Find Your Forecast

When it comes to where you get your weather report, everyone seems to have a “go-to” source. Be it from an app, a Web site, or another source, an accurate forecast is key to enjoying time on the water. We asked members of our Reader Boat-Test Panel—active boaters all—where they went for weather information. Here’s a bit of what they had to say.

“I listen to the National Weather Service on the VHF, and also watch network weather reports. Many seasoned boaters compare what they see on TV to what they’ve actually experienced, and after years (or decades) can usually guess better than most meteorologists what will happen. I also use an app on my iPhone called “Hi-Def Radar” that costs a whopping $1.99.”

— J. J. Quinn, 46-foot Ocean Yacht Sportfish

“Weather should not be a guessing game—you cannot have enough information. I start my forecast with www.weather.gov for the area that I will be cruising or fishing. I have found that the buoys are fairly accurate with wind speed, wave height, surface temperature, and all that. I also use my VHF to receive and send forecasts and sea conditions to other boaters. I cross-reference with two phone apps—Marine Weather by Accuweather .com and the NOAA Weather app.”

— Chris Pace, 23-foot Wellcraft

“I use several different weather apps and services when cruising. While much of our cruising is within cell-phone range, plenty of it is not. When offshore, my go-to is the Sirius weather subscription we have set up on our pair of Raymarine e120s, the forecast is right in your face so your situational awareness is always on top of the weather! I also really like the RadarCast app and the WeatherUnderground app as backups when I’m within cell range.

— Scott Reas, 54-foot Hatteras Convertible