The Careful Captain

As a lover of the water, this time of year brings about mixed feelings for me. Yes, it’s beautiful outside and that can make for some wonderful days on the water. The chill in the air is also a reminder that winter is not far away. I do use my boat during the colder months, but of course it is not the same. One of the big differences is how I prepare for a day of boating in winter. Let’s face it, a day on the water in January is different than a day in July. An unexpected fall overboard can be very different and can end up in disaster.

So how do you still enjoy your boat safely when its cold outside?

Here are a few tips: • Dress warmly – This seems obvious, but it is amazing how many people ignore it. It’s easy to just throw on a light jacket as if we were taking a quick trip to the convenience store up the street. You should dress as if you will be out in the cold for the entire day. Staying warm allows you to focus on what you are doing and makes the trip more enjoyable. • Wear a life jacket – Let’s face it. Most of us have life jackets on our boats but we don’t often wear them unless we are using them to Frank Taylor

The Careful Captain

float in the water or unless we get into a situation where we feel we might actually need to have one on. If you are boating in winter, it is a good idea to always have it on, especially if you are alone. Falling in cold water when it is 45 degrees outside is no joke. Often the shock of the cold water causes your muscles to freeze making swimming difficult to almost impossible. Having a life jacket on can save your life. • Have a float plan – This just means you need to let someone know where you are going. In summertime, there are plenty of boats on the lake. If something unfortunate happens to you, there will most likely be someone near who can render assistance. During colder months, boat traffic can be fairly sparse. If you are victim to an unfortunate event and no one knows where you are, it could be hours or days before assistance arrives. • Check the weather – Make sure you are ready for what Mother Nature is going to do that day. You don’t want to get out on the water and realize that it is much colder, windier and/or wetter than expected. • Carry a VHF radio – We all use cell phones for communications these days, but they have their limitations. They often don’t do well when wet and they don’t float. A good VHF radio is designed for use in harsh conditions and many of the handheld models also float. I’m not saying that you shouldn’t take your cell phone but take a radio as well. • Make sure your vessel is ready – This is important anytime you go out on the water, but it is especially important in winter. Check fuel, batteries, fluid levels, etc. There is never a good time to have an equipment breakdown on the water but having one in cold weather is the worst.

Cold weather does not have to hinder you from boating. It simply means that you should take some extra precautions to ensure safety.

A few extra minutes preparing for your trip can give you peace of mind while out on the water.

Frank is past commander of America’s Boating Club Atlanta and is currently a content creator at the YouTube channel “The Ships Logg.”

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convulsed with laughter, thinking it was the best entertainment they’d seen in weeks!

Finally, I took one of the bags and heaved it as far as I could across the parking lot, and when the dogs took off after it, I scrambled down into the safety of the car and made my escape. The story made the rounds, and I was a folk hero for a couple of weeks until some other idiot took over the title.

Here on Lake Lanier, there is no real cut off between the seasons. They all just slide gracefully into one another. We get some of our best sailing in the fall due to the winds, but hardly anyone notices the missing power boats. There are still comparatively warm days in winter when we hop into the boats and go out, just because we can. For diehard sailors, all the local sailing clubs schedule races and parties throughout the year.

Yeah, I miss those days up north, but some parts not so much as others!

Mendes has been sailing all his life and on Lake Lanier for the past 25 years. His family owns a marina/bar/restaurant so he has plenty of real life experiences to draw from. His favorite line: “You can’t make this stuff up.”

Enjoy the winter season with a visit to License to Chill Snow Island and the Lakeside Lights Spectacular at Margaritaville Lanier Islands for a time of wintry fun! Create special memories for the whole family with snow tubing, amusement rides, ice skating, and playing in the snow.