On Mon, 10 Sep 2007 18:49:14 -0400, "Eisboch" wrote:

I guess it's a matter of how much experience you have with radar to feel
comfortable. I don't mind running at night, but try to avoid heavy fog.

It does take some getting used to for all the reasons you mention.
Practive makes perfect of course, as does a really good radar with all
the electronic bells and whistles like target tracking and chart
overlay. Slow speed is your friend, along with sounding the horn when
near radar targets, and keeping a really sharp lookout.

At night you still have the visual inputs of shoreline landmarks, boat/ship
lights, stars, moonshine, etc. For me, heavy fog (meaning less than a
quarter mile visibility) deletes all lights and distorts the origin of
sound. Although the radar works, I still get a bit uncomfortable in it.
I know other people aren't bothered at all, but it's still something I can't
get used to and feel 100 percent confident in.