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Crash pad

  • Thread starter Thread starter rsmith
  • Start date Start date
  • Replies Replies 18
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Thanks for the article. I for one do not go out in the fog no matter what equipment I have. Safety is paramount.
 
So using an iPad instead of the conventional radar and GPS is not a good idea?

Who'd a thunk it.
 
Too many mistakes to count.
 
SEVEN said:
Thanks for the article. I for one do not go out in the fog no matter what equipment I have. Safety is paramount.
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Can't avoid the fog up here. It helps to have experienced it without GPS. I ran for 3 days in solid fog 2 years ago on Lake Huron. It takes a lot out of you trying to pay attention to everything with no eyes. I was seriously looking at a FLIR camera after that, but again, you would just end up relying on it.

Hard to believe they did not as least sound their fog signal at regular intervals.
 
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So when it lost WiFi,.... that's when things went all pear shaped? Before that things seemed okay?

I really hope that's the news media balling up the details and not what actually happened.
 
I read this part to mean the launch went out with the radar inop. Seems like a Darwin candidate to me.

“The apparent functionality of the iPad navigation app gave both men false confidence in their ability to navigate safely in the dense fog,” the MAIB report said. “However, neither man had used the system before and no back-up arrangements, such as rigging the mast to use the radar, were considered. Therefore, when the iPad lost a reliable Wi-Fi signal and the iPad app stopped working, Peggotty was immersed in the fog with no buoyage visible and the skipper lost his situational awareness entirely. Despite this, he continued on passage, hoping to see a channel buoy.”
 
The photo clearly shows the mast with the radome in an unstepped position. I could see using an app on an iPad with GPS capability for navigation. But not one that relies on cellular triangulation. I was hoping that it was the reporter's error to say lost WiFi instead of GPS signal, but it looks like the whole operation was a thorough cluster before it even started.
 
Taking the low road, or the cheap road, on a pleasure boat is often a mistake, on a commercial vessel it's, well it's obvious what can happen.

Sadly on the cheap or human error the results suck!
 
Whenever I read stuff like this I have to quote Forrest Gump "Stupid is as stupid does"!
 
As usual the article lacks details.. some plotters have a wifi function which can send the data to a mobile device so you have the actual plotter/radar in one location and can view it elsewhere. That should be a convenience feature, not something you rely on. Especially in restricted visibility

Overall I ve experienced more crashes, freezes or restarts with nav equipment (ray or furunos) than my bluechart app on iPad crashing. Of the most recent was coming in a narrow Bahamas cut at night and the damn furuno navnet decided to crash and restart... i was glad to have my iPad running Garmin bluechart standing by as a back up...
 
And I get laughed at and called a dinosaur because I always have my paper charts and a sextant handy just in case.

Walt
 
Walter P said:
And I get laughed at and called a dinosaur because I always have my paper charts and a sextant handy just in case.

Walt
Click to expand...

Wow I call you a miracle worker I never knew someone that could use a sextant in the fog :cool:
 
Hey Dan, That would be some trick, I agree but I am referring to the failure of electronic devices in general. They don't only fail in the fog. When you're in the fog without radar or gps you really should not run if possible. I have experienced the loss of radar in the fog and although I had the loran C working, it was still nerve wracking since although you may know your position you can't see other boats bearing down on you and very often they can't see you. I actually had that experience some years ago where my loran was working but the radar crapped out. We continued our plotted course at idle speed with the fog horn blowing and were almost "T boned" by a large tug boat whose radar was also not working. We barely missed each other. Fog signals were and are fine with sailing vessels but maybe not so good on power vessels with relatively loud machinery noise. Trying to show one's bravado while endangering your boat and crew along with others IMO is irresponsible and should be discouraged if not prohibited.

Many years ago while about 100 miles offshore I lost my electronics and did in fact rely on a sextant and paper charts to get us to our destination the next day. As I understand it fewer and fewer boaters today can operate without modern electronics. Don't get me wrong, I love the convenience of modern navigation devices but it's comforting to know that I can if necessary operate the old fashioned way.

Walt
 
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Unfortunately, on a number of occasions I've had to do it the real old fashioned way with nothing but a compass and chart. If you're in a well marked area and take your sweet time, keep a proper lookout etc. it can be done with reasonable safety. Biggest problem is seeing the situation developing and having the Dirty Harry sense to know your limitations. This guy was an off duty pilot himself and probably thought he was invincible.
 
Nowadays almost every person on board any vessel has a back up GPS in their pocket and sometimes two if they also have an iPad...
 
Marking position, course and speed every half hour is a good practice. Then add a chart and a compass and you probably get home.
 
Pascal said:
Nowadays almost every person on board any vessel has a back up GPS in their pocket and sometimes two if they also have an iPad...
Click to expand...

I "delivered" my boat when I bought it. We got socked in with nothing but a chart, handheld Garmin E-trek and a MagLite. Some sketchy moments and a lot of time with the attention turned up to 11, but never an unusual collision or grounding risk for the situation. However, as I said earlier, if you're comfortable in those circumstances, you obviously have no idea what is going on.
 
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