No, don’t say it’s over! Just because it’s October, doesn’t mean you should give up and sit by the fire. Boating season can be as long as you want it if you are prepared for the changes in the season and take the necessary precautions for cold water boating.
Once Labor Day hits there will be fewer and fewer boaters on the Bay. You can’t rely on a “Good Sam” to be at hand if you break down, your boat begins to take on water or you fall over board. You should consider any situation that puts you on the water in the cold season as potentially dangerous. It may look the same but water below 70 degrees can quickly take your breath away and it could be deadly. Since water is 25 times more efficient than air at drawing heat away from your body, you need protective apparel to prevent excessive heat loss.
Always dress as if you expect to take a swim. Dress in layers with your base layer being a synthetic that will help contain body heat and wick away moisture. Outer layers should be water repellent or water proof. If you do end up in the water, kick off your shoes and rely on your life-jacket to keep you afloat. You should also prepare a ditch bag with dry clothes, snack bars, first-aid, even those chemical heat packs could come in handy.
Always boat with others and wear your life jacket. I love being out on the boat by myself, early in the morning when there’s not another soul in sight but there is safety in numbers. If you do fall overboard there will be someone there to turn the boat around and help you get aboard. A recent rescue of a guy who was sailing alone, fell overboard during a storm, and was not wearing his life jacket is a great example. He miraculously was able to tread water for seven hours until he was found. That was in July when water temperature was above 80 degrees. It would have been a completely different ending had he fallen over in October or November.
Things to keep in your life jacket or pockets include a signaling device, hand-held VHF or waterproof cell phone. A couple of years ago several winter sailing adventurists near Sandy Point lost their lives when their boat capsized. One woman survived. She had a waterproof cell phone and was able to continue communicating with rescuers after their boat sunk. A hand-held VHF enables direct contact with the Coast Guard and nearby boaters to increase the odds of quick rescue.
In the fall, weather can change quickly. Check the forecast before you go and as we have said before “Keep your eye on the sky.” Also, when planning your trip consider that daylight hours are getting shorter. Be sure to do a pre-departure check on your lights but also have emergency spare bulbs and emergency lighting repair onboard. Low light, mist and fog can make you and your white boat harder to see this time of year. Wear bright colors like orange, lime green, or yellow. A strobe, bright safety light, flares or chemical lights can be a lifesaver if your boat’s power system goes down.
It is Murphy’s Law that “What can go wrong, will go wrong.” but being prepared for the unexpected, makes life-threatening situations easier to get through and certainly make for a better ending to your fall boating adventure. And, remember TowBoatUS is up and running all year – 24/7/365. Be safe and enjoy!
