Fake bow waves only disrupt the opening salvos

Did painting fake bow waves and similar visual countermeasures help defeat naval ranging?

They could mislead the first salvo, but their value faded once the enemy tracked the ship and corrected its fire.

Painted bow waves and similar visual deception could distort an opponent's initial estimate of speed or waterline. That might throw off the first ranging salvo and delay the first correction. Once the enemy had tracked the ship and observed two or three salvos, however, measured fall of shot mattered more than the painted effect. The benefit was real but short-lived and did not justify much continuing effort.