Ocean and weather conditions can randomly change. This is the reason finding the best conditions is more essential than verifying the forecast. Each boating trip needs careful planning wherein detailed weather analysis forms a crucial part. Here’s how you can ensure you have the best boating experience.
- Changing Weather: Keep an eye on the weather forecast, especially for times when the visibility is likely to reduce because of fog or rain. Also add squall conditions, thunderstorms, and lighting to the list to estimate your risk, safety, and comfort levels. You should also be aware of the other weather risks such as cold fronts, tropical cyclones, sea fogs, monsoons, east coastal lows, and water sprouts.
- Wave Conditions: Big waves come from the intense weather system. They can be higher, chaotic, and steeper than usual. It can make the conditions harmful for boating, particularly near the coast. Low-pressure weather systems generally generate long-time swells and also can travel a long distance from the point they were generated. The long and low swells are not a problem in deep water, but when they reach shallow water, they break strongly.
- Wind Conditions: The wind creates swell and waves, and the simplest sea condition indicator is wind speed. It is measured in knots that are based on the nautical miles. 5 and fewer wind knots will be hardly noticed and you can get ideal and calm boating conditions. At 10 knots, the surface becomes choppy and it is right for the inshore boating. Conditions begin to rough from 15 or higher knots. If you don’t have a big boat, it is better to avoid boating in that condition.
Also, check for recommended conditions for Australian made aluminium boats to know how much yours can handle.