It's as American as a slice of apple pie: a hot summer day and a cool body of water are a great match. Each year, hundreds of thousands of Americans hop on a boat of some type, ranging in size from small kayaks to grand yachts. While there is plenty of fun to be had on the water, when the weather turns rough, lives can be lost.

Weather: A Major Problem
Marisys, a leading marine electronics company, commissioned a survey detailing contributing factors to boating accidents, injuries and deaths. Not surprisingly, weather and hazardous waters were the second most prevalent contributing factor in accidents that lead to deaths, trailing only alcohol. According to Marisys, weather and hazardous waters were a contributing factor in over 25% of boat-related deaths in 2008.

Another number that is no surprise: 86% of those who died as a result of boating accidents in 2008 were not wearing a life jacket.

Stormy Seas
The weather can affect boaters in a vast number of deadly ways. First, wind can transform still water into a frothy, rough threat to even the sturdiest boat. Not only does wind change the complexion of the water, but it also shifts the orientation of the boat in the water, causing the boat to become unstable and, in some cases, become swamped with water or capsize.

In these stormy situations, lightning can also be a major problem. Not only can it inflict damage to the boat itself, but the electrical current within lightning can hurt the people on board the vessel. Lightning can also disrupt the boat's electronic navigational systems, leading to a wide variety of different problems.

Weather can impact freshwater boaters by adding to or taking away from the water levels in lakes, streams or rivers. During drought, the terrain of the lake changes entirely. Stumps and other hazards that are usually a safe distance below the water can become a threat. But, it's not just a lack of water than can cause boating accidents. Torrential rains and flooding can cause rivers and lakes to swell out of their banks, rapidly whisking away boats and causing major problems for canoes and kayaks.

Ahead of the Storm
Checking the forecast before a boat trip is a sound decision. For freshwater boaters, a small investment in a NOAA weather radio can serve as a line of communication with forecasters who are constantly monitoring local weather conditions. On the open seas, satellite-based weather radios provide a similar link to a fresh supply of weather information. Finally, life jackets can serve as an insurance policy against deadly water conditions.

Goldberg & Osborne, a personal injury law firm, has provided this article for informational purposes only, written by an independent author, and has not reviewed or edited this article and is not responsible for its content or accuracy.