Limited Visibility
Summer weather has finally arrived with sunny skies and warm temperatures most of the time. Unfortunately, every now and then, things change quickly and thick fog moves in, blocking the sun’s rays, reducing both the temperature and visibility, simultaneously. Boaters, accustomed to steering mostly by line of sight are quickly cast into a potentially dangerous outing. At the risk of being repetitious, here are some actions to keep in mind.
One, slow down and give yourself time to react to boats and rocks hidden in the mist. Two, use your horn ever now and then to alert others of your presence. Three, make sure everyone has their PFDs on to deal with the possibility of entering the water. Four, make the anchor available in case you need to keep stationary for awhile. Five, stop fhe boat for a few minutes, and reflect on where you might be, the chances of the fog lifting based on NWS updates and, if things are really bad, how to contact the authorities.
This list just hits the high points. But perhaps it’s a useful starting point for your enhanced action plan.
