What to do if your boat is caught in severe weather?
If you are caught in severe weather, prepare your boat and your passengers. Slow down, but keep enough power to maintain headway and steering. Close all hatches, windows, and doors to reduce the chance of swamping. Stow any unnecessary gear. Turn on your boat’s navigation lights.
How to keep your boat from sinking in a storm?
Shutting your windows and latches prevents water from flooding the cabin of your boat. Flooded cabins can weigh down the boat, increasing the risk of the boat sinking. 4. Stay Away From Metal If lightning strikes the boat or even near the vessel, there is a great chance you could get severely electrocuted if you are touching a metal object or part.
What should I do if lightning strikes my boat?
If lightning strikes the boat or even near the vessel, there is a great chance you could get severely electrocuted if you are touching a metal object or part. We suggest gathering your crew in the center of your cockpit to avoid metal and to keep them out of harm’s way.
What should you do when your boat is in rough seas?
When your boat’s in rough seas, you should keep just enough power to maintain headway and steering in the churning water and wind. We recommend keeping your boat at a pace that does not outrun the water, but rather is slow enough for the water to outrun the boat.
What should you do if you are caught in a storm?
If you haven’t quite beat out the storm, here’s what to do: Disconnect power cords to protect your radio and other electrical equipment from lightning. VHF radios should not be used during a storm unless it’s an emergency. Stay away from metal and all parts of the boat that aren’t grounded.
Where to sit on a boat during a thunderstorm?
The best place to seat your passengers during a thunderstorm depends on the type of boat you’re in. Lightning, as we all know, seeks the highest point. If you have a covered space or enclosed cabin, this is going to be the safest place to stay. However, open boats don’t have this option.