Pretty Lawn Toys

[sww914]

Pulling into a very familiar anchorage last night I was dumbfounded that anyone would think that those ridiculous little LED rechargeable yard decorations could serve as anchor lights. We had 2 people up on the bow as I slid in at 2 knots and all the boats with masthead anchor lights were completely visible. Several people who were willing to trust their home and investment to lawn toys were nearly invisible until we were almost on top of them. Those dim little rechargeable LEDs at deck height disappeared into the lights of the town behind them, doing nothing to help visibility adn they were so inadequate that it was more effective to look for the dark spots in the bay than to try to spot the lawn glitter.
People please, don't do it. Turn on your real anchor light unless you really want my 1" thick solid fiberglass boat with a 7" thick stem plowing through your salon at night.

[MarkJ]

I think mast head anchor lights are difficult to see.

Garden lights show the shape of the hull which is better for others navigating around or into the anchorage.

But the regs call for 2nm lights and garden lights dont normally conform so I have a anchor light in my cockpit. Also,increases security as any intruder is visible in the cockpit from insid ethe boat or from other boats.