GPS - Vital Tip #2

[Lund Explorer]

Not sure about you guys, but everytime I turn on my Lowrance GPS, I get a little message, most likely thought of by a lawyer, that says something along the lines of "Don't use this GPS for navigation!".  Of course you have to click OK to proceed.

Well, we just might be getting a second little warning soon if these guys are any indication.  Tip #2?

"If you decide to ignore warning #1, you may set a waypoint to mark the boat launch.  We recommend you also mark another waypoint 1/4 mile in front of the harbor!"

It seems that when you are running full throttle, at night  and in the fog, you really don't want to travel directly to the boat launch.  As evidenced by the picture below taken Sunday Morning @ Manistee MI.

[Big Tom]

Ouch.

That has to suck.  I guess they are serious with that warning.   :

[Bassn Blvd]

Lets be honest, that's your boat and you were driving weren't you?  Come on, tell the truth..... ;D

[Fishing Rhino]

Why would any sensible person run wide open at night in the first place?  Other than in an emergency.

In the case of the photo, there is one word for that operator, waypoints.

GPS, and LORAN before that, is/was used for navigation in conjunction with auto pilots.  But, everything I've read about safe boat operating states that they do not eliminate the need for a qualified operator at the helm.

Those systems are for a vessels position.  They tell you where you are, but they do not tell you what is around you, be it vessels or other floating, semi-submerged hazards to navigation.

Radar, with an alarm that will sound when it detects any object within a preset range is great.  But it cannot detect many floating objects that can sink a vessel.

On most airline flights, the pilots skills and training only come into play during takeoffs and landings.  But they need to be alert, and ready to assume control of the plane when situations necessitate it.

I've seen enough tragedies in my nearly thirty years on the sea as a commercial lobsterman that were the result of carelessness, recklessness, a lack of education and/or common sense to know the dangers that exist on the water.

[Lund Explorer]

Lets be honest, that's your boat and you were driving weren't you? Come on, tell the truth..... ;D

NO!  But I'm pretty sure it will be showing up on craigslist soon.  Did you want me to "pm" you with the listing if I find it?   

[Lund Explorer]

Why would any sensible person run wide open at night in the first place? Other than in an emergency.

In the case of the photo, there is one word for that operator, waypoints.

GPS, and LORAN before that, is/was used for navigation in conjunction with auto pilots. But, everything I've read about safe boat operating states that they do not eliminate the need for a qualified operator at the helm.

Those systems are for a vessels position. They tell you where you are, but they do not tell you what is around you, be it vessels or other floating, semi-submerged hazards to navigation.

Radar, with an alarm that will sound when it detects any object within a preset range is great. But it cannot detect many floating objects that can sink a vessel.

On most airline flights, the pilots skills and training only come into play during takeoffs and landings. But they need to be alert, and ready to assume control of the plane when situations necessitate it.

I've seen enough tragedies in my nearly thirty years on the sea as a commercial lobsterman that were the result of carelessness, recklessness, a lack of education and/or common sense to know the dangers that exist on the water.

That's not the word I would have used.

The sad part is that this person is not alone.  The piers at both Manistee and Ludington gather up more than their share of them each year.  But hey, it's a great big lake, so they'll run full throttle at night, in the fog, in just about any conditions.

The worst part is that people simply need to go to the marina, check in hand, and they're handed the keys to a boat (and technologies) that are more than they can honestly handle.

You said it perfectly  "qualified operator".  There's many of us up here that think its long beyond the time that all boat operators should be required to become educated and pass a test before being allowed to operate a watercraft.

[farmpond1]

Maybe they thought their boat was amphibious.

[fishfordollars]

If i thought a driver/operator test would solve the problem i would be all for it. All you have to do is get out on the highway to see that won't solve the problem.

There are many that should never, ever have a set of keys to anything that has an engine of any kind.

[Hook Set]

Wow, the bass here have been shallow lately, just not that shallow.

[Shad_Master]

A few years ago, there was a tournament on the Missouri river near here - at the launch it was announced that boats going north should watch out for fog - one boat had set up extra gas on sand dunes out in the rive so they could make a long run un into South Dakota - when they ran into the fog they were traveling (wide open) by the GPS when they ran across a jettie - the driver was killed and the passenger was messed up!

GPS trails are set on an "as the crow flies" direction and cannot account for what may be between here and there.