The season is upon us. The cold weather is gone and it's time to get the boat out on the water. As you gather up your gear and head out for the water, it is important to be aware of possible issues that could arise. Changes in the current and weather can create some disturbing and harmful rough water. Each summer, there are numerous reports of boats being damaged or even turned over from rough water conditions.

As you and your family or friends head out for some fun in the sun, it's important to be aware of what to do in rough water conditions. Here are some tips you can follow, whether your out on a weekend sail or simply enjoying a sunny day. Although these tips may not keep you completely dry, they will help in preventing additional problems.

Bring Extra Fuel

This should be number one on your to-do list. It is important to carry double the amount of fuel for your boat. This guarantees you will be able to return to land, if anything goes wrong while out in the water. What some people overlook is that battling rough waters will burn your gas much faster. And it does no good, if you endure the rough waters, but have no fuel to make it back to land.

Measuring a Wave's Height

Believe it or not, whenever you are looking out over the water to determine a wave, your view is distorted. What you see is not what you will actually get. This is because your boat is positioned at an angle with the wave, when it is set upon a large swell. When you are trying to determine the height of a wave, there are a few things to keep in mind. You can obtain a more accurate estimation of a wave, when you're in the middle of two waves, if the boat is relatively leveled, or the boat is stationed at the bottom of the trough.

Be Ahead of Schedule

Your number one necessity for traveling across open water is a radar. This is one of the greatest ways to prevent any type of rough water conditions. Being able to know what is ahead, miles away, is how you can determine steps to take in order to prevent any harm or danger. With some radars going as far as 50 miles, you will have more than enough time to find a better route and stay out of harm's way.