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I live on the east coast. With a standard 16'7", what weather forecasts would be acceptable for boating. For example, when the National Weather service calls for a small craft advisory it's a no brainer, but would 2-4 foot waves be O.K? Any ideas or experiences would be helpful. Thanks

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Chi,

How far off shore are you planning to go? I boat just south of Plymouth and can tell you from experience that the NWS Marine forecast isn't always accurate...

Dave

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Dave,

I don't want to go out of sight of land or even close to that. I think sticking close to the coast or maybe a quick trip to the Vinyard and back from Falmouth would be the most I would trust the motor.
Thanks
Steve

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i use the same boat in long island sound, i usualy base my judjment on visibility, if i cant see from the end of the no wake zone to the jetti i wont go into the ocean and just fish in the channel. 2-4s are ok but anything bigger i usualy turn back. it also depends on the type of wave and what you use the boat for. for instance you wouldnt want to take someone wakeboarding in a 2 foot chop

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That's good as being just off shore if the sea really starts churning up is a lot less hairy than being miles out in a 17 footer. My general thinking here that's served me well is that if the forecast is for 1 foot or less or 1 - 2 foot seas, there's a margin of error if it ratchets up. If they're calling for 2 - 4, I'm much more cautious because if it gets worse from there, it's significant. Also, keep in mind for your Vineyard runs too that the inner cape and outer cape can be night and day. I check this site often as you can click different areas for specific conditions http://www.erh.noaa.gov/er/box/ov/er/box/

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In my 5 years of having my Whaler in Maine, I have learned a lot of the science; viewing the data (satellite imagery, weather buoy readings and local weather stations) and observing the actual sea state. I spend a great deal of time looking at the all the local weather stations along the coast and the ocean buoys. In addition, I see what conditions are like in the harbor and the ocean in person and via webcams. Often, there is a significant difference in either sea state, winds, temperature.

Using a weather forecast as the single source of information to determine whether you should go or stay is a bit risky. We have SCA's and it can calm. There are many occasions where there is no SCA and it is blowing 25 mph with nasty breaking waves in the inner harbor. My local marine forecast covers an area 150 miles long and from the coast out 25 nautical miles.

You should consider the conditions you see and are comfortable in. Always err on the side of caution. It is not about the forecast, it is what is reasonable for you, based on your skill and the capabilities of the boat.

I went down the bay (protected from the ocean by a line of islands) 10 miles to pick up a family member on a island in October a few years ago. No big deal, done it many times. Fair day, partly cloudy, mid 40's, calm seas 1-2 ft with a steady 10 mph wind. The forecast called for several days of similar conditions on land and the water. Small chance of a shower or two. 60 minutes later on my return with my rider, it all went to sh*t and we ran into a nasty squall. 40 mph wind, 3-5 breaking waves. We turned and high tailed it into a cove 1/2 a mile away. It was a tough 1/2 mile. What a beating! I tell you this not to scare you but to help illustrate my point.

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We have a 17’ and if the waves (Chesapeake Bay) are 1-2 with a good forecast (don’t mind a little wind & rain), it is usually a go. Anything 4-5’ with the winds coming out of the North usually is a deal breaker. I don’t worry about the boat - I worry about the comfort of the “crew”. My wife and I attended a BW event last year and the forecast called for 1-2 with a decent breeze out of the West. By the time we got the boat in the water and were underway, the wind picked up 10 fold –coming out of the NW and the waves were peaking between 3-4’. It was a bumpy ride, but I figured once we got around the point and started heading N, it would calm down since the island generally blocks most of the wind. Well the powers that be, with their sense of humor, decided to change the winds direction due North, which caused 5’ waves and blowing water off the chop. It was a long ride – what should have taken 30 minutes took an hour and a half. Had a great time at the event and the ride home was great. The sun came out and the winds eventually calmed down. My wife though made the decision that it was time for a bigger boat (who was I to argue). I wish there was a way to hold weather forecasters liable (don’t mean to offend any meteorologists out there)

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Chi,
I've learned a couple of things over the years. One is that we don't give our forcasters enough credit. I find that the forecast is usually good for at least five minutes, the temperature is always within 20 degrees one way or the other, and the seas are sometimes measured from the clouds down to the top of the wave. I've planned trips a couple of days in advance where the forecast called for a tropical storm in our area. I kept my reservation and went to find beautiful, calm seas and a great weekend.
The meat of what I'm saying is that I watch the forecast but don't put too much stock in it. I go out unless it's a real mess and judge the water when I get there. Most places offer either sheltered or non sheltered areas to boat. I choose when I get there. As was said above, always try to err on the safe side. All that said, my boat is only a 13!
Mike

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2-4 foot seas mean there's a 4-8 foot face on those waves. Keep that in mind....an 8 foot face is pretty daunting in a smaller boat.

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Dick Fischer, the man who invented these things, understood that Mother Nature can be fickle...Poseidon has a mean temper...and Davy Jones' Locker might be only a few fathoms down....so he created a boat that wouldn't sink and can handle almost every every piece of nasty weather out there.
The first time you find yourself in a situation of high concern for the safety of your passengers, you will come to regard your boat with the utmost repect for it's capabilities....
I'm confident everyone here can relate some wild and wooly rides in their Whalers.
And we're all here, to tell 'em again!
There will be times when you have to tuck tail and run...but you'll always make it home.

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I think a very good habit to develop when on the ocean is to look at the skies once or twice an hour to check for weather fronts that may be moving in.

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In you area (mine too), most storms approach from the west (we are in the "Westerlies" wind pattern), so keep a sharp "weather eye", in that general direction, this is NOT to say that a storm can't blow in from another direction (Nor'Easter) but, most storms approach us from the "West". I check the wx before heading out, and even listen to the marine braodcast while "putt putting" down the canal towards the bay on the way out, if there is ANY doubt, I head back in, or fish the creek. LIGHTNING: Remember that if you can hear ANY thunder at all in the distance, you are now in the "DANGER ZONE" of being struck by lightning, and should "Head In". What are the chances of being hit by lightning ? Well, with MY LUCK it's "PRETTY GOOD", there could be 1 piece of Dog waste in a 50 mile radius, and my foot would find it, and accidentally step in it for sure !
mw