Top 11 tips for boating in bad weather

Boating is very different to driving a car. For starters, the road never starts moving in a different direction and moving up and down as you try and travel across it.

It's these changing conditions that make boating a lot more interesting, and at times challenging, than driving a car.

The most difficult part of boating is when the weather changes, sometimes unexpectedly. If it's a turn for the worse, it might be time to head back home.

If you are out in a boat and the weather turns bad, there are several steps you should take to ensure the safety of you and everyone onboard.

One of the best safety measures for anyone planning to hit the water is to log your trip with marine rescue authorities before heading out.

You can do this in a number of ways. One is to use a smartphone app such as SafeTrx, phone your local Australian Marine Rescue Centre and leave details with them, or log in with the coast guard via your VHF marine radio.

As soon as you’re overdue, rescuers will reach out to you to check if everything is okay. If they can’t make contact, they’ll launch a rescue mission.

Bad weather doesn’t suddenly spring upon you. That means if you see it coming, you should have the time to assess the situation and work out a plan that will see you safely through it.

This is when you should start thinking about how you’re going to handle the situation. If there are other people onboard, particularly less experienced boaters, let them know what you’re thinking, and what your plan is likely to be.

Stay calm, as any signs of panic will spread onboard.

The first step at any sign of a storm or squall approaching is to ensure everyone onboard is wearing a life jacket.

Marine laws stipulate that if the boat is in any situation where there is heightened danger, everyone onboard must put on a life jacket.

This makes sense because a storm or squall can greatly increase wave height, with the danger of a boat taking on water or swamping.

Storms and squalls are always associated with lower light, and turning on your lights will make your boat visible to other vessels.

Marine safety laws state that in any conditions where visibility is reduced, the lights on a small recreational boat – an all-around white light, a green light to starboard and a red one to port – have to go on.

If you see bad weather approaching, it is a good idea to see how much of it is coming.

The best way to do this is to check an online service such as the Bureau of Meteorology’s BoM Weather app.

A rain radar will indicate how large the squall or storm is, how long you’re likely to have before it hits your area, and the direction it is travelling in.

Knowing all this gives you options. If the storm is fast-moving and narrow, it may be better to knuckle down and pass through it. Likewise, if it is moving in one direction, your option may be to move the other way to skirt it.

If you're on a sailboat, reduce the amount of sail so the boat does not become overpowered in the high winds that squalls or storms tend to bring. This is generally known as reefing.

There's an old saying that goes something like if you decide you need to reef your sails, you should already have done it. In other words, reef early rather than too late.

If you’re near land, it may be easier to seek a windbreak from the approaching weather and hide.

The best place to do this is on the lee side of land. Look at where the weather and waves are coming from, and move around to the lee side of the land mass so the wind has to go up and over land before it hits you.

You’ll notice that water in the lee of the land will remain relatively flat and calm compared with the water exposed to the full force of nature.

The first instinct in the face of a change in the weather is to run for home. However, sometimes it is safer and better for everyone onboard to head home slowly.

Once again, this is largely dependent on how hard and fast the storm or squall will hit, and how large the waves ahead of it are.

For instance, wind against tide tends to create large, steep waves with deep troughs in between them. Travelling quickly over this type of water will have the boat crashing from crest to crest, making life very difficult.

If the waves are running up behind you it could be better just to sit on the back of a wave and use its momentum to carry you along.

Of course, if the water is flat and conditions suit, an adrenalin-fuelled high-speed run for home is always the best option.

Keeping a proper lookout is an integral part of boating, and its importance only increases when visibility becomes a problem.

If you’re fleeing a storm or squall, get a second set of eyes up beside you. While you focus on what's ahead, they can serve as a second set of eyes looking for boats approaching from other directions, or as a spotter for rogue waves that the storm or squall might generate and that could come from unexpected quarters. 

If any passengers are nervous, giving them a lookout role will inspire a bit of confidence that the skipper is in control of the situation.

Every boat should have a grab bag of all the essentials in an easy-to-reach part of the boat. Not only that, but everyone should know where it is, and what it has inside it.

If you are worried about your situation but don’t feel as though you’re in imminent danger, you can put out a “pan pan” call on the VHF marine radio.

This will alert all the boats in range of your radio that while you’re not in immediate danger, you may need assistance. If the boat starts to sink, it’s time to send out a “mayday” message and fetch the grab bag.

You might ask someone on the boat to also try phoning Triple Zero (000) to let authorities know you need help.

In most cases, a change in the weather while you’re out on the water is more of a nuisance rather than a danger. You’ll eventually learn how to operate your boat confidently in a mix of conditions and plan accordingly.