lost in a fog...

mellowyellow

Vice Admiral
Joined
Jun 8, 2002
Messages
5,327
was on lake Ontario Sunday as a huge fog bank<br />rolled in... took a good compass reading as it<br />was approaching. close to shore on purpose cuz<br />weather forcast was minimal at best.<br />so here I am 1/4 mi. from shore in total fog,<br />slowly drifting on an extremely calm BIG lake.<br />when outa the blue this big 30" cruiser comes<br />into sight. she sees us, then starts to come<br />aside.<br />mind you I'm in a 16' open bow...<br />she smiles and asks: "which way to shore and how<br />far is the marina, my fishfinder died"<br />she had no compass aboard :eek: <br />how can you not have a compass on big water???<br />M.Y.
 

sony2001

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Mar 17, 2001
Messages
607
Re: lost in a fog...

With a GPS it would have taken you back to your mooring. All that is required is that you can see your GPS in the fog. :cool:
 

NOSLEEP

Commander
Joined
Oct 30, 2002
Messages
2,442
Re: lost in a fog...

I dont understand why anyone would venture out on<br />the water or in the bush without a compass. We <br />should always be prepared for the unexpected.
 

bobber head

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Nov 1, 2002
Messages
116
Re: lost in a fog...

Tuesday morning, last week, we're on Beaver lake Ar. before dawn, putting to our planned fishing hole of the morning. <br />Heavy fog, maybe 15' visability. Our first time out in fog. Kinda fun, kinda nerve wracking, kinda stupid.<br /><br />I do have the air horn close by in case we hear some yahoo barring down on us, but no compass.<br /><br />I notice that my girlfriend keeps listing and point her back easternly, according to wind direction back on shore, before stepping to the back to rig up the rods.<br /><br />Shortly she calls out, "Land ho" and I think no way, should have taken another 10 minutes to get there.<br /><br />It's the tiny island. I think "Hmmm" we must have been putting much faster then I had thought, point out the new heading, and go back to rigging at a quicker pace.<br /><br />An hour later, dumb luck, we had putted 4 miles striaght north, up the middle of the longest cove possible, without seeing either shore, before there was light to pin point our location.<br /><br />We had only wanted to go about 1 mile west.<br /><br />We needed a new fish finder anyway...so now a model with GPS is on the list.<br /><br />We did hear one yahoo running the lake earlier that morning and later met him out drifting. A stripper guide. Said,"...with GPS it's no sweat.". The 4 older guys in back discribed the run as "not too comforting".<br /><br />I had to ponder the guide who scares the willies out of his paying customers. Bobberhead.<br /><br />We have no plans for big lakes, compass and GPS or not.
 

Cobotr

Seaman
Joined
Mar 26, 2003
Messages
69
Re: lost in a fog...

A gps may tell you that you are headed straight at an island or not. But it won't tell the pilot that there is a boat out there in the fog or darkness.
 

kdmiller8251

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jun 7, 2002
Messages
495
Re: lost in a fog...

Cobotr:<br /><br />Exactly right, GPS, compass or not.... All thats great but it wont due a bit of good to tell ya where the other boats are out there until your run up on one.<br /><br />Tallman
 
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