How to Estimate Your Distance From Shore
When the weather is clear you can easily distinguish shapes on shore. Tall houses, trees and lighthouses can be seen as far as 8 miles out. The distance you can see is relative to how far up off the water you are. For example, if you are on a small boat only 6 ft off the water, the horizon is only 2.5 miles away.
Use these general observations for determining distance from your boat:
- A light-colored sandy beach can be seen at approximately 4 miles offshore from the deck of a small boat.
- Building windows can be distinguished by day or night at about 2 miles off.
- A large buoy is visible at 2 miles.
- A small buoy is visible at 1.5 miles but color and shape will not be clear.
- The shape of a small buoy can be distinguished at about 1 mile.
- The color of a large buoy can be distinguished at about 1 mile.
- A person is seen as a moving black dot at a distance of 1 mile.
- Movement of a person's legs or arms can be distinguished at about 1200 ft.
- Faces can be seen, but are not recognizable, at 700-800 ft.