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Boating Basics: On the Water
Weather Emergencies
Weather can change very rapidly and create unexpected situations for vessel
operators. Even meteorologists have trouble predicting rapid weather changes.
You should always monitor weather developments. One way is to tune a VHF radio to the frequencies listed below.
VHF Channels Broadcasting NOAA Weather Reports
Channel
|
Frequency
|
| WX1 |
162.550 MHz |
| WX2 |
162.400 MHz |
| WX3 |
162.475 MHz |
| WX4 |
162.425 MHz |
| WX5 |
162.450 MHz |
| WX6 |
162.500 MHz |
| WX7 |
162.525 MHz |
VHF Channels for Recreational Boaters
Recreational boaters are given access to these VHF channels:
Channel #
|
Purpose of Channel
|
| Channel 6 |
Intership safety communications only |
| Channel 9 |
Communications between vessels (commercial and recreational), and ship
to coast |
| Channel 13 |
Strictly for navigational purposes by vessels at bridges, locks, and
harbors |
| Channel 16 |
Distress and safety calls to USCG and others, and to initiate calls to
other vessels |
| Channel 22 |
U.S. Coast Guard broadcasts of severe weather warnings and other safety
warnings |
| Channels 24 through 28 |
Public telephone calls (to marine operator) |
| Channels 68, 69, and 71 |
Recreational vessel radio channel and ship to coast |
What To Do If Caught in Severe Weather
- Be sure your life jacket (personal flotation device or PFD) is properly
secured on your body.
- Turn on your boat’s navigation lights. If there is fog, sound your fog horn.
- Head for the nearest shore that is safe to approach.
- Head the bow into the waves at a 45-degree angle. PWCs should head directly
into the waves.
- Slow down, but keep enough power to maintain headway and steering.
- Seat passengers on the vessel floor, as close to the centerline
as possible.
- Minimize the danger of having your vessel struck by lightning by seeking
shelter in advance of a storm. If caught on open water during a thunderstorm,
stay low in the middle of the vessel.
- Secure loose items. Have emergency gear ready.
- Keep bilges free of water.
- If the engine stops, drop anchor from the bow if you have enough
line to reach the water bottom. If you have no anchor, use a “sea
anchor,” which is anything (a bucket on a line, a tackle
box) that will create drag and hold the bow into the wind.
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