Boating in a Storm: Essential Tips for Handling Severe Weather

Few situations are more dangerous for a boater than getting caught in severe weather while boating. In minutes, calm skies can shift to pounding waves, heavy rain, and near zero visibility. Preparation goes a long way—checking the forecast, keeping gear on board, and knowing when it’s time to head in can spare you a lot of trouble. And if bad weather does sneak up, knowing how to steady your boat and what to do once it passes can really help.

So let’s talk about what to keep in mind before, during, and after a storm.

Stay Informed and Stay Connected

Still, storms don’t always show up on the radar, and conditions can change fast once you’re out there. That’s why it pays to keep an ear on the weather forecast and updates while you’re on the water. The National Weather Service and NOAA Weather (WX) channels broadcast around the clock, giving you a heads-up before things get worse.

A marine radio isn’t just nice to have—it’s a lifeline. Cell phones cut out offshore, but a VHF radio keeps you in touch. Keep it on Channel 16 so you can hear Coast Guard alerts, catch calls from other boaters, and call for help yourself if you need to. Staying connected means you’ll know when it’s time to head back in before the storm really builds.

Safety Precautions During Lightning

Lightning is one of the biggest dangers on open water. If a storm brings thunder and flashes, treat it as a lightning threat. Out there, your boat may be the tallest thing around, which makes it a natural target.

Stay away from metal fittings, rails, or anything that could conduct a strike. Have passengers sit low and close together and avoid open areas if possible. Turn off non-essential electrical devices so they’re less likely to be damaged if lightning does hit. Keep only what you need for navigation and safety running.

Most importantly, keep your head low and ride it out. Lightning storms usually move fast, and minimizing exposure until they pass gives you the best shot at staying safe.

First Moves When the Weather Turns Bad

Storms on the water are scary. The wind howls, waves slam the hull, and it’s hard to think straight. A sense of panic is natural but it can also make a bad situation even worse. Take a breath if you can, and zero in on the next step in front of you. Calm decisions give you the best chance of staying safe. Here’s what to do first:

Put Life Jackets on Immediately

In bad weather, footing is shaky and it only takes one wrong step or a hard wave for someone to end up falling overboard. Once they’re in the water, the mix of poor visibility and rough seas makes them hard to spot and even harder to reach.

A life jacket buys precious time. It keeps a person afloat, makes them easier to see, and gives you a chance to pull them back on board. Just as important, it takes one major worry off your shoulders so you can focus on handling the boat in the middle of the storm.

Secure Loose Items

In rough water, anything not tied down becomes dangerous. A cooler sliding across the deck, fishing gear rolling around, or a tacklebox tossed by a wave can injure someone in seconds. Even small items—bottles, lures, tackle —can turn into projectiles when the boat jolts.

Place what you can into compartments and tie down anything left on deck. A secure boat keeps people safer and gives you space to move if you need to steady yourself, help a passenger, or stay focused at the wheel.

Get People Low and Centered

Be sure to seat passengers low and toward the center of the boat. This helps keep the weight balanced, reduces the chance of someone getting tossed around, and makes the boat more stable. On smaller boats especially, that extra stability can be the difference between staying steady and tipping over.

Check Your Radio

Before the storm hits, make sure your VHF radio is on and working. Keep it tuned to Channel 16 so you can hear Coast Guard safety alerts and call for help if needed. Many radios also have dedicated weather (WX) channels that provide continuous forecasts and updates—worth keeping an ear on when conditions change.

Boating Through the Storm

Once everyone is safe and the deck is clear, your attention turns to handling the boat itself. Storms demand balance—between throttle and steering, between pushing too hard and letting the weather take over.

Find the Right Speed

How you use the throttle matters as much as how you steer. Too much speed and you’ll slam into waves or bury the bow. Cut it all the way, and you’ll drift with no steerage, leaving the storm in charge.

The sweet spot is in between: slow enough to keep things safe, but with enough power to stay responsive. That steady momentum helps hold your angle into the waves and prevents the bow from being shoved sideways. You’re not racing the storm—you’re working to keep control until conditions ease or you find safe water.

Steer at an Angle

How you meet the waves can make or break your ride through the storm. Heading straight into them pounds the bow and can swamp the deck, while taking them broadside risks a dangerous roll.

This spreads the force along the hull, keeps the bow higher, and makes it less likely that water crashes over the front. The ride will still be rough, but it will be more manageable. Keep passengers seated low and secure, and stay alert—the storm will shift, and you’ll need to adjust your course as it does.

Seeking Shelter and Safe Spots

No matter how well you handle the boat, the safest move in a storm is finding a way out of it. If you can reach shelter, make that your priority. A protected harbor, marina, or even a stretch of shoreline that blocks the wind can turn a dangerous fight into a much safer wait.

Head for Shore

If you’re close enough, aim for the nearest safe harbor or sheltered shoreline. Thunderstorms often bring strong gusts, lightning, and chaotic water—hazards that are far easier to deal with once you’re under cover. Don’t push farther out; as soon as the weather turns, start making your way to safety, if you can.

Anchor Only If Conditions Are Right

If you can’t get back to shore, dropping anchor may help—but only in the right conditions. Anchoring out in the open can actually make things worse, leaving you exposed to waves and wind. The safer option is to find real shelter, like behind a headland, jetty, or natural barrier, and set a solid anchor with plenty of scope. Even then, it’s no guarantee. Think of it as one tool that might steady your boat if you have no better choice.

After the Storm and Preparing for Next Time

When the sky finally lightens and the waves start to calm, resist the urge to rush back into normal boating mode. The first few minutes after a storm are about regaining control and making sure everyone and everything on board is okay. Check on your crew first—make sure everyone’s accounted for, uninjured, and steady, then focus on the boat. Once you know things are stable, there are a few steps that help you recover and get ready for next time.

Check for Damage

Give your boat a careful once-over. Look for cracks, leaks, loose hardware, or anything that shifted during the storm. Even small problems can get worse if ignored, so note what you find and fix it before your next trip. If the damage is serious, take photos and follow up with your insurance company.

Reflect and Plan Ahead

Every storm is a lesson. Think about what went smoothly and what could have gone better. Did everyone have life jackets on quickly? Was the radio working? Did people know where to sit or what to do? Jot down what you learned while it’s fresh so you’re better prepared next time..

Secure Gear and Plan Your Routes

Before your next outing, make sure all your gear has a spot and can be tied down quickly if the weather changes. Keep an eye on forecasts, and as you plan your day, make a mental note of places you could pull in if you had to—like a nearby marina, a sheltered cove, or a safe stretch of shoreline. Having those options in mind makes it much easier to act quickly when the sky darkens.

Final Thoughts

No boater plans to end up in a storm, but it happens. Weather shifts, forecasts miss things, and sometimes you just get caught. What matters then is how prepared you are for boating safety and how you respond in the moment.

Life jackets that are easy to grab, gear that’s tied down, a radio that works, and a rough plan for where to go can take a lot of panic out of a bad situation. And once you’re in it, staying calm and making clear, steady choices is what gets you and your crew through safely.

When it’s over, take stock of what worked and what didn’t. A few small changes before your next trip can make facing rough weather a little less overwhelming.

Keeping Your Gear Secure with Manta Racks

In rough water, shifting gear can slam into passengers, damage the boat, or knock someone off balance. But even on sunny days, strong winds and an unexpected roll or sudden movement can send gear sliding and cause injuries. That’s why keeping everything secured isn’t just storm prep—it’s part of safe boating every time you head out.

Loose boards, kayaks, and paddleboards aren’t just inconvenient—they can be dangerous. In rough water, shifting gear can slam into passengers, damage the boat, or knock someone off balance. But even on sunny days, strong winds and an unexpected roll or sudden movement can send gear sliding and cause injuries. That’s why keeping everything secured isn’t just storm prep—it’s part of safe boating every time you head out.

That’s why we designed our Manta Racks systems. They’re built to hold your gear—wakeboards, kayaks, paddleboards, floating mats, and more—securely in place, so they’re not sliding around the deck when conditions change.

Storm or not, keeping your gear locked down means fewer distractions, less clutter on deck, and a safer ride for everyone on board. Ready to upgrade your setup? Check out Manta Racks and find the system that fits your boat best.