Display Lights in Fog ?

[markpierce]

This fellow didn't show any running lights in the fog. (Isn't white the best color for a boat to be less visible?) None of the several boat observed that morning showed any lights. Reminds me of the Philippines where drivers don't turn on their cars' headlights at night (until they notice you coming) so as to conserve their batteries.

[rebel heart]

You're supposed to have your navigation lights on during dark or restricted visibility. That would qualify as restricted visibility to me, but honestly he probably just forgot. Probably too busy in his AIS/radar/chart plotter combo.

[Auspicious]

I agree - should be on, probably playing with his Raymarine or Garmin video game.

[boatman61]

That's not fog.... thats mist...
Fog is when you cant see the bow running lights on your 21 footer....

[Katiusha]

Fog is when you determine location of your partner in the cockpit by the air horn...

[Tempest245]

Originally Posted by rebel heart

You're supposed to have your navigation lights on during dark or restricted visibility. That would qualify as restricted visibility to me, but honestly he probably just forgot. Probably too busy in his AIS/radar/chart plotter combo.

Rebel,

Technically speaking, it's lights on from " sunset to sunrise" and in restricted visibility. Sunset and sunrise are specific times of the day, that can be looked up. It's less subjective than dark. Though, in practice, I see few boaters that follow that rule
I'm guessing If the boat in the photo didn't have their lights on; they weren't using horn signals either.

[markpierce]

Originally Posted by Tempest245

Rebel,

I'm guessing If the boat in the photo didn't have their lights on; they weren't using horn signals either.

How'd you guess (correctly)?

For us smaller boats, I'd say use our horns when visibility drops below a half mile.

Whistle Class
Length of Vessel in Meters
Limits of Fundamental Frequency
Minimum Sound Pressure Level Measured in 1/3 Octave Band at 1 Meter
Audibility Range in Nautical Miles
I > 200 70-200 Hz 143 dB 2 II 75 -200 130-350 Hz 138 dB 1.5 III 20 - 75 250-700 Hz 130 dB 1 IV < 20 250-700 Hz 120 dB 0.5

[David M]

The rules intentionally do not define a distance for restricted visibility because this distance would vary depending on a number of factors.

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by markpierce

. (Isn't white the best color for a boat to be less visible?)

Seems pretty much like driving your car in the rain where the chance of a car turning their lights on is inversely proportaional to it's color. If a dark color you can not see, they don't turn their lights on.

[mbianka]

Originally Posted by Don Lucas

Seems pretty much like driving your car in the rain where the chance of a car turning their lights on is inversely proportaional to it's color. If a dark color you can not see, they don't turn their lights on.

In my experience Mercedes and other high end cars are also exempt from using directional signals too! The most dangerous parts of my cruises are the drive from the house to the boatyard.

[jackdale]

Environment Canada uses the following statement in their forecasts.

Fog implies visibility less than 1 mile.

[psk125]

Originally Posted by markpierce

This fellow didn't show any running lights in the fog. (Isn't white the best color for a boat to be less visible?) None of the several boat observed that morning showed any lights. Reminds me of the Philippines where drivers don't turn on their cars' headlights at night (until they notice you coming) so as to conserve their batteries.

Maybe these guys don't consider this to be fog? As several others have noted, fog is when your crew sounds a horn to let you know which side of the cockpit they're on, because you can't see them and they don't want you to throw your empties where they are sitting. You obviously saw this guy, and avoided him. And he you. No harm, no foul. No lights needed. I would worry more about the sport fisherman zipping through on autopilot at 20 knots, even if he had his lights on.

[markpierce]

Originally Posted by psk125

... You obviously saw this guy, and avoided him. And he you. No harm, no foul. No lights needed. ...

That's a bit cavalier. ... I was anchored with anchor light shining. I was concerned about them, not me.

[jackdale]

Originally Posted by psk125

Maybe these guys don't consider this to be fog? As several others have noted, fog is when your crew sounds a horn to let you know which side of the cockpit they're on, because you can't see them and they don't want you to throw your empties where they are sitting. You obviously saw this guy, and avoided him. And he you. No harm, no foul. No lights needed. I would worry more about the sport fisherman zipping through on autopilot at 20 knots, even if he had his lights on.

Read the post right above yours.

Fog = visibility of less than 1 mile.

[GordMay]

The meteorological definition of fog is a cloud (stratus) which has its cloud base on or close to ground, and reduces visibility to less than 1000 metres (1 kilometre or 3,300 ft).
Mist is a visibility of between 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) and 2 kilometres (1.2 mi);
and haze from 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) to 5 kilometres (3.1 mi).