That's a big factor in it but it also has to do with the design and amount of free board. Most bass boats these days have rounded hulls above the waterline which deflect the microwaves versus reflecting them back to the unit. Those flat metal sides reflect back a strong signature. Now when loaded down to the waterline, those small skiffs are rather stealthy too. A lot of times when I track moving fishing boats, it's actually their wake that shows up the strongest. Canoes show up very well whereas Kayaks, you will hardly ever see them on the screen.
The vast majority of commercial boats do a real good job of relaying the positions as we come across fishing boats and pleasure crafts.
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Deck Officer/2nd Engineer - M/V Saint Charles.
2004 Tracker 17.5' Panfish
Tite-lok rod holders - PST and BGJP rods
I fish, therefore I am!
This was back in the early 70s so I am sure the electronics were not as good back then. To make it even worse my brother in law was towing his brothers boat that had blown the motor- both fiberglass. I was the scout running ahead to see if all clear. I know, not my brightest moment, but back then I figured I could have gone under a barge and come out the back and swam to shore....lol. When I was 25 I said I probably wouldn't live to 30. Some of the things I did it was surprising that I did, much less make it to 66.
The 4th of July this year there was a kid on the river north of Whittington that was running out in front of barges to scare the girls that were in the boat. Luckily the law saw him and pulled him over.
Man I'm glad they got him off the water. We see that stuff happen more often than you would believe. Fisherman are rarely an issue unless someone decides to anchor in the middle of the channel. Jet skis and ski boats seem to have a death wish. We had a boat on bay springs drop a skier lest than 200' in front of us a few months ago. My captain was on the bridge and told me when I went full astern that it wouldn't make a difference. Luckily they got him out of the water at the last moment but it took me almost another 1000' feet to stop past where he was. And I was only making a few miles an hour. Southbound loaded on the MS River, it's a good mile to stop.... If she lets you at all. In my experience, those that go into the big river inadvertently, don't come out. She doesn't like to give up her dead. Our sister ship had the body of a jumper from the upper Baton Rouge bridge go under a barge unknown to them, they found it when they broke the tow.........in St. Louis!
That being said, I was once bullet proof too! Lol
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Deck Officer/2nd Engineer - M/V Saint Charles.
2004 Tracker 17.5' Panfish
Tite-lok rod holders - PST and BGJP rods
I fish, therefore I am!
That being said, I was once bullet proof too! Lol I know what you mean. The big red S on my chest has turned to light pink over the years.
[SIGPIC]Drake Waterfowl Prostaff, Dakota Decoys Prostaff,F&F Boats, Mercury Marine, Rig Em Right, Crappie Logic Jigs, Slab Bandits, Hayes Calls, and Kick's Choke Tubes.MidMsAngler LIKED above post
I have a spot light on here that will give you a sunburn!
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Deck Officer/2nd Engineer - M/V Saint Charles.
2004 Tracker 17.5' Panfish
Tite-lok rod holders - PST and BGJP rods
I fish, therefore I am!