Plotting
It’s summertime, and the water temperature is moderate and the ambient temperature is hot. Together, the temps support fun boating days and boaters are headed out to familiar locations and new ones.
A word to the wise, regardless of how sure you are of the area to be traversed, consider checking over the charts for possible issues and plotting your main routes.
Even if you’ve gone over the same route countless times, fog can appear out of nowhere, fully obscuring recognized landmarks. And wind and wave conditions can cause you to take new routes with new obstacles, often time rock formations just under the surface.
Now, if you laid out some routes at home when everything was peaceful and calm, you’ll be well equipped to deal with the change in circumstances. The plotting exercise should not take long, but it will make a real difference in your boating experience.
