Navigating a Boat Through Dense Fog
Friday, October 17th, 2014
Fog can literally come out of nowhere where you’re boating, blanketing the water’s surface while greatly reducing your visibility. Without the ability to see what’s in front of you, navigating is not only difficult, but it’s also dangerous. So, how can you safely navigate your boat through dense fog?
What Causes Fog?
Fog is the result of moist air (which is heavy, by the way) falling into drier air, which subsequently transforms it into the water vapor. Once the water vapor cools and reaches the dewpoint, it begins to condense into a cloud of fog. Fog may form at any time of the year, although it’s far more common during the fall season.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issues this statement in a public service announcement during Safe Boating Week.
“Fog can create very low visibility making safe navigation difficult for boaters. Fog develops when moist air changes form, creating a cloud at the earth’s surface. In dense fog the visibility can be reduced to less than a boat length, significantly increasing the risk of collision or grounding your boat.”
Navigating Through Fog
Every vessel should be equipped with a global positioning satellite (GPS). This otherwise simple tool will help to guide boaters out of thick fog, revealing their vessel’s near-exact latitude and longitude. You don’t have to spend thousands of dollars on some overpriced mounted system, as a basic handheld GPS will suffice.
In addition to having a GPS on board, you should also bring a compass. When the fog rolls in and obstructs your vision, you may find it difficult to operate your vessel in a straight line. Watching your boat’s wake may help, but this isn’t always an option. With a compass on hand, though, you can keep your vessel heading in the right direction, regardless of how much fog is blanketing the skies.
It should go without saying that everyone on the vessel should wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device (PFD) when traversing through thick fog. Whether the captain and passengers know how to swim or not, PFDs should be worn to reduce the risk of injury and death.
If you aren’t comfortable navigating your vessel through fog, drop the anchor in a safe location and wait for it to pass. There’s certainly nothing wrong with playing it safe in situations such as this. Just remember to alert nearby vessels of your locations by using lights and sound signals.