What wind speeds up to 38 mph mean for mariners: the Small Craft Advisory you should heed

Small Craft Advisory: What 38 mph winds mean for you on the water

If you’ve ever stood on a dock at dawn and watched the water wake up with a brisk bite, you know the sea isn’t a friendly roommate every day. Sometimes it’s a tease, and other times it’s a warning. When winds hit up to about 38 mph, the forecast isn’t telling you to bring out the big guns—it’s telling you to slow down, check gear, and think twice before heading out in a small craft. That warning is called a Small Craft Advisory, and it exists for a simple, crucial reason: small boats don’t handle rough seas and gusty winds the way larger ships do.

Let me explain what a Small Craft Advisory is and why it matters. In the world of marine weather, warnings and advisories come in different flavors, each aimed at boats of different sizes and the kinds of conditions they’re built to endure. A Small Craft Advisory (SCA) is specifically geared toward smaller vessels—think dinghies, open sailboats, inflatables, fishing boats, small powerboats, kayaks, and canoes. Large ships and sturdy commercial craft aren’t exempt from weather hazards, but they aren’t the primary focus of an SCA. The idea is simple: when wind or seas reach levels that can make handling a small boat risky, authorities issue the advisory so mariners can adjust plans, not push through and pay the price.

Why wind speeds up to 38 mph get singled out

The threshold of roughly 38 mph isn’t magic, but it’s a practical line. At that pace, wind-driven waves can become choppy in ways that small craft aren’t designed to manage consistently. The spray and gusts can catch helms and lines off guard, tipping boats more easily, reducing maneuverability, and increasing the risk of capsizing or taking on water in a hurry. It’s not about fear-mongering; it’s about giving skippers, crew, and families a heads-up so they can choose safety over bravado.

Think of it like weather signals you’d recognize on land. A Small Craft Advisory is the water world’s version of a caution light—the kind you heed because your boat is smaller and your options narrower. The same wind that you might shrug off in a large trawler could behave quite differently in a small sailboat or a dinghy with a light hull. The advisory is a reminder to slow down, tack more conservatively, and keep a tighter rein on loose gear, anchors, and passengers.

How the Small Craft Advisory fits with other warnings

To keep things straight, it helps to know how an SCA sits next to other notices you might see in the forecast. Here’s a quick, practical comparison:

• Severe weather: This covers more extreme conditions like strong winds, thunderstorms, or tornadoes. It’s a broader alert about weather that can affect a wide area and a wide range of vessels.

• Hurricane warnings: These are targeted at very large, dangerous storms with sustained winds and dangerous seas. They demand sheltering in place or rapid, decisive action to a harbor or safe port.

• Flood warnings or flood watches: These focus on rising water levels and the risk of inundation on shorelines, dikes, and low-lying harbors. They’re not about the wind at sea as much as about water coming inland.

An SCA sits in the middle: it’s not a sky-is-falling alert, but it’s not a walk-in-the-park forecast either. It’s the signal that small boats should consider staying in port or limiting time on the water until conditions improve.

What to do when you see an advisory

If the forecast shows winds around 30–38 mph or you actually hear about an SCA for your area, here’s a practical mindset and a few steps you can take:

• Reassess the boat you’re on. How does it handle those wind and sea conditions? If you’re on a small, light boat with a shallow hull, reduce sail area or revert to a motor-only plan. If you’re unsure, it’s perfectly reasonable to stand down.

• Check your safety gear. Put on life jackets, verify that signaling devices, VHF radios, and bilge pumps are ready to work. In rough seas, you don’t want to be scrambling for gear you forgot to service.

• Secure loose items. Lines, anchors, fenders, and piles of gear on deck can become hazards in gusty winds and heavier chop. Tidy up, stow what you can, and double-knot those lines.

• Plan a conservative route. Favor protected waters, shorter legs, and predictable, well-known harbors. If your course would take you near exposed shores, think about finding a sheltered approach or delaying.

• Communicate with someone on shore. Let a friend, family member, or your skipper know your plan and expected return. A quick check-in can be the difference if a capsize becomes a serious possibility.

• Monitor updates. Weather can shift fast. Keep an eye on NOAA/NWS forecasts, your local marine forecast, and live weather apps. If conditions deteriorate, be prepared to head back or to a safe harbor.

• Have a contingency. Always have a plan B. If you’re out and wind builds, know where you can shelter, where the nearest marina or harbor is, and how you’ll navigate in lower light or rough seas.

A practical seamanship nudge: what to do on deck

In real-world salty air, a Small Craft Advisory isn’t just a weather line you watch on a screen—it’s a call to adjust your hands-on approach. Here are a few concrete moves skippers and crews tend to rely on:

• Reduce sail. If you’re sailing, reef early and reduce sail area to maintain control. The goal isn’t speed; it’s steady steering and manageable load on the rudder and rig.

• Slow your pace. In a small craft, momentum is your ally and your enemy in rough air. Slower speeds mean more stability, less water over the bow, and a longer response window if you need to correct course.

• Stay in formation with others. If you’re in a small group, keep a safe distance to prevent collisions in gusts and spray. A little spacing now beats a tense close-quarters situation later.

• Watch for rogue gusts. Gusts can pop up suddenly, catching you off guard. Easy, anticipatory steering helps prevent scary slides.

• Check the forecast again before leaving harbor. If the plan was to ride out a mild chop, confirm that the wind trend hasn’t shifted to something more aggressive.

A few vivid reminders to keep on your radar

• Small boats aren’t “mini ships.” They’re designed for speed and agility, not the same stability and protection you’d find in a larger craft. The safety margin is smaller, so the margin for error is smaller too.

• Weather is a partner, not a rival. It’s information you can use to stay ahead of risk, not something to fear into silence. The more you know, the better your choices will be.

• Your crew is part of the plan. If you’re out with others, keep everyone on the same page. A quick check-in or a simple line like “we’re slowing down; we’ll assess again in 20 minutes” helps everyone stay calm and prepared.

A small, memorable framework you can carry

Here’s a lightweight way to recall the essentials when wind starts to bite:

• Check your boat’s capability: is it a small craft, and does the wind push beyond what you’re comfortable with?

• Decide to proceed cautiously or stay put: your safety and the mission’s success both depend on it.

• Secure, then monitor: secure the gear, then watch the forecast and adjust as needed.

Real-world flavor and a gentle tangent

If you’ve ever watched a harbor wake from a sheltered cove, you know how water seems to have a mood of its own. In a calm morning, boats glide without fuss; when a gust hits, lines creak, and a harmless ripple turns into a white-topped wave. That’s the moment a Small Craft Advisory becomes more than a line on a chart—it’s a reminder that the sea has a voice, and it speaks most clearly when you’re listening closely, ready to respond.

The practical takeaway for anyone who spends time on the water is straightforward: respect the warning. A small craft on a breezy day isn’t a dare. It’s a choice to keep everyone aboard safe. The wind doesn’t discriminate, and neither should preparation. Staying near shore, having a solid plan, and knowing when to call it a day keeps adventures enjoyable rather than hazardous.

Closing thoughts

Winds up to 38 mph don’t announce a storm the way a hurricane does, but they do shift the balance. The Small Craft Advisory is a helpful nudge to slow down, reassess, and choose safety. When your boat is smaller, your margin for error shrinks—and that’s exactly why these advisories exist: so sailors, ferries, anglers, and explorers can keep their friends and families out of harm’s way.

So next time the forecast suggests a breeze around that mark, ask yourself a simple question: is today the day to venture out or the day to watch from shore? If the answer leans toward staying in, you’ll still be there tomorrow to tell the tale—maybe with a better-devised plan, a well-tied knot, and a smile that says you chose wisely. After all, the water isn’t going anywhere, and a thoughtful approach today makes for safer, more confident voyages tomorrow.