I've been caught in a few storms and this is what I do. What do you do?

Of course the best thing is to not get caught in a storm, but this is Texas and sometimes they come fast. We also want to stay on the water so we convince ourselves it will miss us.

When it looks certain,
1. Life jackets!
2. I motor to the nearest shore where wind would push me anyway and beach the boat. In as small a cove as I can safely reach. Also try to beach near something that is taller than you so it will take the lightning. Near a tree is good, but not so near as to be in danger if the tree is struck.
3. Put up the top. A bimini can help keep you from being pounded by hail.
4. I put my phone and VHF radio into zip lock bags.
5. Put on your rain gear. I always keep gear for 3 on board.
6. I always carry 3 street flares. Get them out and keep them handy.
7. Leave the motor running in case the wind shifts and pushes you off the beach.

How do you handle it? I'm sure there are more things I could do to keep my passengers safe.

Well, all I can say is that the last time that I was caught in a storm I didn't do anything that you had mentioned. I "braved" the winds and waves back to the dock.

That has been my only experience with sinking a boat Won't ever do that again. I hope.....

DT,
What are you saying, you somehow can't figure out that you need to come out of the rain?

Personally, I got sense enough to come out of the rain.

Now wasn't that just a hateful little reply?

Feel better now that you got that out?

i fish in a kayak. so i really have to make a decision, if i am in open water. is the storm going to hit, or not. i have been caught once, and rode in to shore.
who wants to stop fishing because of a storm?
i strap in my gear, and put PFD on. try to head into the wind.

Of course a storm isn't any big deal to a guy who does rapids. Isn't it uncomfortable fishing from a kayak? I rented one in Cancun and took it into the surf. After 10 minutes my legs were killing me and I had to take it back. Of course, I am old and fat.

no rapids around here.
you have to learn to cast different. i cant master flipping a bait caster.
i have a sit in, it is fairly comfortable, seats have a backrest. the ones i saw in Cozumel didnt have back rest.
it is really fun.
for real if i get the time to fish, it takes serious weather to get me off the water.
off topic guys following you around?

:p

Head for your nearest bridge. If there is no bridge, hope you have good rain gear.

DT........Much better......But I didn't see it as hateful at all.......Just a fact......When the weather gets bad I get off the water ASAP.....How does that saying go..."Any port in a storm"....

Yeah, I think it is one of the kiddies from politics who is turning stalker.

Umm, beach near something taller than me...a tree is good? I would find something low. So if lightning found the tree it wouldn't find me. Remember lightning seeks the path of lowest resistance.

When rain comes, normally lighting will too... I get off the lake ASAP...

When I got caught in unexpected wind, I head for the nearest cove and wait it out.. Been there done that!!!

Step one, see cloud. Two, catch more fish. Three, see cloud closer hear thunder and see lightning. Four put on rain gear strap junk down. Step five life jacket, crank VMAX and HAUL A** to the truck

I don't want to sound rude or anything but don't you check the weather before you leave? and just leave the water before the nasty weather hits?