Interesting Boating Tips and Facts - Part 2: Boat-ology Salt Support For every foot of draft in fresh water, your boat will rise almost one-quarter inch when immersed in salt water. A boat drawing three feet on Lake Huron will draw only 2 feet 11 1/4 inches in the Atlantic Ocean. Quick and Dirty Method For small, lightweight runabouts of 24 feet and less, use the 1:25 rule. For every 25 pounds of weight (including engine, gear, fuel and crew) you'll need approximately one horsepower to get on plane and cruise at a reasonable speed. Hanging by a Thread The length of a bolt is correct for the job if at least two threads are exposed past the nut after tightening - the first couple of threads do not have full strength. Weather Mania Sound Off Thunder, and the storm that comes with it, is nearby if it crashes and bangs. It is far off if it rumbles like timpani, and very far away if you see only the lightning but hear nothing. Falling Off When barometric pressure starts falling, foul weather is approaching. The barometer falling 0.1 inch or more per hour says that a major storm is close. Under Pressure When atmospheric pressure increases, the sea level is slightly lowered in the highpressure cell. When pressure is lower, the sea level is slightly higher. The changes are only in inches and fractions of inches. 500 Approximate number of statute miles a cold front moves in a day (more in winter, less in summer). Warm fronts move approximately 200 statute miles a day. Avoidance Technique Avoid a storm's center by tracking its movements in relation to your course by putting your back to the wind and pointing to the left; that's where the center of the storm lies. Rule of 1/12 Tides do not rise or fall at an even rate. Divide the tide's range by 12. A change of 1/12 occurs in the first hour, 2/12 in the second hour, 3/12 in the third hour, 3/12 in the fourth hour, 2/12 in the fifth hour and 1/12 in the sixth. The Weather Clock If you're in the Northern Hemisphere as you face the wind, and it changes in a clockwise direction, it is generally an indicator that fair weather is on the way. Counterclockwise movement means just the opposite. Related Articles: Part 1, Part 3, Part 4 Source: https://www.lakestclair.net/index.php?/topic/95698-interesting-boating-tipsfacts/ #Boating
