OzOne wrote:
On Tue, 20 Jan 2004 03:36:56 GMT, otnmbrd
scribbled thusly:



Says who?


Says me!

G Which does not necessarily make it an absolute.


I don't necessarily agree that the "fiberglass" boat is the
main culprit. When I've normally been apt to miss a fiberglass boat, it
was due to sea conditions, the range scale I was concentrating on, sea
return, rain .... in other words a combination of problems/conditions,
not just the construction.


Yep, making steaming on at 25kts dangerous in poor viz

From your perspective I don't doubt you believe this. From mine, it
depends on conditions and equipment.
Where I am, I have no problem picking up all sizes and construction
types in most conditions where fog is present ..... this includes jet
skies (sp?) and kayaks.


I've also seen conditions, not only on ships, but, probably more so on
smaller boats, where a pure fiberglass boat, was visible on all ranges
at good distances.


Uh huh, relatively calm and flat.

Not always


Never expect to be seen ....be happy when you are.


Yep, survival requires that you treat all ships as being a threat.
I've gybed to make sure I would stay out of harms way only to find the
ship changing course to place us directly in their path.
They had very obviously not seen us in light rain at night.

G Survival of license requires that you treat all recreational boaters
as being a threat. I've made turns to avoid some sailboat, only to have
it gybe and try to cut back across my bow .... at least there's no way
they could say they hadn't seen this 90,000 ton 900' long tanker coming
their way.

otn