"Peter Wiley" wrote in message
. ..
In article , Donal
wrote:

"Peter Wiley" wrote in message
. ..
In article , Donal
wrote:



I disagree with the proposition that a Radar watch(at 25 kts) can be
considered " an effective lookout".

I'd tend to agree with you. Mind you, radar can be *very* good. We
have
2 on our icebreaker and I've steered through heavy sea ice using the
radar image to see where the leads are. Lotta fun and it doesn't
really
matter if you turn a little wide or tight since it's OK to crunch over
stuff in the way.

That situation seems quite different to doing the same thing in a busy
waterway.

I can see a chunk of ice the size of a kayak or smaller on the radar.
Ice doesn't carry radar reflectors and is only half a metre or less
above the surface. It is possible.

Anyway, if damn fools are considered as worth the trouble of saving,
then running at 25 knots on radar only in heavy fog isn't prudent.
Personally, I wouldn't regard anyone stupid enough to go out onto a
busy waterway, in heavy fog, sans lights, radar reflector, radar,
sound
signals, radio and in a hull that is a poor radar reflector as worth
saving. Anyone that stupid is a hazard to navigation and we're all
better off without them.

I don't really disagree with you.

I'm simply saying that I don't think that travelling in a busy waterway
at
25 kts using radar alone is semsible - in any state of visibility.

With that I agree, but it depends on the circumstances. People by &
large can ride bicycles on most roads here in Australia, and do, mixing
with traffic weighing 100X as much and moving 4X as fast. I regard this
as stupid behaviour and give them as much room as possible, but I'm not
going to travel at bicycle speeds just on the off-chance that they
might wander in front of me. Not doing stupid manoeuvres is their
responsibility, mine is to drive predictably so they can figure out
where I'm going to be. I don't see the situation on water as all that
different *if* we're talking about a busy commercial waterway. You can
argue Colregs & road rules all you like and courts may or may not
decide certain actions were imprudent but *none* of that will
invalidate the laws of kinetic energy and conservation of momentum. I
rode motorcycles for years and I can assure you that following the
rules is poor consolation when you're lying in a hospital bed after an
idiot car driver didn't.

Once again, I don't disagree.

A Google will show that I never expect the other boat to know the Regs, be
sober, or to even be in command of his/her vessel.

I run a "dry" boat, but I don't agree with legistlation about alcohol for
pleasure boat sailors.

I believe in the "freedom of the seas".


I also believe that doing 25kts in a busy waterway, relying on a radar as
your only lookout, is stupid.



Regards


Donal
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