Weather Basics For Boaters: The Details That Matter

Learn how to find the hidden details in the apps you already know, and how to interpret them, to understand what the day will really be like on the water

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You checked the forecast. The wind didn’t look bad. The radar seemed clear.

So why did you end up pounding into waves, getting soaked and slammed around—again?

It’s not that the forecast was wrong. It’s that no one ever taught you what to look at—or how to find it—to really understand what the conditions would be like on the water.

Don’t just look at one screen in your weather app. Learn how to dig deeper and find the details that matter to boaters.

Weather Basics for Boaters is a practical, easy-to-understand guide to making better decisions on the water—using the forecasts and apps you're already familiar with. You don’t need to be a meteorologist. You just need to know what to look for, where to find it, and how to interpret what it really means for your boat and your plans.

With over 17 years of liveaboard experience, author Carolyn Shearlock knows how hard it is to figure out what forecasts actually mean for boaters. Most resources focus on meteorology or how to build your own forecast—when in reality, great forecasts already exist, created by professionals.

What’s missing is clear guidance on how to use those forecasts, apps, and tools to make safer, more comfortable decisions. This book fills that gap. You'll learn which forecast details matter, how to find them, and what they mean for your day on the water.

You’ll learn how to:

Go beyond the overview screen in apps like Windy and PredictWind
Spot the key forecast details that affect what you’ll feel aboard
Know when it’s smart to head out—and when it’s better to wait
Avoid common mistakes that catch boaters off guard
Combine model data, radar, and real-world observations with confidence
Apply rules of thumb for evaluating wind, waves, current, and more
Evaluate the risk of thunderstorms, squalls, and other red flags in the forecast

At just 99 pages, this book is packed with useful information and no filler. It breaks down a complex topic into clear, manageable steps—including how to organize the information as you find it, track changes, and make sure you’ve checked all the key details.

You can read it in an evening and start using the method immediately, feeling more confident about your weather decisions the very next time you head out.

Additionally, you'll learn how to monitor conditions while underway, what to do when the weather turns against you, and how to approach hurricane season safely if boating during that time is part of your plan.

Large 7x10 pages make the hi-res, full-color screenshots easy to read, so you’ll know exactly what to look for.

Whether you’re new to boating or just tired of being surprised by the weather, Weather Basics for Boaters gives you the clarity and confidence to plan smarter and enjoy the day.

What Readers Are Saying . . .

“Simple and easy... the ‘cliff-notes’ of weather for boaters” – Gordon C.

“Easy to read. Subjects well organized… Valuable information” – Roberto S.

“Great practical guide. Thanks!” – Irene H.

See What's Inside: Full Table of Contents

Introduction

1 How Weather Shapes Cruising Decisions

    Types of Weather to Watch
    Immediate Weather
    Weather Windows
    Seasonal Weather
    The Intersection of Seasonal Patterns and Travel Windows

2 Making Smart Weather Decisions

    Forecasts Aren’t Guarantees
    Am I Just Being Too Picky?
    Outside Pressures That Cloud Judgment
    Contingency Planning Keeps You in Control
    Turning Back Can Be the Best Option
    Own the Call

3 Foundational Weather Knowledge

    Essential Weather Terms
    Local Conditions Will Prevail
    Katabatic Winds
    Compression Zones and Gap Winds
    Wind Waves vs. Swell
    Wave Height
    Wave Period
    Square Waves
    Fetch
    Currents
    Counter Current
    Wind Against Current (or Wind Against Water)
    A Special Caution About Crossing Wind-Against-Current Areas
    Velocity Made Good (VMG)
    Rain vs. Squalls vs. Thunderstorms
    CAPE (Convective Available Potential Energy) Index
    Forecast Models
    Putting the Pieces Together

4 Weather Sources and Tools That Boaters Use

    Apps and Forecast Tools
    NOAA
    NOAA Weather Buoys
    VHF Weather Radio
    NOAA/NHC Hurricane Products
    Marine-Specific Weather Apps
    Windy
    PredictWind
    General-Purpose Weather Apps
    Professional Marine Weather Forecasters
    Chris Parker – Marine Weather Center
    PassageWeather
    Weather Routing Inc. (WRI)
    Commanders’ Weather
    Forecasts from Skilled Amateurs
    Radar
    Using Online Radar
    Using Your Boat’s Radar
    What You Can See from the Boat
    Getting Weather Data Aboard
    Cellular Internet Data
    Starlink
    Iridium GO!
    Less Ideal Alternatives
    Choosing What Will Work For You
    Using Your Forecast Tools as a System

5 Checking Key Data in the Forecast

Create a Weather Notebook

6 Step-by-Step Guide to Finding the Info You Need

    Getting Started: Access, Settings, and Screen Layout
    Accessing the App
    Customizing Units and Settings
    Navigating the App
    Timeline
    Color Legend
    Layers
    Finding the Data You Need
    Wind
    Wind Gusts
    Waves
    Current
    Rain and Thunderstorms
    Other Layers
    Bringing It All Together

7 Staying Safe and Comfortable at Anchor

    What to Watch While Anchored
    Weather Alerts on Your VHF
    Dealing with Squalls at Anchor
    First: Where You’re Anchored Matters
    If Squalls Are In the Area
    Just Before the Squall Arrives
    As the Squall Hits
    If You Drag
    If Another Boat is Dragging
    After It Passes
    Squall Survival

8 Using the Forecast to Pick Your Next Stop

    What Makes Weather “Good” for You?
    How Long Will Conditions Stay Favorable?
    How Far Can You Go?
    Step 1: How Long Do You Want to Be Underway? OR How Long Do You Have Until the Weather Changes?
    Step 2: Estimate Your Baseline Distance
    Step 3: Adjust for Forecast Conditions
    Step 4: Build In a Safety Margin
    Choose Your Destination
    Enjoy the Trip

9 Finding the Right Weather Window

    Understand the Trip You’re Planning
    How Long a Window Do You Need?
    Define Your Acceptable Conditions
    Review the Entire Forecast—Not Just One Part
    Is It Really a Window?
    Track Changes as the Window Approaches
    Planning Multi-Day Passages
    Using Routing Software
    Choosing a “Least Bad” Day
    Confidence in Your Decision

10 Monitoring the Weather While Underway

    Keep Your Eyes on the Sky
    Use Weather Radio
    Choosing the Right Channel
    How to Know Which Zone You’re In
    Use Your Apps Underway
    Use Your Radar

11 When Conditions Are Worse Than Expected

    Always Stay One Step Ahead
    Know When to Stop or Change Plans
    If You Can’t Turn Back: Heaving-To
    When You Encounter Squalls Underway
    Don’t Just Run With It
    Reef Early and Get Ready
    Watch for Waterspouts
    What You See Helps You Decide
    Make Smarter Choices in the Moment

12 Hurricane Season

    Watching the Weather in Hurricane Season
    Basic Terminology
    Early Warning with the Tropical Weather Outlook
    How to Sign Up for NHC Emails
    When the Outlook Shows a Possible Storm
    Once It Becomes an Invest
    Once a Storm Forms
    The Cone Map and Text Forecast
    Forecast Error: How Much Confidence Should You Have?
    Forecast Continuity: What It Is and Why It Matters
    Putting It All Together
    Cruising During Hurricane Season
    Insurance Considerations
    Reliable Weather Access
    How We Cruise in Hurricane Season
    Making Jumps in Hurricane Season
    Other Considerations When Cruising in Hurricane Season
    The Bottom Line

13 Final Thoughts: Pulling It All Together

Stop Checking the Weather and Start Understanding it

Meet the Author:

Carolyn Shearlock

It took Carolyn Shearlock 17 years to develop a reliable system for checking the weather before heading out—what to look for, where to find it, and how to interpret it. Cruiser happy hour chats often turned into spontaneous tutorials, with fellow boaters leaning in as she pulled up Windy screens they’d never seen before and scribbling down her rules of thumb. More than once, someone said, “You should really write this down.”

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Weather Basics

Great practical guide. Thanks!

Simple and easy

The book is an excellent choice for those that like to keep it simple without too much fluff. It is basically the "cliff-notes" of weather for boaters.

Worth every penny!

Easy to read. Subjects well organized. Got it this morning and I'm done reading it.
Valuable information.

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Weather Basics For Boaters: The Details That Matter