Sometimes old traditions die hard. I like GPS and have a good backup GPS
that operates on batteries. Predominately where I operate there are no
foghorns. If the fog comes, all electronics  are on and a  plot gets
started so we could go to DR if necessary. We keep very busy watching
and listening to everything and go slower. My tools to watch are two
GPSs, two depthfinders, loran, radar,  charts, and the local VTS
channels on VHF. Of course the automatic fog horn is on, and one or more
of us will look out the windows. What more can I do except to try to
stay out of it in the first place.

Regards, Bob

It is pretty obvious that some of you just don't get it. It is not the fog
horns that are the problem. It is the scuttling of the entire nav aids
system that is going on. The fog horns were just an example. And under the
circumstances, I won't waste my time with a detailed list.

Mike

Capt. Mike Maurice
Tualatin(Portland), Oregon

Quoting Mike Maurice mikem@yachtsdelivered.com:

REPLY
Although ther are differences, ther are also a lot of similarities between the
US and Canada when it comes to navigation aids.

Almost a decade ago Canada began this process of dismantling the visual nav aid
system for selected area.
At present the official policy is that visual nav aids will only be maintained
within 10 miles of a port of destination. Beyond that range mariners are
expected to rely on modern electronic navigation systems.

This transformation came about  for two reasons.
The Coast Guard conducted several surveys  to ascertain who used what nav aids
and to what extent. A secondary issue was to determine the relative use of
visual aural ( foghorn) and electronic means.

The survey revealed that the majroity of recreational boaters seldom ventured
out in conditions of reduced visibility. Only a smal maniority did ventuer out
some times. Commercial fishing boats usually had a wealth of electronic
equipment and relied primarily on these since it was better than any visual
means.  Commercial shipping - large vessels - were complaint with IMOI and
SOLAS conventions and also releied mostly on electronic navigation.
When withon ten miles of a port of destination these deep sea vessels usually
had a pilot on board who posessed specific local knowledge and thus also did
not rely on the established visual aids to navigation.
Fog horns  came in very low on the priority list fir any of the various
navigation groups.

The second issue pertained to cost recovery for service renderd to the maritime
users. When the domestic commercial shipping companeis were notified of steep
increases in user fees to the Coasst Guard  they protested that rather than pay
these increased fees they would prefer to have the nav aids removed since they
did not use them anyways.

For instance in the St. Lawrence Seaway all the  buoys are removed for the ice
season.  These are given their annual maintenance work at this time and
reinstalled in the spring. However shipping interests continued to run the St
Lawrence seaway  despite the absence of visual nav aids without incident.
The conclusion was that the comemercial vessel simply did not need them.
Gradually over the past five to ten years  most nav aids have been privatized
so that the local harbour who benefits from their placedment carries the cost
of maintenance. They in turn can then levy  a direct user fee on those vessels
that call upon the harbour.  FRom time to time it has even been discussed that
the ide be extended to recreational crafft but practical consideratiosn
prevailked and no one has been dumb enough to try it on for size.

In Georgian Bay a cottage association paid for the survey and the annual
maintenanace to place an offshore small craft channel.

So much of Canadian waterways do not have any nav aids that many of us take it
for granted and we find other ways to navigate than rely on fog horsn light
houses or even minor lights. Day marks suffice in much of the small craft
channels ande radar, depth sounders and GPS  does a pretty good job for the
rest.

As for the rest who do not bother to learn how to use modern navigation
techniques, let Darwin's principles prevail. < grin >

BTW I  love fog horns and have all sorts of pictuers and model sof them.
We even have an large model complete with a working light and electronic
recording of the sounds.
But a fog horn is as much of an anachronism as the taff rail log and the hand
lead line I keep on my nautical nick nack shelf.  Its right next to the Viking
Sun stone compass and the sun dial. < grin >

Arild

Quoting Mike Maurice mikem@yachtsdelivered.com:

REPLY

Do you mean liek the drunk who stole a boat at Ilwaco marina then ran aground
opposite the Coast Guard base and tried to swim for it. <grin>
The outgoin gtime almost drowned him befoer a 25 foot response craft coul dpick
him up. Thsi despite the fact the station stafff observed the gounding and
responded very quickly.

FRankly I don't think even a fog horn could help this guy!

Arild