Steer a Boat on a Straight Line Course in Fog Without a Compass or GPS
It is well known that when steering a boat in a fog without instruments one tends to steer in a circle. Years ago I hired a water taxi to ferry me to my cabin located on a directly opposite shore about three miles across the water, Once underway in a dense fog I determined the skipper had neither compass nor GPS. "No mater" he said, "I know my way around these waters." After about 10 minutes of cruising, we arrived back at our departure point. Here is how we solved the problem.
Steps
- Note the straight-line direction to steer to reach the desired destination before you depart.
- Trail a {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}}. line (rope) behind the boat when you depart.
- Steer by keeping the trailing line (rope) straight,
- Keep a sharp lookout forward as well note your desired arrival point.
Tips
- Have a spare {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} or longer line aboard your boat
- Equip your boat with the proper instruments such as compass and GPS
Things You'll Need
- A {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}}. line (or longer as it can be attached to the stern and trailed at the desired length
