Fiberglass aint all that on radar images either. Absent metal a lot of boats won't show up. Add some sea clutter if there's chop and good bye Boster Whaler Montauk, radar or no radar. And as some one already stated many people don't know how to run their radar anyway.
Been out in pea soup, sometimes by misfortune. Some times by job assignment on the tow boat.
One of the funniest stories was on a fogged out day up by Hoffman, on way back heard guy on Channel 16 looking for gas. Found him using the radio Direction Finder. He was lost. He had no GPS/Loran. No compass. He needed gas because he had no idea where he was.
I gave him gas and he wanted me to lead him back to Sewaren ramp. No thanks, I'm going back to Shrewsbury River to the south. Lead him to the nearest Reach Channel buoy. I told hm to run buoy to buoy and the #'s go up. In the high 50's is Ward Point. He should have enough gas to run an hour or so and sound your horn every minute or two. And keep your ears open.
I get back to Shrewsbury #1 by the SH Bug Light and its still 100' vis - a guy in a large 36' needed to go back to Rumson Country Club in the Shrewsbury River around #32 can. Lead him back to the #32 can and he had to follow the stick channel in. Suggested he zig zag and watch his depth ( boat had a 30" draft). He made it.
FOG SIGNALS
Was the anchored guy ringing the bell every minute like he's supposed to? I doubt it. Probably did not even have a bell. Or the drifters sound the double fog signal for that matter? People go out ill-equiped and clueless. Even if they sound the proper signals, few even know what it means anyway.
Capt. Frank
