When I'm running my 1/8 scale 2000 Elam Plus unlimited hydroplane, I find it starts getting small if I get too wide on the backstretch. Since the boat is 43" long and 22" wide, it's similar in size to the boat being planned. That said, when I'm at a race, the buoys are roughly 90 feet away from the drivers stand that mark the inside of the race course on the backstretch. When I go wide, say 50 feet further way(usually when I have engine issues), the boat looks like it's only around a foot long. Now, when you figure that's less than 50 yards and the boat looks like it's less than 1/3 it's true size, think about how hard it would be to see a boat at say 400 yards. I'm seeing a dot on the water at best