What would you do?

[team1roperdad]

Re: What would you do?

I'm with the commander on this one and when you haul to the ramp on a small river there are quite a few usually thinking the same and then you end up sitting in the water at the ramp waiting or looking for a place to dock.
Just make sure where ever you dock that the waves or wind don't slam your boat into anything and tear it up.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: What would you do?

lightening often strikes 7 miles from the storm itself. My view on life is that if you can't really avoid it, ignore it.

a crowded ramp is the worst place to go

your first suggestion was "under a bridge." of course that's the best place. but who has time to build a bridge?

Your passengers have to understand that they will get wet and they will sit where you tell them. If they all pile on to an area out of the wet they may capsize your boat. happens on the big ferries all the time.

if caught in big wind, go into it bow first. I don't know pontoons but it seems you want weight forward in a major gust so you don't blow over backwards?

no one can advise OP specifically without being there (my rivers are a few miles across in many places; my marsh creeks have no trees on the banks to break the wind).

I carry a small grappling hook which is great to tie off to a bridge or other structure (even though illegal in many places, as is mooring under a bridge but too bad).

My wife and I were outrunning a squall line (solid line of rain + big wind) to a bridge; it was coming to our side and was literally 10' from the boat and soaking us when we went under the bridge. However, a boat has no brakes, so we shot out the other side and into the car wash!

 

[bekosh]

Re: What would you do?

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

Here are a couple of videos from July 2 last year. It was a nice day with a 30% chance of T-storms. 30 minutes before or 30 minutes after these were taken, it was sunny and calm. In between it was torrential downpours and 60+mph gusts.

My video at the dock.

To be continued....

 

[bekosh]

Re: What would you do?

And 10 miles away, a friend of mine who had planned on anchoring out overnight. His anchor dragged and he almost ended up on shore. Then got his anchor chain wrapped around one drive when he tried to move to deeper water.

End result.

 

[boat_beginner]

Re: What would you do?

I appreciate all the replies. Seems to me the general consinces is to just take cover where ever possible. The river I normally run on is fairly small, mostly less than 100 yards across, with certain areas 150-200 yards across. I mentioned a bridge because there are quite a few of them, and both banks are wooded land on either side. There are also a lot of smaller feeder creeks that flow into the river, so maby it would be best to drive into one of them and tie off till it blows over.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: What would you do?

1) If you were fishing and have vertical rod storage racks, take down all rods as they act as lightning rods. Same for the stern light post and any antennas.
2) The shorter the time between a lightning flash and the "boom", the closer the actual storm is. Plan accordingly.
3) If there are no other options, under a bridge is a good spot to stay relatively dry and safe.
4) If there are absolutely no options, anchor and lay flat on the floor. Even a small cove can at least provide protection from wind and high waves. Yes you will get wet if you don't carry rain gear.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: What would you do?

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?
...

I would question why I have my 9 month pregnant wife out on the boat when there were storms in the forecast.


light?en?ing
[lahyt-n-ing] Show IPA

noun Medicine/Medical .
the descent of the uterus into the pelvic cavity, occurring toward the end of pregnancy, changing the contour of the abdomen and facilitating breathing by lessening pressure under the diaphragm.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: What would you do?

Being a fisherman I get caught out in it regularly. Sometimes I've gotten very wet and ran from it. Other times if just rain,no wind or lightening I've fished through it. Some of the best bites occur just before the rain.

 

[BobGinCO]

Re: What would you do?

Let me give you a pontooners response. If you can't be SURE to get it out of the water BEFORE that wind hits, you're going to be in trouble. Recovering a pontoon in high winds is a recipe for carnage. If you have a soft beach, better to just run for the beach, and beach her - and TIE HER OFF. If you can't avoid the storm by running up-river or down-river, and you can't beach her, you're going to have to ride it out. Keep her pointed into the wind, and keep navigating to stay between the banks. It'll be a hairy ride.

I have ridden out storms like that on the water, with my full camper on (dual bimini "roof" with wrap-around canvas). It actually wasn't bad. Where this really concerns me, is Lake Powell. There I would try to get into a side-canyon, and again, ride it out.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: What would you do?

I'ts like Mr. Miyagi told the Karate Kid... no be there.

First distant rumble of thunder or even just dark clouds I haul buggy for the launch, I learned this lesson the hard way.