STORM TIPS

SUMMERTIME IS HERE...BE READY AND BE SAFE!
SOME TIPS FOR SUMMER BOATING SAFETY

As South Florida’s rainy season approaches and we begin to see more thunderstorms and sudden squalls, it seems like a good time to go over some basic steps that could save your life and those of your friends and family! Last years’ tragedy in the Jupiter Inlet again brings to mind the importance of knowing what do to if you find yourself in an unexpected storm, high seas or a hazardous inlet. Check on the sea conditions before you go out and, if there is any doubt in your mind that the sea conditions might be too rough or that there is a storm coming, DON’T try to go out the inlet. Stay in the ICW and save your offshore trip for another day. If a professional captain or the operator of one of the many commercial vessels in the area recommend that you “stay inside”, take their word for it! They are out on the water every day and know what can happen to a small boat in rough seas. Another source of information is WX3 on your VHF radio. This will give you weather and sea conditions all the way down the coastline and out as far as the Bahama Bank.

An important tip...WATCH YOUR TIDES! Even on what appears to be an otherwise perfect day, an outgoing tide can raise sea conditions. Especially in some of the smaller inlets, the last quarter of an outgoing tide creates a “washboard effect” that can easily capsize a small boat! Some of these tides can run as fast as 4 – 5 knots.

Once you commit to going through a rough inlet, DO NOT ATTEMPT TO TURN AROUND! You will increase the chances of taking a wave broadside to your vessel and capsizing. Keep going and wait until after you are outside “the break” before you try to turn around and head back in the inlet. Before attempting to exit or enter a rough inlet, have everyone on board put on life jackets! Many drownings could have been prevented and lives saved had the passengers on board a “vessel in distress” been wearing a life jacket! Numerous boaters who have been thrown from their vessels during heavy sea conditions owe their lives to the fact that they were wearing their life jackets.

Before you leave the dock or the boat ramp, make sure your batteries are charged, your VHF radio is working properly and your bilge pump is in good operating condition. Life jackets should be easily accessible in the event of an emergency and you must have one for everyone on board. Don’t forget one for the dog if your pets boat with you! Check to make sure you have all Coast Guard required safety equipment for your size vessel on board and carrying a few extra bottles of water and some emergency supplies can never hurt!

Always keep your bow pointed into the seas to avoid taking waves over the stern of your boat. Many a vessel has sunk when an unexpected wave came over the stern, stalled the motor, killed the battery and began filling the boat up too quickly for bailing by hand to overcome the water. If you decide to anchor your vessel during a storm, make sure you’re not too close to the beach and that you have plenty of rode out. An improperly anchored boat or one that is too close to the beach when the sea conditions pick up is very likely to wind up ON the beach. The beach is a great place to be with a chaise lounge and an ice tea...NOT with your boat!

Water spouts are another frequent sight off our coast, especially during the summer months. If you see one or are in the vicinity of one, check the direction of the water spout and DO NOT TRY TO OUTRUN IT. You won’t win! Proceed in at a heading perpendicular to the water spout’s direction of travel.

If you feel that you are in immediate peril, get on your VHF radio and hail “Mayday, Mayday, Mayday”. Give your location, the nature of your distress and how many people you have on board. Remain calm, have all of your passengers don life jackets immediately and answer the questions the Coast Guard asks you in a clear, concise manner. For more information on getting assistance during an emergency, please feel free to give us a call or e-mail seatowamy@aol.com and we’ll be happy to send you a copy of last summer’s article on “How to Get Help”.

Have a Safe and Happy Boating Season!

Thank you to Capt. Phil Tollman of Sea Tow Palm Beach & Auxiliarist Chris Abernethy from Coast Guard Station Lake Worth Inlet for their contributions to this article.