Treacherous seas may be encountered as you leave or return to port.
Ocean swells can build and crash violently
as they roll into the relatively shallow water of harbor entrances.
A strong outgoing tide
funneling through a narrow inlet
combined with onshore winds
can result in large breaking waves,
which along with shoaling and shifting channels,
can create challenging conditions.
It's critical to know how your boat will handle when running a dangerous inlet.
An open bow boat is more vulnerable than
one with a higher bow and foredeck in head and following seas.
Having sufficient horsepower relative to your boat size can help keep you safe.
To stay ahead of a breaking wave,
a punch of the throttle
can keep you in position.
A properly powered vessel will allow you to climb the face of a wave or outrun it.
You want a boat that tracks well in a following sea
and does not plant its bow into a head sea or become overwhelmed by waves.
You need enough bow rise to provide lift and avoid plowing into waves,
but not so much that you can't see buoys, jetties, and other objects in front of you.
Make sure your boat has sufficient power,
size, buoyancy, and seakeeping ability.
If in doubt about your boat or capability as an operator,
don't attempt the crossing.
Is the inlet a regulated navigation area?
Are there warning signs?
If you don't know the inlet or haven't navigated it recently,
ask a local charter captain, towboat operator, or commercial fisherman for advice.
Expanding your base of experienced boating friends
and sharing information
is helpful for safe inlet navigation.
Listen to others who have run the inlet in the past day or two.
Check discussions on regional boating blogs.
You might ask to follow a commercial vessel or even hire a guide with strong knowledge of the inlet to show you the way.
Use your chart plotter
or ask a passenger to record the track taken through the inlet so you can retrace the path upon return.
Keep in mind, however, that the safest course through an inlet can change quickly.
Don't assume that the track you use today will still be safe a week from now.
Stay posted on the latest weather conditions and tides, not only for your departure time,
but also for your return.
Knowing when is just as important as knowing where to cross.
Timing your run for the incoming tide and slack current is the safest,
but the time of high or low tide is not necessarily the time of slack current.
The two can be offset by several hours.
Consult current tables
in addition to tide tables to see the difference.
Have a backup plan with an alternate way-in if you can't time your cross in optimal conditions.
Or wait outside the inlet, and perhaps make a run along the coast and back until conditions are more favorable.
If they re not already doing so, instruct your passengers to don life jackets and,
if your boat has a cabin, to exit so their life jackets' buoyancy won't prevent escape should the boat capsize.
Whether an open boat or cabin cruiser, ask them to stay seated low on deck wearing life jackets
and brief them on what to do in case of capsizing.
If, as the operator, you must remain in an enclosed pilothouse,
wear a manually inflatable life jacket to help ensure your own escape.
Batten down any loose gear before making your run.
Whether heading out or returning, take time to assess the inlet before making your run.
Study the rhythm of wave cycles at the bar.
Long-period swells often roll in sets, with a lull in between.
Breaking waves and white water indicate shoal areas to avoid.
Aim for the smaller swells.
Gaps in the froth indicate areas of relatively calm water.
If you must cross an inlet with or against a current,
it's best for the wind to be in the same direction as the current for smoother conditions of a following sea.
The worst condition is having wind against current, which causes waves to build, sometimes dramatically.
In certain scenarios, wave heights in an inlet can be multiple times higher than sea conditions forecast for that day.
In an outgoing tide, if your boat has a shallow draft, avoid the center of the channel where the current is strongest.
Cross to the side where the waves are smaller and tend not to break as much,
but avoid any
potentially dangerous shoals.
If you're operating a deep-draft vessel,
stay closer to the center of the channel to avoid grounding.
To find the smoothest line, run on the downwind side of the main channel
when you're outside the protection of any jetties.
When heading out, maintain enough speed to keep the bow slightly raised.
If you go too slow,
the bow will drop and you will nose into the oncoming waves.
If you go too fast,
you'll get beat up.
Head into the waves and don't slow down.
Maintaining your speed
will force any water taken over your bow astern
and out the scuppers.
If you slow down, the water will surge forward
and push the bow down,
possibly resulting in swamping and rollover.
Monitor waves behind and in front of you, as well as anything on either side.
In large waves, look out for another vessel, obstacle, or obstruction obscured by the wave in front of you.
Some inlets are plagued by confused seas --
so-called potato patches --
that can buffet a boat from side to side, as well as fore and aft.
Waves reflecting off cliffs or jetties and refracting over shallow water crisscross in opposite directions.
If you see a wave suddenly break contrary to the pattern,
adjust your running angle to mitigate its impact.
When returning to the inlet, radio the Coast Guard or harbor patrol ahead of time
if you are experiencing any kind of engine trouble
or other issues that might impair your boat's ability to safely cross.
Authorities might choose to stand by to lend assistance quickly
in the event of an emergency.
Use all the markers.
Larger inlets will have a sea buoy in safe water at the beginning of the channel markers where you can line up your entrance.
Entering midchannel
or too close to shore could place you near shoals or even submerged jetties.
When in a strong following sea, maintain sufficient throttle
to keep your boat running straight on the backside of a wave.
Match the wave s speed, staying midway between the face of the wave behind you
and the crest of the one ahead.
Avoid overtaking the wave and surfing down its face
to prevent pitchpoling -- flipping stern over bow -- or broaching -- capsizing as the boat turns sideways toward a breaking wave.
Adjust your throttle to stay in the trough
until you have passed the danger zone.
Running a rough inlet proves much more difficult when you can't see.
Although getting an early start and enjoying a full day of boating or fishing may be desirable,
waiting until daylight to head out, and returning before sundown are safer choices.
The same advice applies when there s heavy fog or torrential rain.
Low visibility heightens the risk of collision with a jetty, break wall, buoy, or other vessels.
If you must run an inlet in these conditions, use your chart plotter and radar and add extra help in maintaining a proper lookout.
Sometimes, waiting just a few hours for a slack or incoming tide to flatten the waves
can make the difference between a calm pass and a calamitous one.
Even if the wind is blowing, the lack of an outgoing tide can make an inlet more manageable.
If the inlet s too rough, consider waiting out the tides, whether you're heading out in the morning or coming back in the afternoon.
Another option is to chart a different course or, if your boat is trailerable,
choose a different more user-friendly location for increased safety and peace of mind.
Finally, though your passengers might object, some days,
when the inlet is raging, it may be prudent to cancel the trip.
As the operator, it's your job to make sure everyone stays safe to boat another day.
When in doubt, don t go out!
Inlets serve as gateways to many great adventures.
With an appropriate vessel, sufficient power, and prudent seamanship,
you'll be able to meet the challenge of rough inlets, cross over the bar, and return safely time and again.