Boating Vic app helping skippers before they hit the water

That means about nine out of every 10 of the more than 16,000 people who have signed up for the Boating Vic app, released a year ago, have used the app to make a call on whether conditions out on the water are suitable.

“Boaters and paddlers now have more confidence in making decisions about whether to go out on the water,” Transport Safety Victoria marine acting director Lisa Faldon said.

“Using Boating Vic, boaters are better equipped to recognise and avoid risks whenever and wherever they go boating.”

The app shows a five-day weather forecast, including real-time wind data, expected wind and gust forecasts and temperatures for the current day, as well as full coastal forecasts.

It also includes other valuable data such as a daylight summary and tide data where available.

The app also works in reverse, with TSV able to use a series of cameras rolled out across some of Melbourne’s busiest boat ramps able to record peak launching times and popularity – data that will be used to map out future spending.

“These insights into boating activity will help MSV and the boating community make informed decisions about facility upgrades and expansion of the Boating Vic network across the state,” Faldon said.

While metropolitan Melbourne has been the focus of most activity to install boat ramp cameras that show both how busy ramps are as well as how crowded the car parks get, the next stage of roll-out will look at regional areas, with users invited to nominate what regional ramps would benefit from an eye in the sky.

“Not all boating occurs in Port Phillip Bay and Western Port, so we’re keen to expand to popular regional locations such as Lake Eildon, Corner Inlet, Gippsland Lakes and Port Albert,” Faldon said.

“We want to ensure that the Boating Vic website and app continue to meet the needs of the boaters and paddlers for both on-water safety and trip preparation – this is the path to safer boating.”