Terms
By using Helm you agree to these terms. Please read the safety disclaimer first — it is the most important part.
Advisory estimates — not for navigation.
Helm's forecasts are estimates, not a substitute for official National Weather Service or NOAA forecasts, and are not a navigational aid. Conditions on the Chesapeake change rapidly. Verify against official sources before you leave the dock, and again while you are out. The captain is solely responsible for the decision to depart and for the safety of the vessel and everyone aboard.
What Helm is
Helm reports the sea state — wave height, whether the water is wind sea or swell, and the wind's surface signature — derived per water and per hour from published marine physics and public data from the National Weather Service, NOAA, and NDBC. It describes the water; it does not tell you whether your particular boat and crew should go.
For the specific conditions under which the forecast is least reliable, see Safety and limits.
Use of the service
Use Helm for your own recreational boating decisions. Don't misuse it — no attempts to break, overload, or gain unauthorized access to the service, and no scraping or reselling of its data.
If you create an account, you're responsible for keeping your login secure and for activity under it. Provide accurate information and keep it current.
No warranty
Helm is provided "as is," without warranties of any kind. We don't warrant that the forecast will be accurate, complete, or available without interruption. It is beta software and it will change.
Limitation of liability
To the fullest extent allowed by law, Helm and its makers are not liable for any loss, injury, or damage arising from your use of the service or from any decision to depart, remain out, or return. The decision to go on the water, and the consequences of that decision, are yours.
Changes and contact
Helm is in beta and these terms may change. Continued use after a change means you accept the updated terms. Questions? Get in touch.
See also our Privacy policy and Safety and limits.