Why even bother with the Looking Glass?

[Angell]

Sayid, Desmond, and Charlie are determined to get to the Looking Glass, shut off the switch, and then make contact with the boat.

Here's an idea. Why didn't they just paddle out to boat and say "Hey. We need rescued."  Sure, it's a long way, but it seems easier than what they are doing now. Surely, Naomi has some idea of the direction of the boat.

Angell

[thlaylirah]

The last time they rowed out to sea someone snatched Walt, shot Sawyer and tried to blow up Mike and Jin.  Maybe they dont want a repeat of that.

[WhatThe]

Not to mention the last time Desmond tried sailing off the island, he ended up right back on it...as well as Juliet saying that the Others having a boat was no big deal because they'd just sail around in circles...

[PrincessLeia]

Sounds like a good Plan B, though.

[razzle-dazzle]

You have to follow a certain course to get out, and back in. For some reason they need a beacon to guide their way back to the island.

What is odd, is that they said that they Lost communication after the sky turned purple.
I have a feeling we can't believe a word any other says. They probably lied about that too.

[JBRam]

Also it would take a long time to row out 80 miles. The boat would probably be gone by then.

[Nancy Drew]

I realize they said that the jamming of Rousseau's transmission was happening at this station, but we were also lead to believe that the homing beacon for the sub was coming from the other end of the cable.  If they destroy the Looking Glass, won't it be hard for any ship to find the island?  Am I missing something or confused about the info we were given about how they find the island??

[sledgeweb]

The further you go out, without an exact bearing and navigational devise, the chances of finding it would be slim. Even if you start out just a few degrees off course, by the time you get miles and miles out, you could be miles and miles off course, and would never see the boat. More than that, though, there seems to be some weird thing with the island in terms of how you can get in, and how you can get out. Just think of getting through that forest in the original NES Zelda game.

[JBRam]

The further you go out, without an exact bearing and navigational devise, the chances of finding it would be slim. Even if you start out just a few degrees off course, by the time you get miles and miles out, you could be miles and miles off course, and would never see the boat. More than that, though, there seems to be some weird thing with the island in terms of how you can get in, and how you can get out. Just think of getting through that forest in the original NES Zelda game.

Plus, Naomi was probably disoriented during her crash. How would she know in which direction, even generally, where her ship was?

[Lost_Is_My_Favorite]

Also it would take a long time to row out 80 miles. The boat would probably be gone by then.

That was my thought.  In the boat they have, it wouldn't make it for days on end in an ocean.  Especially if a storm rolled through.  Not to mention not a lot of room for supplies and shelter from the sun.  I think they've learned some lessons.

[PrincessLeia]

Also it would take a long time to row out 80 miles. The boat would probably be gone by then.

Doubt that the boat would just leave without knowing what happened to Naomi.