Sailing in the Fog

[codmander]

you need all your tools for the stinkin fog if theres a breeze sail dont motor usein an ol u boat trick you can hear father than see

[orthomartin]

Idiens, you mentioned use of FLS earlier in this post. What FLS do you have and are you happy with it? I considered an Echopilot but it looked like the hull faring had to stick down about 3-4"

[Idiens]

Originally Posted by orthomartin

Idiens, you mentioned use of FLS earlier in this post. What FLS do you have and are you happy with it? I considered an Echopilot but it looked like the hull faring had to stick down about 3-4"

I've been away for Christmas. I have an Echopilot FLS Gold with the standard transponder. It's good for creeping along into moorings, or in fog, but worrying at speed, as it sees the underside of some waves and there's not much time to decide if its a wave underside or a submerged nasty. The transponder does have to stick out below the hull, so it can be vulnerable to lifting slings, but a blank plug is provided with the advice to withdraw the transponder before lifting. I would now advise the more expensive "professional" transponder, as I think it looks tougher and probably provides a little more range.

[tjaldur]

Originally Posted by ianrad

As a novice boater, does anyone have a recommendation as to which radar reflector to get Cheers

A number of radar-reflectors were tested in a magazine some years ago. I don't remember the names of the reflectors. But I do remember that a plastic-bag filled with crushed bear-cans got the second best result.

[merttan]

I don't have radar or a mounted gps on my 22 footer yet I keep getting caught in fog now and then... My first line of defense is keeping a good track on the charts... Then I listen for buoy bells and boat horns then sound my horn on required timing...
The times I've got caught on heavy fog on unfamiliar areas, I circle around a buoy in a tight circle, thinking (hoping will be more appropriate) that the bigger boats would avoid passing too close to the buoy…

On the worst case scenario, I try to find a mooring or anchorage area near by to stop and wait until the fog is lifted…

[sailingdog]

Merttan-

You're probably right, in that most boats will give a buoy a bit more room in fog. Hitting it would suck.