What is the danger of operating a boat with low visibility?

Operating a boat with low visibility significantly increases the risk of collisions with other vessels or obstacles. This is primarily due to the reduced ability to see other boats, buoys, landmarks, or navigational markers. Low visibility situations can arise from fog, heavy rain, or even darkness, which impair a boater's ability to determine distances and the relative movement of nearby objects.

In these conditions, it becomes more challenging to assess the position and speed of other vessels, as well as to spot potential hazards in the water. This heightened uncertainty can lead to dangerous situations where collisions can occur more easily, as a captain may not be able to take timely evasive actions or may not notice an approaching boat until it's too late. Therefore, understanding the implications of low visibility is crucial for safe boating practices.