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Captain's corner

By RICK FRAZIER

© St. Petersburg Times, published October 28, 2000

Eye protection. No matter if it's protection from the sun or a flying hook, all of us on the water need to use it.

Sunglasses are the best form of eye protection, unless we want to wear goggles or a swim mask -- which is better than nothing when it comes down to it. A swim mask may look a little funny compared to glasses, but it's better than an eye patch.

Realistically, polarized sunglasses are the way to go. We want to cut down the glare off the water's surface. Removing the glare helps us in seeing that snook hanging under the mangrove branch and aids in locating hidden dangers below the surface that could damage our expensive boat or motor.

Broken-off pilings, for example, or a plastic shopping bag that can clog a water intake are much easier to see with a good set of polarized glasses.

Like anything, you pay for what you get. Less expensive sunglasses almost always are plastic lenses with the polarization film on the outside of the lens. Salt can scratch the plastic lens and will render the component useless. More expensive glasses have glass lenses with the polarization film encased between the lenses so the film cannot be scratched.

Cutting out the sun's ultraviolet light, which can damage your eyes, is important as well. By eliminating UV rays with decent glasses, you can keep from squinting and getting headaches.

-- Rick Frazier runs Lucky Dawg Charters in St. Petersburg. Call (727) 448-3817.

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