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From the Boathouse: Whether or not you call the fog Karl, beware

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Ahoy!

The boating season has begun and Memorial Day and Safe Boating Week are behind us. Now is the time of year for our usual June gloom, otherwise known as the marine layer.

The hot daily inland temperatures pull in the cooler marine air, creating the low-lying clouds along the coast that usually burn off by afternoon. However, this is also the recipe for another weather condition called fog.

Fog is a boater’s nightmare. It’s especially troublesome when the boater is trying to enter an unfamiliar harbor while staring at the radar and Global Positioning System. I regularly encounter fog along the Pacific while delivering yachts up and down the coast.

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The fog can be so thick in San Francisco that on many voyages I never see the Golden Gate Bridge when cruising underneath. Did you know that the fog in San Francisco is named Karl and that it has its own Facebook page, Twitter account and email at karlthefog@gmail.com? Who knows why San Francisco’s fog is named Karl?

Another very foggy port is Morro Bay, where I frequently make a pre-sunrise stop for fuel on my voyages. Many times, I have opted — because of thick fog — to wait outside the harbor entrance until sunrise gave me enough light to see the channel markers. Or I would follow a commercial fisherman who I assumed has the local knowledge. In entering the channel, the fog usually clears once you pass Morro Rock.

When you are on the docks at your yacht club, have a little fun and ask, “What is the speed limit for boaters in fog?” Now sit back and listen to the various incorrect answers from seasoned boaters. Then reply with the correct answer: There is no given speed limit when in restricted visibility, whether fog or other weather conditions, but the rules state that you must have your vessel under control. This means you must be able to change course or stop to avoid a collision, simple as that.

There are whistle signals for boaters in restricted visibility, but I will save those for another column. I recommend that you review the navigation rules for international and inland regulations — the new edition is dated August 2014.

Boat show of the week: Wondering what to do this weekend? Then load your family into the car and go for a drive to Lake Arrowhead to visit the Lake Arrowhead Boat and Auto Show. This year’s show has added Jeeps, RAM trucks and Fiats to complement the 50 boats.

A great feature about this show is that you can demo the boats on the water, plus get a chance to go boating on the private Lake Arrowhead. Only new boats will be used for the demonstration so you can compare the ride and features of models. Additionally, used boats are on display shore-side.

Pontoon boats are growing in popularity, and I am noticing more and more on lakes and rivers. The riding comfort and open deck layout of the pontoon boats are amazing, and now you can have the typical outboard engines or I/O engines in the larger boats. This is your chance to see a variety of pontoon boats and test ride the models as well.

The free show will also have wakeboard, deck and fishing boats.

Take a day trip up our local mountains to the Lake Arrowhead Village, where the show will be located. The village has numerous shops and restaurants, and free concerts will be held starting Friday night with ‘80s rock. On Saturday listen to a Fleetwood Mac tribute band.

For more information, visit mountain-news.com. See you at the show this weekend.

As always, just keep an eye to the weather for any changes. Lastly, please boat responsibly and look behind you before you turn the wheel at the helm.

The original boating program, “Boathouse TV & Radio Shows,” has stretched from coast to coast for more than two decades. See the details at https://www.boathousetv.com https://www.facebook.com/boathouseradio and https://www.twitter.com/boathouseradio.

Safe Voyages!

MIKE WHITEHEAD is a boating columnist for the Huntington Beach Independent. Send marine-related thoughts and story suggestions to mike@boathouse.com or go to https://www.boathousetv.com.

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