Heavy Spray and Eye Glasses!

[Warren Kaplan]

This may sound like a trivial question, but its one of those things that just gets under my skin. Perhaps I'm not the only one...and maybe someone has come up with an answer. When going to windward on a windy day in a choppy sea, often I get a face full of spray. Even with the dodger up I get it. Getting wet isn't what bothers me. But when salt water gets on my eyeglasses everything gets distorted and if the salt dries, its very annoying. Its hard to wipe the glasses off effectively because everything you have around you in those conditions its also wet and it just schmears the eyeglasses even more. I could wear goggles or a face mask. I've seen pictures of those round the world racing guys in the southern ocean ( a miserable place) in their heavy weather gear that included a sort of a helmut/ face mask combination. I'm not talking about anything quite like that but it is easier to wipe off goggles or a face mask and still see decently (even if those are smudged) than having the optics of the eyeglasses compromised. I get under the dodger as much as I can but I have to come out sometime. Any of you "optically handicapped" captains have a method of dealing with heavy, constant spray?

Warren Kaplan
Sine Qua Non
CD27
Oyster Bay Harbor, New York



Setsail728@aol.com

[Helen Keller]

contact lens

[Mike Wainfeld]

Warren-Keep a water bottle at hand and when salt dries on your specs just pour a little fresh water on them!
Mike-nice steady breeze on the GSB-Wainfeld
CD Ty "Regalo"



wainfeld@optonline.net

[Gary L.]

This may sound like a trivial question, but its one of those things that just gets under my skin. Perhaps I'm not the only one...and maybe someone has come up with an answer. When going to windward on a windy day in a choppy sea, often I get a face full of spray. Even with the dodger up I get it. Getting wet isn't what bothers me. But when salt water gets on my eyeglasses everything gets distorted and if the salt dries, its very annoying. Its hard to wipe the glasses off effectively because everything you have around you in those conditions its also wet and it just schmears the eyeglasses even more. I could wear goggles or a face mask. I've seen pictures of those round the world racing guys in the southern ocean ( a miserable place) in their heavy weather gear that included a sort of a helmut/ face mask combination. I'm not talking about anything quite like that but it is easier to wipe off goggles or a face mask and still see decently (even if those are smudged) than having the optics of the eyeglasses compromised. I get under the dodger as much as I can but I have to come out sometime. Any of you "optically handicapped" captains have a method of dealing with heavy, constant spray?

Warren Kaplan
Sine Qua Non
CD27
Oyster Bay Harbor, New York

Warren,

There is nothing trivial about having your vision impaired by salt water spray. I, like most who wear glasses (now with bifocals)just to see clearly beyond a few feet, must endure the chronic water spots.

However, reading your post reminds me that where I work, some of the production personnel wear a full face shield, that flips up when not in use. This is attached to an open head harness, which can be worn
beneath a cap. I would not be surprised if the same company made a partial face shield too. I will check with some of the managers, and let you know.

Gary Lapine
Red Witch III
CD30C, #339
Somerset, MA



dory26@attbi.com

[Lou Ostendorff]

Hi Warren,
Andy spoke first, but I think you won the Latin Contest...do I owe you something too? BTW, there are some blind sailors out there...
Lou Ostendorff
CD25D Karma
Lookin'out for Cape Lookout



louosten@ipass.net

[Dave]

How about laser correction surgery?

This may sound like a trivial question, but its one of those things that just gets under my skin. Perhaps I'm not the only one...and maybe someone has come up with an answer. When going to windward on a windy day in a choppy sea, often I get a face full of spray. Even with the dodger up I get it. Getting wet isn't what bothers me. But when salt water gets on my eyeglasses everything gets distorted and if the salt dries, its very annoying. Its hard to wipe the glasses off effectively because everything you have around you in those conditions its also wet and it just schmears the eyeglasses even more. I could wear goggles or a face mask. I've seen pictures of those round the world racing guys in the southern ocean ( a miserable place) in their heavy weather gear that included a sort of a helmut/ face mask combination. I'm not talking about anything quite like that but it is easier to wipe off goggles or a face mask and still see decently (even if those are smudged) than having the optics of the eyeglasses compromised. I get under the dodger as much as I can but I have to come out sometime. Any of you "optically handicapped" captains have a method of dealing with heavy, constant spray?

Warren Kaplan
Sine Qua Non
CD27
Oyster Bay Harbor, New York

ddsailor25@ureach.com

[Jerry Axler]

This may sound like a trivial question, but its one of those things that just gets under my skin. Perhaps I'm not the only one...and maybe someone has come up with an answer. When going to windward on a windy day in a choppy sea, often I get a face full of spray. Even with the dodger up I get it. Getting wet isn't what bothers me. But when salt water gets on my eyeglasses everything gets distorted and if the salt dries, its very annoying. Its hard to wipe the glasses off effectively because everything you have around you in those conditions its also wet and it just schmears the eyeglasses even more. I could wear goggles or a face mask. I've seen pictures of those round the world racing guys in the southern ocean ( a miserable place) in their heavy weather gear that included a sort of a helmut/ face mask combination. I'm not talking about anything quite like that but it is easier to wipe off goggles or a face mask and still see decently (even if those are smudged) than having the optics of the eyeglasses compromised. I get under the dodger as much as I can but I have to come out sometime. Any of you "optically handicapped" captains have a method of dealing with heavy, constant spray?

Warren Kaplan
Sine Qua Non
CD27
Oyster Bay Harbor, New York

As A dentist and a cruising sailor, I have had more than my share of spray problems on my glasses. There is an antifogging spray that can be purchased at most pharmacies that keeps the spray from forming droplets on your glasses which is what is obscuring your vision. I use it to clean my glasses of dried salt water, but most of my problems are with rain spray which is easily handled by the antifogging spray.

Jerry Axler
Shana CD36



cutter36@erols.com

[Warren Kaplan]

Hi Warren,
Andy spoke first, but I think you won the Latin Contest...do I owe you something too? BTW, there are some blind sailors out there...
Lou Ostendorff
CD25D Karma
Lookin'out for Cape Lookout

Ah Lou...You ARE a clever boy!!
For those missing the "in joke" of Lou's title here,
Ahhh, Sight, the 'Essential Element'
can other wise be said..Ahhh, Sight, the Sine Qua Non!
That's prize enough for me!

Warren Kaplan
Sine Qua Non
Cd27
Oyster Bay Harbor, NY




Setsail728@aol.com

[Bill Bloxham]

Does this mean that the salt spray renders the anti-fog application ineffective?

If not, I'd carry a small sprayer of fresh water with me and use it to clean up.

Then all I'd need would be a small squeege

Bill



mmmmmmbill@earthlink.net

[sloopjohnl]

duckbill cap pulled way down low.

This may sound like a trivial question, but its one of those things that just gets under my skin. Perhaps I'm not the only one...and maybe someone has come up with an answer. When going to windward on a windy day in a choppy sea, often I get a face full of spray. Even with the dodger up I get it. Getting wet isn't what bothers me. But when salt water gets on my eyeglasses everything gets distorted and if the salt dries, its very annoying. Its hard to wipe the glasses off effectively because everything you have around you in those conditions its also wet and it just schmears the eyeglasses even more. I could wear goggles or a face mask. I've seen pictures of those round the world racing guys in the southern ocean ( a miserable place) in their heavy weather gear that included a sort of a helmut/ face mask combination. I'm not talking about anything quite like that but it is easier to wipe off goggles or a face mask and still see decently (even if those are smudged) than having the optics of the eyeglasses compromised. I get under the dodger as much as I can but I have to come out sometime. Any of you "optically handicapped" captains have a method of dealing with heavy, constant spray?

Warren Kaplan
Sine Qua Non
CD27
Oyster Bay Harbor, New York

[Dana]

I remember a number of times where the pair of goggles which we kept on board came in handy when the driving rain affected our vision. We could not always avoid the weather conditions in time where we sailed....

[Tom]

Good heavens, man, why would yo be standing at the wheel going to weather? That's why they invented auto pilots and wind vanes. If you go below and pull the hatch closed, you don't eat any spray at all.

This may sound like a trivial question, but its one of those things that just gets under my skin. Perhaps I'm not the only one...and maybe someone has come up with an answer. When going to windward on a windy day in a choppy sea, often I get a face full of spray. Even with the dodger up I get it. Getting wet isn't what bothers me. But when salt water gets on my eyeglasses everything gets distorted and if the salt dries, its very annoying. Its hard to wipe the glasses off effectively because everything you have around you in those conditions its also wet and it just schmears the eyeglasses even more. I could wear goggles or a face mask. I've seen pictures of those round the world racing guys in the southern ocean ( a miserable place) in their heavy weather gear that included a sort of a helmut/ face mask combination. I'm not talking about anything quite like that but it is easier to wipe off goggles or a face mask and still see decently (even if those are smudged) than having the optics of the eyeglasses compromised. I get under the dodger as much as I can but I have to come out sometime. Any of you "optically handicapped" captains have a method of dealing with heavy, constant spray?

Warren Kaplan
Sine Qua Non
CD27
Oyster Bay Harbor, New York

TomCambria@mindspring.com

[Warren Kaplan]

Good heavens, man, why would yo be standing at the wheel going to weather? That's why they invented auto pilots and wind vanes. If you go below and pull the hatch closed, you don't eat any spray at all.

Tom,
Alas, I am but a poor sailor with rudimentary equipment destined to be lashed to the tiller through all measure of wind and wave. The malestrom comes! The sails are bent southwest for Oyster Bay! I am resolute at the tiller, although soggy and half blind from the incessant spray, while a tillerpilot with my name on it sleeps cozily on a shelf at West Marine! I'll retire to Bedlam!

Warren Kaplan
Sine Qua Non
CD27
Oyster Bay Harbor, NY



Setsail728@aol.com

[M. R. Bober]

Warren, I've read the abuse offered by the "better-sighted" and they really shouldn't make fun of the handicapped since we are often on starboard and remember all taunts!

I have tried several methods to avoid salt crusted lenses. The bad news is I haven't found a solution (pun here) that is satisfactory. Contact lenses are no fun when looking into the wind. To prevent my eyes from drying out I wore salt crusted sunglasses; a poor remedy.
Pray for rain.
Mitchell Bober
RESPITE
CD330
Annapolis, MD

[Boyd]

Hi Warren...

This is not so trivial for people with glasses. I fought with this problem for 40 years before getting laser surgery. I got monovision so I dont need reading glasses either.

What I found that worked the best for me was to wax the lenses well with Johnsons wax product called Jubilee. Any spray furniture wax should work. When the lenses are wet just blow on them hard and the beads of water blow off. I kept a small squirt bottle of fresh water handy. A couple of squits and a quick blow and they are clean. Never touch the lenses or wipe them.. it just smears the mess. The wax really cleans the lenses well also.

Boyd
s/v Tern
CD30MkII
Fort Lauderdale,Fla.

This may sound like a trivial question, but its one of those things that just gets under my skin. Perhaps I'm not the only one...and maybe someone has come up with an answer. When going to windward on a windy day in a choppy sea, often I get a face full of spray. Even with the dodger up I get it. Getting wet isn't what bothers me. But when salt water gets on my eyeglasses everything gets distorted and if the salt dries, its very annoying. Its hard to wipe the glasses off effectively because everything you have around you in those conditions its also wet and it just schmears the eyeglasses even more. I could wear goggles or a face mask. I've seen pictures of those round the world racing guys in the southern ocean ( a miserable place) in their heavy weather gear that included a sort of a helmut/ face mask combination. I'm not talking about anything quite like that but it is easier to wipe off goggles or a face mask and still see decently (even if those are smudged) than having the optics of the eyeglasses compromised. I get under the dodger as much as I can but I have to come out sometime. Any of you "optically handicapped" captains have a method of dealing with heavy, constant spray?

Warren Kaplan
Sine Qua Non
CD27
Oyster Bay Harbor, New York

Boyd@wbta.cc