How prepared are you to drive your boat through turbulent seas? It’s something you’re bound to encounter at some point if you enjoy the open water. Seaspension has many boating products and solutions for making rough seas more tolerable, but it also helps to know how to navigate difficult waters.
Tips for Navigating Turbulent Waters
Maintain a Reasonable Speed in Choppy Waters
It’s no different than driving your car in a heavy downpour. You simply have to slow down and adjust to the conditions. Resist the urge to accelerate your boat to escape to calmer waters. It won’t work and it puts you at risk of injuring yourself or your passengers.
Stay on Top of the Waves
In a following sea, try to stay on pace with the swell and trim the boat up.
In a head sea, whenever possible- quarter the wave about 15 degrees and trim it down slightly.
It’s important to know your boat and how it handles rough conditions. It is good to go out in rough water to practice and learn your best strategy when you are close to home so you can be prepared.
Secure Everything on Your Boat
Storms and steep waves will require you to batten down the hatches and secure every loose item on your boat. When it’s rough instruct your passengers to stay seated and have them sit further back in the boat. Avoid sitting in the bow when it is rough out.
As of April 1, 2021, it is a Coast Guard regulation that all vessels under 26’ should be equipped with an engine cut-off switch (ECOS). This is especially important in rough seas.
Monitor the Weather Conditions and have a plan
If you monitor the weather, you can either delay your boat trip or make adjustments. You won’t be able to avoid every potential calamity, because the weather can change rapidly, but it’s possible to change course and circumvent problems.
On longer trips, it is wise to make a float plan and provide it to a friend or relative and check in with them when you reach your destination. If there is an incident, authorities will at least know when and where you started and will be better able to assist you.
At Seaspension, we believe it is most important to be safe and enjoy your time on the water. Our pedestals help you to do just that by mitigating the shock of rough sea conditions and by protecting the captain and passengers from the jarring of pounding across the waves. Do not overestimate your abilities and take your time to develop your boating skills to remain calm and safe on the water.
How prepared are you to drive your boat through turbulent seas? It’s something you’re bound to encounter at some point if you enjoy the open water. Seaspension has many boating products and solutions for making rough seas more tolerable, but it also helps to know how to navigate difficult waters.
Tips for Navigating Turbulent Waters
Maintain a Reasonable Speed in Choppy Waters
It’s no different than driving your car in a heavy downpour. You simply have to slow down and adjust to the conditions. Resist the urge to accelerate your boat to escape to calmer waters. It won’t work and it puts you at risk of injuring yourself or your passengers.
Stay on Top of the Waves
In a following sea, try to stay on pace with the swell and trim the boat up.
In a head sea, whenever possible- quarter the wave about 15 degrees and trim it down slightly.
It’s important to know your boat and how it handles rough conditions. It is good to go out in rough water to practice and learn your best strategy when you are close to home so you can be prepared.
Secure Everything on Your Boat
Storms and steep waves will require you to batten down the hatches and secure every loose item on your boat. When it’s rough instruct your passengers to stay seated and have them sit further back in the boat. Avoid sitting in the bow when it is rough out.
As of April 1, 2021, it is a Coast Guard regulation that all vessels under 26’ should be equipped with an engine cut-off switch (ECOS). This is especially important in rough seas.
Monitor the Weather Conditions and have a plan
If you monitor the weather, you can either delay your boat trip or make adjustments. You won’t be able to avoid every potential calamity, because the weather can change rapidly, but it’s possible to change course and circumvent problems.
On longer trips, it is wise to make a float plan and provide it to a friend or relative and check in with them when you reach your destination. If there is an incident, authorities will at least know when and where you started and will be better able to assist you.
At Seaspension, we believe it is most important to be safe and enjoy your time on the water. Our pedestals help you to do just that by mitigating the shock of rough sea conditions and by protecting the captain and passengers from the jarring of pounding across the waves. Do not overestimate your abilities and take your time to develop your boating skills to remain calm and safe on the water.
