"small craft advisory"

[gerryb]

We're planning a trip down to Cape May this weekend and the topic of small craft advisories came-up. Wondering what the actual triggers are for which NOAA will issue a small craft advisory? Is there a specific formula (wind, waves, etc.)or is it more subjective? In this part of the country, I've seen them issued when the conditions were not that bad, and I have also seen them NOT be issued when water and wind conditions were awful. :huh:

 

[gerryb]

OK - I think I answered my own question. I found this in the NOAA glossary...

http://www.weather.gov/glossary/index.php?word=small+craft+advisory

 

[AndersonAcres]

Gerry, such a precise definition of what boats such an advisory applies to! NOT

"There is no precise definition of a small craft. Any vessel that may be adversely affected by Small Craft Advisory criteria should be considered a small craft."

I guess you find out by trial and error.

:smt043

 

[Skip]

The first time you bury the anchor and get a green wall into the windshield you realize that your craft is, indeed, small. This is why I refrain from saying X boat can handle any wave condition on Y body of water, as some have opined in thisforum. Mother nature can get really tough, regardless of your boat size. Then it comes down to the Captain's skill, the crew's experience and confidence, etc.

regards
Skip

 

[gengiant]

.......Mother nature can get really tough, regardless of your boat size. Then it comes down to the Captain's skill, the crew's experience and confidence, etc.

regards
Skip

Amen to that! All things being equal, a good skipper will be able to safely deal with more adverse conditions than a poor skipper (or one that's never had to deal with the specified conditions before). That holds true for ANY boat size.