Navigating Shallow Water

Not all boating takes place in water so deep you can’t see the bottom. Sometimes you need to cruise over very shallow patches of water to get to another deeper place or simply because you want to. Maybe you’re seeking out a particular type of fish that lurks only in the shallows. Whatever your reason, there are some tricks to navigating shallow water that you’ll want to know before you attempt it. Read this guide by Jet Ski of Miami to learn more about boating in shallow water. For more boating tips, come by our dealership to talk to our experienced staff.

Prepare Yourself And Your Boat Accordingly

Before undertaking any boat outing, you’ll want to be ready. You should know very well how your boat works before trying to take it in shallow water. If you need help or a refresher, there are boating safety and operation courses offered by the US Coast Guard all around the country.

Your next step will be to learn how to read depth. You can use plastic-coated prints or digital version of depth charts to determine the shallow areas in a given body of water. A device called a depth finder can be significantly useful in determining the depth in a precise spot, too.

Finally, you should check the weather forecast a few days before your trip and double-check it the day you plan to leave. If conditions look poor or the tides are going to expose sand where you planned on boating, you may want to defer your trip for another time.

Monitor Your Depth

While cruising, be mindful of your boat’s draft. “Draft” describes how high water comes up the sides of your boat. You want to remain in water that’s deeper than your boat’s draft. If you don’t, you’ll run aground when you hit shallower water. Your boat likely has a planing hull that sits lower in the water, allowing you to shift your draft when your boat gets up to speed, or “on plane.” This ability can help you to get over shallower water, but you’ll want to be wary of obstacles.

Take note of the color of the water around you. If the coloring shifts suddenly, that indicates a shift in depth. Brown or white water means the bottom is close at hand. Blue, green or clear water indicates sufficient depth that you probably won’t have to worry about running aground. Some other indicators of shallow water include eddies and uneven surface areas. Use your charts and these visual clues to keep tabs on how deep you’re getting.

Operate Your Boat Responsibly

Whenever you’re operating any form of transportation, be it a car or a boat, you need to do so responsibly while remaining focused. Keep your head clear by staying sober. It’s never wise to use alcohol or drugs while operating a boat. Not only will these substances slow your reflexes and make you more prone to take undue risks, but alcohol reduces blood flow to your extremities, making you more susceptible to hypothermia should you fall overboard.

Give other boats a wide berth in the water, signalling with your horn as you approach any craft from behind. When passing, head to the right of other crafts. Look for swimmers in the water and any other obstacles you’ll want to avoid.

Everyone on your boat should know how to swim at least a little and should be wearing a life jacket at all times. Make sure that all passengers know where safety equipment like first aid kits are and that they do not interfere with the boat’s operation. Boating safety is easy enough to manage provided you’re alert and take the time to educate your passengers.

Now you’ve got some know-how when it comes to driving your boat through shallow water. This will help you immensely whether you’re fishing or cruising, and we’ve got boats to satisfy both these purposes, as well as many others. Visit our Miami dealership to see our full inventory of new and used boats for sale. Jet Ski of Miami also proudly serves our customers in the cities of Hialeah, Aventura, Key Largo and Key Biscayne, Florida.