Alaskan Sea-Duction
Guru
- Joined
- Jul 6, 2012
- Messages
- 8,062
- Location
- USA
- Vessel Name
- Alaskan Sea-Duction
- Vessel Make
- 1988 M/Y Camargue YachtFisher
Well this last weekend I had my first fog adventure and man was it nerve wrecking. We left St. Helens, OR as the fog appeared to be lifting. It didn’t take long to be in the thick of things. Couldn’t see 10 feet in front of the bow. I attempted to steer IAW the GPS and radar, but not knowing what was out there in the shipping channels made it more of a pucker factor.
Lessons learned:
1. I will be getting AIS next month at the boat show.
2. Steering by GPS or radar is at best difficult. Should have plotted a course on the GPS and stuck to it. Should have increased radar range to at least a mile on the river. I was running ½ mile.
3. Stay out of the shipping channel! I actually had two ships making their way up the creek and all we could hear was their horn. I did see them on radar later and we were out of the shipping channel.
4. Slowing downed helped.
5. Second set of eyes was a good thing and the help from the Admiral helped me gain some confidence back.
6. Could have sat at the dock longer. Not got in a hurry.
7. Crap I forgot about the dredge work going on down river how the hell am I going to get around the pipes????
The fog bank was about 7 miles in length so we ended up in nice blue skies and no issues down river. I will be practicing more on a clear day. I am glad we went through this ordeal as it proved to me I and the admiral have to work as a team and gain more experience.
Anyone want to share thier first time?
Lessons learned:
1. I will be getting AIS next month at the boat show.
2. Steering by GPS or radar is at best difficult. Should have plotted a course on the GPS and stuck to it. Should have increased radar range to at least a mile on the river. I was running ½ mile.
3. Stay out of the shipping channel! I actually had two ships making their way up the creek and all we could hear was their horn. I did see them on radar later and we were out of the shipping channel.
4. Slowing downed helped.
5. Second set of eyes was a good thing and the help from the Admiral helped me gain some confidence back.
6. Could have sat at the dock longer. Not got in a hurry.
7. Crap I forgot about the dredge work going on down river how the hell am I going to get around the pipes????
The fog bank was about 7 miles in length so we ended up in nice blue skies and no issues down river. I will be practicing more on a clear day. I am glad we went through this ordeal as it proved to me I and the admiral have to work as a team and gain more experience.
Anyone want to share thier first time?