What would you do?

[boat_beginner]

So, here is a hypothetical situation. Your boating on a small inland river, approximately ten miles away from the boat ramp, and a storm pops up on you, strong (40-60mph) winds n alot of lightening moving in fast. What would you do?
Stick it out n keep heading for the ramp to get the boat out if the water? Go to the nearest bridge n drop anchor under it to keep dry, or possibly tie off to the bank and walk under the bridge n wait?
Or just head to the bank n stand in the woods n tie off the boat n get wet standing on the bank?
I was not in that situation, but almost was this weekend. Wanted to take out a pontoon I just bought, but my wife had other plans, and that same evening, strong, but short lived (30-45min) storms were poping up all over on the river I would have been boating. After thinking about it, I was wondering what would have been the best course of action in that situation?

 

[SigSaurP229]

Re: What would you do?

I would have checked the weather forecast before I left. With 40-60 mph winds I would have headed to a bank it takes alot to swamp a toon, but I think 40-60 MPH can do it, not to mention inexperienced the LAST thing you should do is try to navigate that kind of weather get someplace safe and ride it out. You would have to throttle back so far that it would probably be quicker to ride it out.

 

[southkogs]

Re: What would you do?

There's probably no "one size fits all" answer here: I've had storms on inland lakes that I was able to get off the water and battened down, but I've also had a pop-up storm here in TN that I was more concerned about getting bashed up on shore if I tried to go in. Hide under a bridge, maybe ... but then I think I'd prefer to keep some steerage on her and work the waves.

Kinda' a matter of experience ... and a good reminder to check the weather!

 

[boat_beginner]

Re: What would you do?

Do you all think waves would be s huge concern? I normally boat in small rivers, so I wouldn't imagine waves getting to huge, not saying that there wouldn't be any. I would be more concerned with the lightening, and being on a slow boat (pontoon). That's where I would be unsure what to do, knowing I wouldn't be able to make it to the dock before the storm hits, and was cerious as to what you more seasoned boaters would do.
And I am aware that weather should be checked, which it is and closely monitored while out, I'm just bed to pontooning, not new to boating overall. And besides, it could still happen.

 

[SigSaurP229]

Re: What would you do?

In my bowrider I probably would have worked the waves and headed in.

In pontoon I would have headed to shore and hunkered down.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: What would you do?

Depend on the direction of the storm relative to getting back to the dock/ramp. If i thought it was a quick shower, i'd probably just drop anchor a hundred feet or so upwind/upstream of the bridge and get it set so that i was anchored into the wind, but under cover of the bridge. Long storm, or potentially severe weather, I'm booking it to the ramp.

 

[roscoe]

Re: What would you do?

Safest place is on shore according to the experts.

 

[barrynfla]

Re: What would you do?

Might depend on where you are. If you're in Florida you do anything you can to avoid the lightning.

 

[JoLin]

Re: What would you do?

First defense is the weather forecast. Afternoon storms are common here in the summer. If the forecaster doesn't seem to have a good handle on timing (like predicting 'pop-up storms during the afternoon), we'll probably skip the day. If the forecast seems somewhat buttoned up (a weather front coming through), we'll head out and plan to be home long before the weather turns. While we're out on those days, we keep a close watch on the sky, and pay attention to the environment. Incoming bad weather is usually preceded by an increase in humidity and air density- you can feel it. That steady breeze starts to gust a little, and swing around to a different quarter. Regardless of the forecast, it's time to weigh anchor and beat for home.

Net-net, we've had a couple of rough rides home, but we've always been slipped before the bad stuff hit.

Lightning adds another dimension and there is no foolproof method to avoid being hit- it's unpredictable as hell. I knew a girl in high school who was struck IN HER BATHROOM through an open window (she wasn't badly hurt, thank god). I think if I was suddenly 'caught', I'd deploy the anchor, strap on the PFD, and just try my darnedest to be the lowest thing in the boat. IMO, everything else is irrelevant during that time- you have to have a 'survive the next 5 minutes' mindset, then go on from there and deal with the next issue as it arises.

My .02

 

[bekosh]

Re: What would you do?

If I can't get to a dock, I want to be in deep water and away from shore. Put the bow into the wind and just hold position till it blows over. Then again I've got a pretty good sized boat that can handle rough conditions.

On a river I would just keep going and make sure the wind didn't push me up into shore.

 

[glenn property of pam]

Re: What would you do?

lightning likes to go to water so standing under a tree near the water is not a good idea. True fact is if you get caught like that its all a game of luck. The highest risk is a local lightning strike while you are between the boat and the bank trying to tie the boat off. i know where i go it would be real difficult to get off the boat and tie it up to the bank in low wind so the time fighting the boat would be better spent running for the dock. A bridge might be a good idea as faradys cage might apply where you are shielded as the lightning has a better path to ground/water than using you or the boat.

 

[25thmustang]

Re: What would you do?

Happened when bringing my dads 33' Chris craft home. Went from sun to a nasty storm in minutes. I put the canvas up, we tucked in tight to the shoreline and trees and say it out for the five minutes or so.

 

[dingbat]

Re: What would you do?

Where I boat, pop up storms are a daily occurrence. Running to shore or cover isn't an option.

Pop ups are rarely more than a couple of miles across. You can usually maneuver around them or at least get out of the worst of them if you have the means to track in coming storms. Radar and XM WX Satellite weather are the norm for avoiding storms in open water.

 

[southkogs]

Re: What would you do?

Do you all think waves would be s huge concern?

I've gotten caught in one storm on Lake Huron ... and one on Normandy Lake (an impound) south of Nashville. Waves were bigger on Huron, but I was actually scared on Normandy. Odd, huh? We get some pretty fantastic storms in the southeast ... small but powerful.

So waves could be a concern, even if they're not that big. You gotta' have an idea of the water and watch what it's doing.

 

[perry barras]

Re: What would you do?

always check the weather. if i see more than 20% chance of rain my boat doesnt leave the dock. but if i got caught in a storm that you talk about i would head to the nearest land mass ride up on the bank and put my anchor as far as i could on land and hunker down with the boat. perferably a channel not a lake mass

 

[roscoe]

Re: What would you do?

I'm still trying to imagine 60 mph winds in a storm that just pops up on you.

Those are darn near tornado force winds, and I can't imagine a storm of that magnitude just popping up, with no lead time, and not in the forecast.

Now a days they say not to go under a bridge or overpass for a tornado. Find a low lying area and hunker down.

I often boat where a local weather forecast and cell service is non existent.
Rain is often in the forecast, but you are on your own to determine how black that big cloud is, if it will produce lightning, and if there will be a bunch of wind coming.

I will pull into a bay, around a corner, or into a slough if it looks bad and I can't make it back to "home".
Have beached it more than a few times and sat in the woods under a small plastic tarp for a couple hours.

 

[southkogs]

Re: What would you do?

I'm still trying to imagine 60 mph winds in a storm that just pops up on you.

Those are darn near tornado force winds, and I can't imagine a storm of that magnitude just popping up, with no lead time, and not in the forecast.

Be at my place tomorrow morning about 7:30 ... we've got a reasonable chance of 'em during the morning drive.

Not sure exactly what it is with this area but we do get pop-ups that are impressive. Duration is usually short, but powerful. 70MPH flat line winds are not unheard of either. The first one I ever experienced hit the day we moved into town here in Nashville ... wondered what the heck I was thinkin' moving to a place where flag poles bend that far!

 

[frantically relaxing]

Re: What would you do?

I'm still trying to imagine 60 mph winds in a storm that just pops up on you.

Those are darn near tornado force winds, and I can't imagine a storm of that magnitude just popping up, with no lead time, and not in the forecast.

OH, they happen all right. One August night in '06 we took the SkipperLiner out for a dinner cruise. We saw flashes in the night sky, say 50 miles to the south, on our journey back in, just before 10pm. We turned on the news, and at 10:20 we watched the weather, nothing much happening out, 20% chance of thunderstorms, just a few blips on the weather radar. At 10:47 pm a microburst storm came out of nowhere, with wind like I've never heard or seen before, just like the freight train everyone talks about. We had 4' waves in our enclosed harbor. It lasted all of about 6 or 7 minutes, and were we ever thankful we didn't get caught in that storm!

Next morning, our storm made the news, messed up a few houses and trees.

The high measured wind gust hit 103 mph. And there was NOTHING on weather radar 27 minutes earlier.

Summer weather is NASTY!

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: What would you do?

Yeah tough call but if were talking about a storm that came out of no where I would look for a sheltered cove, if thats not available for me the last place I want to be is anchored so I would work the waves and put my bow cover and canopy/windshield extensions, be the Captain I am until the weather moves over, keep the family dry and the boat working, Lightning is dangerous and the closest thing I have seen to this was at Lake Powell but again for me plenty of coves to hole up in with tall canyon walls so if all I have to deal with is rain a nice canyon toss out the anchor and wait it out, back east? Heck if I know, but being prepared is part of the job as a Captain.

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: What would you do?

If you can beat the storm, haul azz and beat it! If not, look for the nearest safe area, cove, yacht club/marina or dock. Close to shore is usually best imo because you will have things that are taller than your boat near by. Yes lightning is unpredictable but it almost always takes the path of least resistance. I have beached the boat many times and just rode storms out. And yes, we get pop up storms around here a lot that have winds over 50 mph, there really fun when its dark out.

By the way, lightning strikes can happen to you even if your not in the storm. General rule of thumb, if you can see the storm or can hear thunder, your in the lightning area already.