Amy Collins
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Aug 08/03) - There were some strong winds on Great Slave Lake the past two weekends.

Aside from three boats who ran out of gas in Moose Bay and one boater who went adrift on Yellowknife Bay, no canoeists or boaters ran into any serious problems, at least "none that had been reported," said Jack Kruger, coastguard auxiliary member.

When a warm front meets a cold front, that results in lightning strikes and gusts of wind.

"It's normal during a hot summer (but) it's something to be aware of."

When boaters see weather patterns changing, the best idea would be to head to shore or take evasive action.

"Sailboaters should pull their sails down when storm clouds approach," he said.

Boaters can also seek shelter in a cove during a storm, Kruger said.

However, the best plan is to know what the weather will be like before heading out on the water.

Kruger said the Yellowknife weather office has continuous updates.

"Their information is pretty comprehensive."

Also, by listening to Channel 16 on the marine VH6 radio or the Coastguard MCTS radio, water lovers can keep up to date on changing weather.

To ensure your safety on the water, Stephen Sherburne, a boating safety officer, recommends making a pre-departure checklist.

The list should remind boaters to have all the necessary safety equipment and know how to use it. This includes an extra oar and a small tool kit.

"Rope is especially beneficial," Sherburne said. It can be used to tie two boats together.

Boating safely also means "being able to recognize boat distress signals," he said.

Boaters should know how to navigate their vessel when others are around.

In other words, knowing the rules of the 'waterways.'

Of course, the most important safety gear is the life jacket.

"Having it is great. Wearing it will really make a difference."

The life jacket guarantees a person will roll over onto their back if unconscious in the water, while a personal floatation device does not.

Sherburne suggests putting a pealess whistle on your life jacket so you can call for help if a boater is thrown overboard.

The whistle reaches high decibels and can be heard over more than a kilometre.