small craft advisory

[JimS123]

Re: small craft advisory

Not everybody goes out in boat to ride around in circles and have "fun", some people actually USE their boats for fishing, hunting whatever. If you are actually using your boat, the fishing and duck hunting is often better with the wind, so those people that can't have fun in a boat, if there are some waves,"crack me up"!lol

Everybody should have fun in their boat...otherwise why go. Waves are fun too. Getting splashed is part of the fun. Small Craft advisories are meant to warn people that there is potential danger to themselves, their boats and their families. People die because all they are concerned with is "having fun", but don't realize the consequences of their actions.

 

[cokeman22]

Re: small craft advisory

seems like i struck a nerve in a few. I was just asking i wouldn't go 50 miles offshore in a advisory. But staying in the bay or a mile off shore if u stay alert shouldn't b that bad.

 

[LazyCruiser]

Re: small craft advisory

Well I'm really a lousy swimmer and also afraid of big water, and so of course I boat on Lake Champlain! When it's too choppy, I'm landlocked.
Years ago as a young kid on Quabbin Reservoir in Massachusetts we hit 3' waves out of nowhere in a tiny boat w/a 10 or 15 hp (the limit there) and I was scared big time.
They're all small crafts to me

 

[JimS123]

Re: small craft advisory

seems like i struck a nerve in a few. I was just asking i wouldn't go 50 miles offshore in a advisory. But staying in the bay or a mile off shore if u stay alert shouldn't b that bad.

Your question was very appropriate and struck no nerves at all. What's upsetting is that there are to many "boaters" that lack experience, never took a course, or worst of all just plain lack any common sense.

Sometimes you're better off being out a bit. Shallow water near the shore often kicks up worse! Bassmasters had a pro tournament one year on Lake Erie, and several boats decided to go out regardless of the weather. Two tournament boats were destroyed and the fishermen had to be rescued. I feel most for the Sheriff Dept. helicopter pilot that had to risk his life.

A few years later a boat fishing in a public tournament on Lake Ontario capsized in a SCA and was washed ashore. The guys got beat up pretty bad, and their boat was destroyed on the rocks. They did walk out along the shore but it took several hours to reach a phone. In the interim, a USCG rescue boat was dispatched to find them. By that time the seas had worsened and the cutter capsized as well. Four young Coasties died that day.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: small craft advisory

As someone said, a lot of us use boats as a means to an end, such as transportation. I have made many ugly crossings to and from an island that were not fun. (The fun started when I got there.) Same with heading out from a warm house into nasty weather to duck hunt. The boat ride is not fun, and wasn't intended to be. It's just what you do. But it is then you find if you are a real boater or not, or become one.
Almost all of the posters here are recreational boaters. Watermen, USCG and LEO's are going out in bad weather to earn a living even when it's not fun. So while a fair-weather pleasure boater won't go out in bad conditions, and shouldn't, lots of others do, and need to know their limitations.

 

[PGFISHER]

Re: small craft advisory

Lake Mead can get small craft advisory verry quickly. We have gone out in glass smooth water in the morning, and rode 3 footers returning that afternoon. On one such trip I was standing at the helm of our 18" pontoon and my hat was soaked.

 

[commander315]

Re: small craft advisory

I believe USCG set it at less than 30'. But if you have to wonder if you have a "small craft", ya probably do. But in the end, it all depends on how the boat will handle in rough seas.