The Perfect Weather
When it comes to boating, there are a few things you have to consider before you launch out into the open waters. For one, you have to go through the basics when it comes to launching any boat into the water. Do you have everything you need for the day like fuel, food, drinks, bait and rods if you are fishing, etc and so on? You don’t want to be stuck in the middle of the lake because you didn’t prepare for the day’s trip. You also have to check out the boat itself before it goes out over the water. Just a quick once over to make sure there are no visable leaks or damage to worry about while your out over the water. Before you do any of that, however, you have to check something else to make sure you are not wasting your time.
When you plan any outing, rather it is on land or out on the water it is always important to check the water. Especially in places with salt water that tend to have nearly unpredictable weather. Sometimes near the ocean it can go from a sunny day to stormy weather in under 10 minutes. You don’t want to be caught on choppy waters and pouring rain because you didn’t plan ahead. Especially if you find yourself miles down the canal from where your vehicle or dock is. The canopy of the pontoon boat might keep you dry if you stay near the center, but it won’t do much for the rain being blown in by the wind, or stop the rain from soaking the deck of the pontoon boat. It can also lower visibility and make the vessel harder to control.
It is also beneficial to keep some form of weather tracker on the boat with you. Rather it be your smartphone set up with alerts or a weather radar you can buy in some stores it will help prepare you for any surprise weather changes. It will also let you know how severe weather changes will be, so you can plan accordingly. If it is going to storm out soon, it is best to head toward land. If it is simply going to be a five minute passing shower, you can stay on the pontoon boat and wait it out under the canopy. There is also the chance that it might not even affect you at all. Make sure you know what area you are in so you can know what weather to expect.
It is also a good idea to be prepared for surprised weather, even if it doesn’t happen. You can do this by keeping some basic items on your boat at all times. Items such as rain ponchos, towels, waterproof lights, and it’s not a bad idea to have some ziplock bags either. Ziplock bags are a great way to keep your smaller electronics such as smartphones and smaller cameras dry, along with wallets and other paper items. For larger items they do have larger sizes you can carry a few extra of.
Rain isn’t the only weather factor you should consider though, wind speed should also be looked at. You don’t want your pontoon boat being blown around while you are trying to sit back and relax. Strong winds can also make cruising around in the pontoon boat difficult. On top of that, while the pontoon boat will still stay stable, you may not. The wind will be blowing across the deck which can cause you to struggle moving around, send hats flying into the water, toss around drinks, and make the entire experience less than pleasant. So keep an eye on that wind along with the weather in general. Combine the rain and the wind and you have a day not made for boating.
Before you can do either of these though, you have to get the pontoon boat. For quality and dedication to design, consider Fiesta Marine. With years of experience in the market and an eye for details, our pontoon boats can go out on saltwater and freshwater and will last for years to come. Visit our site to learn more and get a quote on your own pontoon boat project.