Tips to Stay Safe When Boating in Rough Water

Sometimes, even the best-laid plans can suddenly go awry, affecting your vacation experience and threatening your safety. Although boating is a pleasurable experience, a powerful storm can make it incredibly nerve-wracking. Thankfully, you can easily avoid this using the tips discussed in this guide.

Club Royale is a one-stop destination for all your marine adventure needs, and our experts have created this guide to highlight a few things to do and not do when boating in rough water. Read on to learn more, and for more advice, contact our friendly team in Waterford, MI.

Come Prepared

Before leaving home, you will want to check the weather forecast to know if inclement weather conditions are predicted in your area. It’s good to check the forecast a few days before your departure to ensure the climate is favorable when you are ready to leave.

If rough weather is expected, you will want to delay your outing rather than get caught off guard on the water. However, as the weather conditions can change without warning, you will want to come prepared for any possibilities. Bad weather can slow down your boat’s speed and cause it to use more fuel, so ensure your vessel's tank is full before leaving the shore.

Be Observant

The latest boats come outfitted with a radar, which helps alert sudden weather changes like an approaching storm. You will want to continuously check this system to remain abreast of any changing weather conditions and take the necessary steps to move away before things get worse.

You will want to ensure that everyone puts on their lifejacket at the first sign of rough water and remember to secure any loose items onboard your vessel. You will also want to turn on your navigation lights to ensure that other boaters see you even when the visibility drops.

Navigate Safely

Regardless of your experience on the water, you will want to slow down your speed when encountering rough waters or large waves. This will give you the time to react and navigate more safely.

Controlling the speed will also enable your boat to ride over the waves gently instead of crashing into them. More importantly, you will want to avoid approaching any large waves head-on. This can throw you off gear and cause you to sustain more injuries. To skip the hassle and stay safe, you should try to hit the waves at a 45-degree angle while controlling your speed. You will want to progress in a zig-zag way instead of a straight line, which will give you the extra time you need to navigate slowly and steadily.

We hope you find these tips handy when boating in rough water. If you need more advice or want to upgrade your vessel before your next outing, visit Club Royale. You will find us in Waterford, MI, where we proudly serve those from Rochester—so stop by today.