray.

The sight of all that water rolling up across my bow and straight over my windshield was something I will never forget. Enough water to look green - like the stuff I was riding on. It's like my boat was not even there. I'm going to guess fifty gallons - maybe seventy-five ended up in the boat. Bilge full, water to my ankles over the floorboards with another identical wave following right after.

It scared the living bee jaysus out of me and that memory and humbling lesson has stayed with me for two decades.

Be safe everyone!

 

[rfdfirecaptain]

Re: How to drive a boat in a storm??

Oh...and most importantly...

DON'T PANIC!!

Now that's probably the best advice so far. Odds are you're going to be ok anyway. I wouldn't go looking for trouble, but over time I've found boats are a little tougher and more resilient than our fear leads us to believe. And if you've done your boat systems and safety checks before you left the dock the only other resource you have to rely on is your brain! Take a look at some YouTube videos of boats out in rough weather and of those coming and going through inlets. Take note of what they are doing… what’s working AND what’s not. The fact that their video made it back to land should be of comfort. Yes, you can be caught in a scary situation at any time, but don’t panic and use this time on land to learn all you can so you will be prepared for whatever the “situation” calls for.

 

[sasto]

Re: How to drive a boat in a storm??

Lots of good advice here. Storms come out of nowhere here in Florida. I've encountered more than I can remember. A good rainsuit and safety glasses are two of my favorite friends during a storm.

The worse storm I encountered was leaving Cat Island, Bahamas headed to Turks and Caicos, BWI......in a 64' Viking Sportfish Enclosed Flybridge. The mate and I decided after filling up and a bite to eat we would keep on truckin'. We left Cat Island around 6PM after running all day, run slow all night, and reach our destination after dark the next morning. We were following behind a low front. About half way there, we caught up with the low that stalled. Water spouts off in the distance. We stuffed the bow into the waves all night and most of the next day.

We finally arrived in Providenciales, Truks and Caicos after 24 hours of getting beat up and no sleep. The mate (he is 25 years younger than me) and I stayed up half the night drinking beer and telling lies!

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: How to drive a boat in a storm??

experience plays a huge part, both in knowing storm conditions and more important, knowing your boat. So look for safe opportunities to practice. One is dealing with big waves--if you are out and a large boat or ship goes by, especially a tug boat, go cross the wakes several times. You learn how and when to accelerate to keep your bow up.
Likewise, if you get a real windy day, when the weather is warm, practice some. Especially if you have a buddy boat.

all advice to the question has to be general and tempered by lack of facts and definitions: primarily, by "boat" secong by"storm" and finally by the waters you are in. Shallow bays behind the barrier islands and the sounds can be way worse than a deep lake or ocean. I hear that a narrow canyon has a life of its own. Tidal currents play a big part.
Assuming from the question "storm" means the sudden squall or front and not a 3 day northeaster. at elast not all three days.

Boat: if you have an unseaworthy bowrider you really have to work it, especially to keep water from comnig over the bow. Generally you will trim the bow up.
Some boats you will run with the plugs out but stand by to put them back in.
dragging a line with a small object on it can help your bow control.
with trim tabs, you might trim up the windward side to minimize spray.
in cold weatehr you may worry about your passengers getting wet. in warm weather, where you make them sit is more important. They should all stay as low as possible.
In addition to the pfd's being on, your cell phone should (always,actually) be in a watertight--not water proof--holder and on your person. Also your light and whistle attached to the pfd, and have the flares in arm's reach. If you roll, you have not time to grab anything.

 

[tnriver]

Re: How to drive a boat in a storm??

Capt.
Thank you on overboard advice.

 

[tnriver]

Re: How to drive a boat in a storm??

Place: Bull Shoals Lake MO/AR.
From a PWC stall situation; I was caught in rough water and wind. There was an approaching Thunder storm. I was in a ski vest. It took a lot of effort to keep water from hitting face and choking. I turned my back to waves to avoid worst of water when I couldn't rise before they hit me. I think an old orange (darn, brain blank, is it type 4?) LIFE vest would have been a lot better to keep head up out of water even though My ski vest was correct fit. When our other boat & friends boats went by I found it hard to blow the whistle. I was out of breath. They didn't hear it. I waved my swim shoes in air to try to get their attention. They expected I'd already be at the dock so they wern't looking for me. I was trying to swim PWC towards a small dock but waves were trying to push me into a shoals.
The Thunder storm changed direction. Then I had to contedend with hot sun. I used my ski vest for shade and avoid sun burn. Lake water to for thirst.
After that I kept compact mirror & tiny air horn in safety kit to be spotted & heard on PWC.

A cell phone would not have been of any use because no towers there back then.

 

[tnriver]

Re: How to drive a boat in a storm??

I highly recomend taking free boating safety courses on-line and getting US Coast Guard certification. In person classes are better but depending where you live not always easy to work with their scheduals.