Crashed Patriot
06-23-2016, 11:44 AM
#51
Registered
I grew up on big cruisers and we often traveled at night. But in a performance boat the problem is staying on plain at a slow speed.
As someone mentioned, your nav markers are listed on most all plotter maps. But that doesn't mean they are exactly where the plotter says. I was cruising the river one night just a mile from my house and saw something go by 3' off my starboard. Seems a barge had snagged one of the 3 red sand bar makers across from my house and it popped loose a half mile from where it belonged. Sure got my attention... I can't judge the operator on this one. Everyone walked away, so it falls under the "S__t Happens" category.
I'm likely going to add a FLIR system on my next boat. Checked them out at Miami show this year, and the range is up and prices way down. After running Lake Cumberland end to end on a moonless night couple years back with nothing more than the Navonics App, I'm all about high tech night vision on a boat.
As someone mentioned, your nav markers are listed on most all plotter maps. But that doesn't mean they are exactly where the plotter says. I was cruising the river one night just a mile from my house and saw something go by 3' off my starboard. Seems a barge had snagged one of the 3 red sand bar makers across from my house and it popped loose a half mile from where it belonged. Sure got my attention... I can't judge the operator on this one. Everyone walked away, so it falls under the "S__t Happens" category.
I'm likely going to add a FLIR system on my next boat. Checked them out at Miami show this year, and the range is up and prices way down. After running Lake Cumberland end to end on a moonless night couple years back with nothing more than the Navonics App, I'm all about high tech night vision on a boat.
Last edited by kidturbo; 06-23-2016 at 11:51 AM.
06-23-2016, 11:53 AM
#52
Registered
Many years ago we decided to boat up to a fireworks show and watch from the river, after the show we headed back downriver to our dock and as we rounded the bend leaving town suddenly realized no moon tonight! 
no problem we brought one of those million candle power lights . As we got farther from town it got darker and darker with very few lights near the shores. Had my wife up fron scanning back and forth with the light and very narrowly missed colliding with a huge basalt rock jutting out of the water . We new it was out there but couldn't see it at all , just the ripples on the water where it passes by. We wre at idle and it scared the chit out us !
last nite boating for us , as you might as well shined that light up you're butt.
no problem we brought one of those million candle power lights . As we got farther from town it got darker and darker with very few lights near the shores. Had my wife up fron scanning back and forth with the light and very narrowly missed colliding with a huge basalt rock jutting out of the water . We new it was out there but couldn't see it at all , just the ripples on the water where it passes by. We wre at idle and it scared the chit out us !
last nite boating for us , as you might as well shined that light up you're butt.
06-23-2016, 01:18 PM
#53
Registered
The whole concept of relying on a chartplotter for night navigation is insane. I always wondered what kind of carnage would come from hitting a buoy like that. Now I know.
06-23-2016, 01:35 PM
#54
Charter Member #1171
Charter Member
Love how people rush to judge without ANY facts.... he could have been running 100 MPH drunk,,,,, or just on plane and had a heart attack. Likely somewhere in between but " obviously self inflicted " is just an ignorant comment at this juncture.
I feel honored to be surrounded by such perfect individuals that could never possible make a mistake, or simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Feel free to bash me,,,,,its expected.
I feel honored to be surrounded by such perfect individuals that could never possible make a mistake, or simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Feel free to bash me,,,,,its expected.
__________________
I want to live in a world where a chicken can cross the road and not have its motives questioned.
I want to live in a world where a chicken can cross the road and not have its motives questioned.
Last edited by obnoxus; 06-23-2016 at 01:39 PM.
06-23-2016, 08:10 PM
#55
Registered
Many years ago we decided to boat up to a fireworks show and watch from the river, after the show we headed back downriver to our dock and as we rounded the bend leaving town suddenly realized no moon tonight!
no problem we brought one of those million candle power lights . As we got farther from town it got darker and darker with very few lights near the shores. Had my wife up fron scanning back and forth with the light and very narrowly missed colliding with a huge basalt rock jutting out of the water . We new it was out there but couldn't see it at all , just the ripples on the water where it passes by. We wre at idle and it scared the chit out us !
last nite boating for us , as you might as well shined that light up you're butt.
no problem we brought one of those million candle power lights . As we got farther from town it got darker and darker with very few lights near the shores. Had my wife up fron scanning back and forth with the light and very narrowly missed colliding with a huge basalt rock jutting out of the water . We new it was out there but couldn't see it at all , just the ripples on the water where it passes by. We wre at idle and it scared the chit out us !
last nite boating for us , as you might as well shined that light up you're butt.
06-23-2016, 08:26 PM
#56
Registered
There is a small benefit of the chartplotter at night. If your gps leaves a bread crum trail and you've navigated that area before without hitting something, then you can follow the bread crum trail. But for navigating unfamiliar waters, yeah its useless lol.
06-23-2016, 08:37 PM
#57
Registered
06-23-2016, 08:43 PM
#58
Registered
[QUOTE=ToMorrow44;4452731]Turning on one of those spotlights at night is one of the worst things you can do. It destroys your night vision. You're far better off allowing your eyes to night adapt (~30mins). I've been out there on moonless nights before and its tempting to want to turn on a light, but that white light immediately erases your night adaptation, then you're stuck looking through a very short straw.
I totally understand what you are saying but out in the sticks where I live used to be very dark, and I'm kind of a fan of the that but out on the water when it's like being in a cave is a bit unnerving to say the least, let alone with a boat full of children.
I totally understand what you are saying but out in the sticks where I live used to be very dark, and I'm kind of a fan of the that but out on the water when it's like being in a cave is a bit unnerving to say the least, let alone with a boat full of children.
06-23-2016, 08:45 PM
#59
Registered
06-23-2016, 09:04 PM
#60
Forum Regulator
VIP Member
If my boat is in motion, my GPS is on, leaving breadcrumbs. You never know when you will need to navigate back safely, and/or more importantly; if someone else needs to navigate or drive back in an emergency. I just had THE 5 most important people in my life on a boat on Saturday night, and ran back from dinner on plane using GPS and tribal knowledge of the lake. Should I be keelhauled?
