"Larry W4CSC" wrote in message

Ah, but you have another problem in the fog. The higher the antenna, the
further away the target will disappear as the target approaches the boat!
You won't see the bouy 8 miles away with the antenna down low, but you
WILL
see the bouy in the fog a LOT closer to the boat as you, hopefully, pass
it.

Traveling at Mach 1, I'd understand having more range. But, traveling at
6
knots I'd rather see that target two boatlengths off the port bow with a
lower-down antenna....wouldn't you?

I have to wonder how serious a problem this really is.
For instance, if I can run between two buoys spaced 300' with a scanner
that's over 100' in the air and watch them pass down my side, how much
difference can there be with a small boat and a scanner placed 30' up,
unless you are totally crowding the buoy to one side (not good).
Also, by that point, if you lose sight of the buoy, you should have all
ready changed your concentration to some new point or reference, ahead.

otn