[PUP] FLIR and Nauticomp display

[Scott Bulger]

Ken suggested:  I had also hoped that it would assist in spotting unlit
fishing boats (such as the Earthrace collision). The problem with this is
that it is so unlikely that we would encounter an unlit boat while cruising,
which escapes radar, that even if I leave the night vision going on a
monitor, no one is likely to be watching it.


Scott suggests:  I've been told there are a lot of wooden fishing boats in
Mexico and CA that have people sleeping in them at night and are completely
unlit.  A friend I'm traveling with said it was very common to come across
these manned boats close and far from shore in the middle of the night.  He
went on to say that sometimes the boats will start up and chase after you,
or the faster boats will circle around you, again unlit and not on your
radar (too close at this point).  This is the scenario where I would hope to
identify some fishermen versus someone wishing to do us harm.  I don't know
that I could really tell the difference, but if they came close enough to
attempt a boarding I plan to try to ram them.  At that point I'll hope and
pray my Nordhavn has thicker fiberglass then their panga or other craft.  As
I suggested early in my posting I do believe these devices will have a large
payoff, but it won't be in the area I originally hoped, the crap pot dodge.


What a great exchange of feedback, I bet the FLIR manufacture would love a
chance to comment?  

Scott Bulger, Alanui, N40II, Seattle WA