Rob,

Good on you!  Your recommendations were spot on ... I never thought to  write
to NOAA.  I just sit and smolder with pen poised trying to capture  the
relevant info frequently being frustrated the first time and facing the  agonizing
wait for the repeat.

Terry &  Christine Smith
M/V "Fiddler's Green"

Great  Harbour 37
currently Hilton Head Island, SC

Since I'm most often out of cell phone always out of internet access up
the BC and SE AK coast, I have no alternative but the VHF radio for
weather forecasts.  Seems to me that BC's weather radio is very well
done, especially as you get further north away from population centers.
Considerably more useful info than the AK weather.

Over the years I realized that I need to know what's happening and
what's forecast in multiple locations, but often can't remember it all
or get it mixed up as I listen, forcing me to listen again when it comes
around the next time.

My solution was to make up a form on which to take notes, with the
various geographic areas listed, and columns for 24hr forecast, outlook,
etc preprinted so I can easily and quickly write down only the variable
information.  Each year before I go I check the forecast on the web, to
see if they've changed the areas they report, or the order in which they
report them, and then update the form if necessary.

If anyone would like a copy of this form, or the one I made for SE AK,
I'd be happy to send it.

Richard Cook
New Moon - Bounty 257

Richard wrote:

Since I'm most often out of cell phone always out of internet access up
the BC and SE AK coast, I have no alternative but the VHF radio for
weather forecasts.  Seems to me that BC's weather radio is very well
done, especially as you get further north away from population centers.
Considerably more useful info than the AK weather.

...
...

Reply:

Environment Canada weather reports on VHF are good but they are very short
term: 48 hours.  You can have a storm coming in 49 hours and they will not
report it!  Also, they tend to be a little alarmist.  Sure, I would rather
have the worst case scenario but constantly "crying wolf" can be dangerous
too.  On the plus side, it is terrific how many locations on the Inside
Passage they report current conditions for.  We used to sing the praises of
the Wagoner Guide Book for publishing a map with the locations of the
weather reporting stations until we found out that the map can be found in a
free Environment Canada pamphlet.

Alaska NOAA weather radio suffers due to opposite reasons.  No one believes
the 5 day forecasts.  The reporting stations are far apart except Juneau
which has 4 or 5.  It was only this last year that we finally learned where
the "Juneau Rock Dump" is located - only blocks from another station "Juneau
Federal Building."

We have learned to supplement all of the VHF reports with weather faxes via
either ham radio, email or wifi.  Neither of us are meteorologists, and do
not want to be, but after years of staring at them they start to make sense
in relation to what is happening and what is predicted.

This past summer, several folks cruising the Inside Passage were using
www.Bouyweather.com.  This turns out to be a good predictor of the open
water stretches such as Queen Charlotte and Dixon Entrance.  Limited access
is free and the full blown subscription is minimal.  We never did sign up
but a friend was forwarding us emails of the reports and they turned out to
be pretty darn good.

Safe Travels.

Eric Thoman
Abyssinia
www.kayaktransport.com

Eric makes a good point about "staring at it long enuf and it makes sense"

My S.O. and I are member of the local power squadron. This past year they offered Wx for the mariner and we were fortunate enuf to have one of the local meteorologist boaters teach it. When taken through the parts/pieces of the Wx station models and fronts , etc....in a step by step fashion we gained confidence in our understanding of how the Weather Guessers come to their conclusions. This one instructor applied it to boating in a great way too. Knowing about veering vs backing wind shifts, rise/fall of baro, short vs long period swells was all very interesting and useful. Highly recommend taking this or a similar course.

One of the supplementary books they used to teach the course is put out by USA Today. Full of color pics, graphs, cloud formations, etc...it is available to the public.
I have it down on the boat but will get an ISBN off it and post a follow up....

Lt/C Joel Wilkins (P)
Clearwater Power Squadron
Find Great Deals on Holiday Gifts at Yahoo! Shopping

I wrote:

This past summer, several folks cruising the Inside Passage were using
www.Bouyweather.com.

Reply:

Very sorry.  The correct url is: http://buoyweather.com/

Safe Spelling.

Eric Thoman
Abyssinia

The first url I gave was dead wrong.  I am really sorry because it looks
like a marine weather site.  The second url is correct (
http://buoyweather.com/) but it is the home page and it takes a little time
to find your way around this website.

If you want to jump right in, click on:
http://buoyweather.com/wxnav.jsp?region=BC&program=Maps.  If you click on
one of the two Central Dixon Entrance virtual buoys (just below the
Alaska/Can border and above the "Prince" in "Prince Rupert") you will see a
seas and swell prediction for Dec. 10 at 5pm to be 26 feet with a period of
15 seconds.  That is a "No Go" for us!!!

Safe Surfin'

Eric Thoman
Abyssinia