Dock in a thunderstorm or wait it out on the water?

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Well-Known Member
TECHNICAL Contributor
Oct 3, 2006
4,404
Wisconsin - Winnebago Pool chain of lakes
Boat Info
280 Sundancer, Westerbeke MPV generator
Engines
twin 5.0's w/BIII drives
Yesterday we found ourselves in a thunderstorm.

We headed back to the marina but the storm got there first. When we got to our slip 3 people were standing dockside to help. After our boat was secured I helped others dock their boat.

It seemed like everyone came in as the storm was at its peak.

About half an hour later it was over and completely calm.

I am going to put some thought this. If I had it to do over again I would have just floated around on the lee side of the lake then headed into the marina after the storm had passed.

What adds a bit to the complexity of the decision making is we also had a wave runner. So someone would need to head in on that or stay on it in a thunderstorm, something that I don’t think is a good idea.

What do you do?
 
Drop hook in the lee, tie the waverunner up to the boat, put everyone down below and stay low.
 
We don't go looking for bad weather but I do not see the point of going back to the dock because of a T-storm. We just soldier on to our destination unless the storm is building. In the unlikely event that we get caught in a bad situation on Lake Michigan, I might duck into a small inland lake and drop the hook. During squalls, I have gone below with the trannys out of gear. Mostly, we keep a weather eye out and don't travel during storms.
 
I have done both....If it is possible the security of a dock is preferred. You never know how bad it is going to be....
 
In gusting winds, rain etc. I have waited out the storm as described, anchor, engines on, all below. Our slips are pretty tight, only about 35-40 feet between two rows of docks and in strong gusts it is easy to be blown where you don't want to be.
 
I get out my blackberry when dark storms approach, and see the intensity and movement on accuweather.com
I'm in a little different situation, as the last leg of any trip is a 1/2 hour idle speed up the Dania Cut, which is narrow and tree lined. Luckily I have ample cabin space for many people, so I'd hook it and stay put. If it looks like a long lasting storm, or the tide negates getting under the last bridge, I'll break down and take the cloth off the lower helm and battle through it.

j
 
I would drop the hook and wait it out. Have been in that situation before. Thats on a big boat with a cabin. On my center console I would hightail it back to the dock.
 
We had the same thing. Absolute monsoon yesterday for about an hour and we all waited it out on the hook rafted up. Felt bad for a bunch of familys in their bowriders getting pounded and it brought me back to my previous boat and reminded me why we traded out to a cruiser.

What gets me is the people trying to bust back to the ramp just below planning speed through the no wake cove where we were tied up!!! ARGH!!!1 They were the ones knocking us around.
 
Cincy ...that was us yesterday in our bow rider and we had the Seadoo ...still drying the boat out today from the monsoon. The storm came up pretty sudden and I thought I had enough time to get back to the dock.... Did we ever get wet !!

I saw the same thing...seems no wake zones only apply when it's sunny...must be an Indiana thing
 
We are on the same lake as Doug. This was right before we headed back to the marina, about 5 miles. The lake gets rough fast and this was before the wind picked up.
100_0823 (Small).JPG
 
I've done both. Sometimes it is not safe to run an inlet in a storm or navigate the marina. Other times the wind is blowing from exactly the right direction that it makes it all so easy. It comes down to a judgement call. If you have bad judgement, you're screwed.

Best regards,
Frank
 
Well, the one time we got caught, we didnt have a choice to move. It came out of nowhere: 40 mph+ winds, hail and HEAVY rain. We tried to drive out, but it was so windy and rainy, let alone the hail, that there was no visibility, and it was a 5 mile run to the 84 bridge that we go under.

We were also all tied together and broke anchors! So we started drifting to shore, started the engines and pulled away, but then just sat in the middle of the pond.

I captured it on video. The vid ends when we discovered we broke anchor, so I had to put the camera down and start the engines to move. Bilge was at full steam, luckily we had the biminis up, they caught a lot of water and pushed it off to the sides.

The rain comes at 3:50 of the vid, so you dont have to watch the whole thing. You can see all of the other boats just staying put as well in the pond.

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwElsgI_GYE[/YOUTUBE]
 
If I'm nearshore, and there's time to get to the dock before it hits I go that route.
If not, head below turn on the TV and break out the popcorn.
Offshore, I use Sirus Wx and radar to try to avoid them. If I can't, I drop the outriggers
(20' lightning rods for those who don't fish), anchor if possible, and head below to get bounced around.
 
Blueone said:
Cincy ...that was us yesterday in our bow rider and we had the Seadoo ...still drying the boat out today from the monsoon. The storm came up pretty sudden and I thought I had enough time to get back to the dock.... Did we ever get wet !!

I saw the same thing...seems no wake zones only apply when it's sunny...must be an Indiana thing
Click to expand...

Oh man, was that you at the far end of our raft up? I was at the opposite end with the 340DA.

I could hardly even see you all over there it was raining so hard. I hope the kids were able to take some shelter on the cruisers between us. We had room for more but no one made it down to us.
 
I'd wait it out where I boat. Too many turns to get to my slip in the marina, definately would get crosswind at some point and get pushed hard. Then again, not that many squalls on the northern Potomac
 
Georgia SeaDawg said:
After watching that video, I only have 1 question, did Ginger make it out okay?
Click to expand...

:lol: She was/is fine, and ready for this coming Saturday for our first real raft up of the year. 6 or 7 boats, all with their own "Ginger".
 
Thunderstorms aren't that common here. Mo and I one year were launching the boat when one came through, our destination was about 6 miles away on Whidbey Island and we could see clear skies over that way. We put the canvas up for the rains that had started and we could see the thunder and lightning heading our way. We were able to get a little wet but skirt the storm and sit on a rooftop deck at the restaurant once we got over to the island and watch the light show. It was cool

SBW1 must have them all the time because he still has hail on the ground.
 
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