JoLin
Vice Admiral
- Joined
- Aug 18, 2007
- Messages
- 5,146
Been boating now for about 9 years. Anytime I ever saw fog rolling in I always managed to beat it home. Not today. Rolled in thick and fast, and before I knew it we were socked in at our favorite weekend anchorage. Visibility only about 200 feet at most. The smart move might have been to wait it out, but it was already late afternoon, it didn't show signs of abating, and I had no desire to be caught out after dark, besides. Had we been better equipped, I would have stayed out overnight if necessary. But, the boat was only launched on Thursday and we really weren't set up for it. No excuses. We should have been better prepared to stay put.
Low speed (just above idle), a couple blasts on the horn every minute or so, and my GPS routing got us back safely in about 90 minutes. It wasn't fun, but it was manageable. As I told Linda on the way back, THIS is why I have GPS routes (and paper charts as backup) plotted for even our shortest trips. Amazingly, on the way back I was passed TWICE by boats on full plane. I can only assume they were either completely spooked, or complete morons.
Anyway, a few words to the wise. This type of situation is precisely why you need to keep your signaling devices and nav lights in good working order, you have your routes plotted either electronically or on paper (or both), and you keep your cool. You just have to be mentally prepared for a long, slow, stressful ride home.
My .02
Low speed (just above idle), a couple blasts on the horn every minute or so, and my GPS routing got us back safely in about 90 minutes. It wasn't fun, but it was manageable. As I told Linda on the way back, THIS is why I have GPS routes (and paper charts as backup) plotted for even our shortest trips. Amazingly, on the way back I was passed TWICE by boats on full plane. I can only assume they were either completely spooked, or complete morons.
Anyway, a few words to the wise. This type of situation is precisely why you need to keep your signaling devices and nav lights in good working order, you have your routes plotted either electronically or on paper (or both), and you keep your cool. You just have to be mentally prepared for a long, slow, stressful ride home.
My .02
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