Severe weather conditions cannot always be predicted and if you find yourself boating during a storm, you need to be prepared to keep yourself and your passengers safe and alive. In order to reduce the chances of being injured or worse during a storm, you need to take the proper safety precautions that will keep you—and anyone else with you—as secure as possible. The following are 6 essential things you need to do during a storm to reduce the chances of injury or death.
Put on your life jacket
You, all passengers and any crew on the boat should all be wearing life vests (or life jackets or preservers) when you sense an approaching storm. Life jackets are essential in case you fall overboard—no matter how strong a swimmer you are, you cannot keep up with the water during a storm
Keep your cabin windows closed
It might be one of the last things on your mind, but you must keep all of the cabin and boat windows closed and securely fastened once a storm begins to approach. If water floods into the cabin, it will increase the weight and increase the chances of the boat tipping or sinking.
Put away anything unnecessary
One of the dangers you face during a storm is being struck by debris from your boat, which could cause you serious injury, knock you overboard, or even kill you. As soon as you can manage it, put away anything that is unnecessary in a secure location. This includes unsecured chairs and tables, luggage, and anything that could potentially be hazardous if thrown around during a storm. The less debris that may strike you during a storm, the better.
Steer your boat at a 45 degree angle towards the dock
When you’re trying to get back to your dock during a storm, you should angle your boat at about a 45 degree angle; this will reduce the chances that your boat gets swamped by waves, which can occur quickly if you are attempting to head back to the docks straight on.
Slow down your boat
If the storm starts getting more intense, you need to slow down your boat as soon as possible. Slowing down your boat will reduce the chances of you losing control during the storm, which tends to occur when the stormy water overtakes the speed of your boat. Make sure that you slow down your boat gradually, as attempting to suddenly stop the boat may result in destabilization.
Keep away from metal and metal objects
You want to reduce the chances of being struck by lightning as much as possible, and one of the best ways to do that during a storm is to stay away from metal and make sure that you are not touching any metal objects. If possible, have everyone gather in the cockpit until the storm passes, as this will be the space most likely not to be struck during a lighting storm.
