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Radar - attitude changes
On Wed, 30 Sep 2009 12:04:33 -0700, "Capt. JG"
wrote: wrote in message .. . On Wed, 30 Sep 2009 10:12:33 -0700, "Capt. JG" wrote: wrote in message ... On Tue, 29 Sep 2009 23:47:22 -0700, "Capt. JG" wrote: "Roger Long" wrote in message ... On Sep 28, 7:06 pm, Jeff wrote: I've long been a fan of radar and feel its required to cruise Maine, and usefuOne problem now is that while in the "old days" (before low cost radar and loran/gps) the only fools out in the pea soup were being ultra cautious, tooting horns, going slow etc, nowadays every rich bozo thinks he can run his sportfish at 30 knots because the radar and GPS will keep him safe. Almost every year I've had a close call, the worst case happening a mile off of Cape Elizabeth. If you sail in fog, radar is needed now for defense. An excellent point and a major factor in my decision to install radar that I didn't mention. Because of this factor, I was finding the fog routes I considered acceptably safe much more restricted when I returned to sailing in the post GPS world. Do you have an AIS receiver? That's something I've been thinking about getting. For me, the issue is making sure we get out of the way as necessary. I don't think transmitting would make much diff in the bay, since the really big stuff isn't going to be changing course. When sailing in poor visibility, the greatest danger seems to be from small recreational power boats zipping around in thick fog as if visibility was 10 miles. The commercial boats do a pretty good job of announcing their postion heading and speed, as well as sounding the appropriate signals. I do the same. Listening intently for even the slightest noises is probably as important as RADAR, although not a substitute. You need to be alert in every way at your disposal. Otherwise, you should stay in port. During the week when most of the center console captains are at their day jobs, things are a lot safer, although you can never let your guard down. We also wear PFD's and clip on in low visibility, no matter how calm conditions might be. Too many stories of people being thrown overboard and killed in collisions. I certainly agree that all tools available should be used. I find lots of people with their head stuck in their gadget (radar, gps, ais, whatever) rather than actually looking around and listening. I don't think you can blame that on the equipment. I don't and I didn't. I do offer some blame to those marketing the equipment, since they want people to "rely" on their stuff, when one should be relying on oneself. Huh? You think there is some sort of conspiracy to make people not pay attention when sailing? I rely on my navigation equipment the same way I rely on my hull not to let the water in. That's what it is there for. |
#2
posted to rec.boats.cruising
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Radar - attitude changes
wrote in message
... On Wed, 30 Sep 2009 12:04:33 -0700, "Capt. JG" wrote: wrote in message . .. On Wed, 30 Sep 2009 10:12:33 -0700, "Capt. JG" wrote: wrote in message m... On Tue, 29 Sep 2009 23:47:22 -0700, "Capt. JG" wrote: "Roger Long" wrote in message ... On Sep 28, 7:06 pm, Jeff wrote: I've long been a fan of radar and feel its required to cruise Maine, and usefuOne problem now is that while in the "old days" (before low cost radar and loran/gps) the only fools out in the pea soup were being ultra cautious, tooting horns, going slow etc, nowadays every rich bozo thinks he can run his sportfish at 30 knots because the radar and GPS will keep him safe. Almost every year I've had a close call, the worst case happening a mile off of Cape Elizabeth. If you sail in fog, radar is needed now for defense. An excellent point and a major factor in my decision to install radar that I didn't mention. Because of this factor, I was finding the fog routes I considered acceptably safe much more restricted when I returned to sailing in the post GPS world. Do you have an AIS receiver? That's something I've been thinking about getting. For me, the issue is making sure we get out of the way as necessary. I don't think transmitting would make much diff in the bay, since the really big stuff isn't going to be changing course. When sailing in poor visibility, the greatest danger seems to be from small recreational power boats zipping around in thick fog as if visibility was 10 miles. The commercial boats do a pretty good job of announcing their postion heading and speed, as well as sounding the appropriate signals. I do the same. Listening intently for even the slightest noises is probably as important as RADAR, although not a substitute. You need to be alert in every way at your disposal. Otherwise, you should stay in port. During the week when most of the center console captains are at their day jobs, things are a lot safer, although you can never let your guard down. We also wear PFD's and clip on in low visibility, no matter how calm conditions might be. Too many stories of people being thrown overboard and killed in collisions. I certainly agree that all tools available should be used. I find lots of people with their head stuck in their gadget (radar, gps, ais, whatever) rather than actually looking around and listening. I don't think you can blame that on the equipment. I don't and I didn't. I do offer some blame to those marketing the equipment, since they want people to "rely" on their stuff, when one should be relying on oneself. Huh? You think there is some sort of conspiracy to make people not pay attention when sailing? I rely on my navigation equipment the same way I rely on my hull not to let the water in. That's what it is there for. I think they're trying to sell their wares. I'm assuming you check your seacocks occasionally. Not to many boat manufacturers promote that when selling the hull. -- "j" ganz @@ www.sailnow.com |
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