Thunderstorms, Waterspouts, and Sea Fog

United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Hampstead


If you are caught in a thunderstorm when boating take the 
precaution of having each person on board don a life jacket. 
Pinpoint your location as heavy rain will reduce visibility. 
Once the storm hits take the first and heaviest gusts of 
wind on your bow, not your stern, and approach waves at a 45 
degree angle. Lowering antennas, staying low in the boat and 
away from all metal objects can reduce the risk of personal 
injury and damage to your boat from nearby lightning strikes.

If you encounter a waterspout or a tornado which has moved off
shore have each person on board put on a life jacket and steer 
away from its path as they generate strong damaging winds. If 
the waterspout appears to be standing still it is either
moving toward or away from you. As a precaution steer a 
course 90 degrees to the right or left.

Sea fog can drastically reduce visibility to a few feet in a 
matter or minutes. When encountering fog while boating have 
each person on board don a life jacket. As a precaution mark 
your position, reduce speed, assign lookouts and listen, 
consider anchoring if out of shipping channels and give a 
warning signal at least every two minutes.

Boat Smart...Boat Safe...Wear It!

This message was brought to you by...

The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary 10-9 Hampstead, North 
Carolina

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