Hitting an anchored boat in a sparsely populated anchorage while under sail

[rslifkin]

Originally Posted by smj

I prefer looking at my surroundings when anchoring not a damn screen.
Not all the boats in the anchorage have AIS on so is it ok to run into them with your eyes locked on the screen?
I don’t believe AIS became available to recreational boaters until 2005? What did you do before then? I used my eyes and looked at my surroundings.

It's the same idea as AIS or radar in any other situation. It doesn't replace your eyes (unless you're in zero visibility fog), it supplements them. Depending on the situation, you may have no reason to look down at the screen. But if it's dark, something additional to tell you there's a boat there is a good thing. It minimizes the chance of you not seeing it.

[smj]

Originally Posted by rslifkin

It's the same idea as AIS or radar in any other situation. It doesn't replace your eyes (unless you're in zero visibility fog), it supplements them. Depending on the situation, you may have no reason to look down at the screen. But if it's dark, something additional to tell you there's a boat there is a good thing. It minimizes the chance of you not seeing it.

If it’s dark with AIS I could see the boats anchored with their AIS on, and no others. In that situation I would much rather have the radar on as I would be able to see all.

[Chotu]

Originally Posted by smj

If it’s dark with AIS I could see the boats anchored with their AIS on, and no others. In that situation I would much rather have the radar on as I would be able to see all.

Wow. I wonder if this is why that boat sailed straight into the anchored boat. Maybe they were dopes looking down at AIS instead of what was in front of them?

they were certainly very new at sailing. They were practicing. they were trying to learn how to tack.

[Chotu]

Originally Posted by Drunkonwatch

You have enough pics geolocation no biggie coupled with an active online presence lol zeroed in.

Did I leave a Geo location on on my recent pictures? That doesn’t sound like me.

Where am I?

[ThereAndBack]

Originally Posted by smj

If it’s dark with AIS I could see the boats anchored with their AIS on, and no others. In that situation I would much rather have the radar on as I would be able to see all.

If I'm understanding correctly, you're in favor of not allowing AIS to exist because people might misuse it and believe it to be their only source of navigation.



Did I get that right?



Hell man, I'm with you, lets get rid of GPS too. Too many people looking into their "damn screens" on the chartplotters. Causes millions of collisions a year no doubt. Very unsafe.



^ That last part was sarcasm.

[smj]

Originally Posted by Chotu

Wow. I wonder if this is why that boat sailed straight into the anchored boat. Maybe they were dopes looking down at AIS instead of what was in front of them?

they were certainly very new at sailing. They were practicing. they were trying to learn how to tack.

That crossed my mind as well.
Where we are now there are 226 boats on moorings and another 100 anchored. I see 14 boats with AIS on. I wonder if that’s so other boats can see them or so they can find there boats dinghying home drunk!

[Drunkonwatch]

Originally Posted by Chotu

Did I leave a Geo location on on my recent pictures? That doesn’t sound like me.

Where am I?

All im saying is being online and being paranoid are kinda contradictory if your going to build a Ted K shack to quote you. In your experience is this routine in your unspecified location in the lower 48?

[Drunkonwatch]

I’m drawn to the piles of parts in Florida but seems kinda spring breaky.

[Chotu]

Originally Posted by Drunkonwatch

All im saying is being online and being paranoid are kinda contradictory if your going to build a Ted K shack to quote you. In your experience is this routine in your unspecified location in the lower 48?

I think we can safely say I’m in Florida. And I’ve already told people where I am in Florida in different threads. Just not extremely specifically. I’m in Tampa Bay currently but leaving this week.

this isn’t paranoia. Is carrying a life raft paranoia? Carrying spare parts for your engine paranoia? Is checking the weather before you go to sea paranoia?

It’s called risk mitigation.

[rslifkin]

Originally Posted by smj

If it’s dark with AIS I could see the boats anchored with their AIS on, and no others. In that situation I would much rather have the radar on as I would be able to see all.

In this situation radar is certainly better. But most importantly, it has to be recognized what any of these tools are telling you. It's saying "hey, there's something in this spot." And in the case of AIS, it'll tell you a little about the boat if you care. It doesn't tell you that there's nothing in another spot though.



More importantly, I still can't see a downside to broadcasting AIS while anchored. Worst case, nobody makes use of the information and it's gained you nothing. Best case, it makes someone more aware of you when they're coming into the anchorage at night.

[boatman61]

Why link your ais to your Internet life..???
If someone knows your boats name they just go on Marine Traffic to get your location.. if your switched on.
If you only have a receiver, no sweat.

[Drunkonwatch]

Originally Posted by Chotu

I think we can safely say I’m in Florida. And I’ve already told people where I am in Florida in different threads. Just not extremely specifically. I’m in Tampa Bay currently but leaving this week.

this isn’t paranoia. Is carrying a life raft paranoia? Carrying spare parts for your engine paranoia? Is checking the weather before you go to sea paranoia?

It’s called risk mitigation.

Word I get opsec. I was asking is this common there these kinds of accidents?

[Drunkonwatch]

Originally Posted by rslifkin

In this situation radar is certainly better. But most importantly, it has to be recognized what any of these tools are telling you. It's saying "hey, there's something in this spot." And in the case of AIS, it'll tell you a little about the boat if you care. It doesn't tell you that there's nothing in another spot though.



More importantly, I still can't see a downside to broadcasting AIS while anchored. Worst case, nobody makes use of the information and it's gained you nothing. Best case, it makes someone more aware of you when they're coming into the anchorage at night.

This why we always had radar running at anchor on larger boats a habit I still do.

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by Scubaseas

Oh, NO! Now "THEY" will come and get you.

As long as they bring enough rum to share that is fine. Most cruisers like company.

[Zanshin]

As of this year, most of the superyachts and megayachts no longer broadcast their names on AIS. Just the MMSI. Anyone really interested can use the MMSI to get the registered boat name - but it makes it a bit more involved.
I use AIS as a security item. And I've linked it to this internet presence. But in terms of OPSEC there are just nontraceable accommodation addresses and e-mails so my terra-firma life is not impacted. I feel that the risk of announcing my location versus possibly getting hit by another vessel is an acceptable one.