Donal wrote:
"otnmbrd" wrote in message
hlink.net...


Joe wrote:

I'm not a proponent of total immersion in the radar hood, though at
times it's necessary. I have always preferred to pull back, at times and
rest my eyes and attention .... sometimes, you might be able to see more
than you expect .... it's a total awareness thingy.


Thats OK at night or offshore, but not a good ideal in the day or
river....
It's a night vision issue. Fof blindness is somewhat like snow
blindness

Understand what you are referring to, but we'll have to agree to
disagree on this.
In many if not most cases, now, the "daylight" screens tend to solve
this problem. The greater problem applies to normal visual lookouts who
are staring/concentrating while scanning the horizon, as well as those
staring/concentrating on the radar screen ..... they tend to develop a
narrowed response to the overall picture, which causes them to miss some
things and I have frequently been surprised that when I look away, then
look back, that I pick up something that I was missing before .... G
not the easiest thing to explain.


It may not be easy to explain, but I think that you are describing the same
thing that I was referring to, when I said that "14 hours peering into the
fog" was very tiring.

5 minutes leaves you wondering if your eyes are working properly.

I've now got radar.

Not really, though your point is true. In daylight, when you are looking
visually into the fog, for a period, then stick your head back into a
radar hood, you are basically blind until your eyes adjust.
Also, though, for those on lookout (visually), I prefer to see someone
who to the casual observer, may appear to be looking at random in
different directions. In truth, they tend to spot things more quickly
and often, then the person staring on a slow arc over the horizon.


If you can not see your bow, whats he going to see or prevent at
20kts?

G One never knows for certain. Again, I'm not necessarily advocating a
constant visual lookout,


The CollRegs *do* advocate a constant visual lookout. Joe thinks it is a
waste of time. Jeff isn't sure what he thinks. I wonder what JohnE thinks?

.....EG As are we. We are just splitting that lookout between visual
out the window or just plain outside, and radar. Not all boats/ ships
can work effectively/realistically/ safely under a "purest" guidelines
for the rules.


otn