A Plea For Decent Anchor Lights.

[JonJo]

Noelex,

I agree with your plea. But as said you are mainly speaking to the converted. We would be happy if people used even masthead lights, we have arrived in anchorages at 2am and found a fleet of boats largely using garden lights none of which are emitting even the faintest of glows. The worst was a lovely 60' yacht painted dark cherry red, with no lights at all (In Schooner Bay).

The word selfish comes to mind.

On our cat we have 2 'runabout'. all round whites LEDs, on about an 18 inch pole which sit on our targa bar, we put them in each time we arrive (and take them out before we leave (or the boom would take them out). They show fore and aft and sit just above boom cover height, the boom cover has reflective tape. They light the top of the cabin roof.

We too would use radar in inclement weather when entering an anchorage at night and certainly if its misty. Cheap, re-chargeablr spotlights are also invaluable.

The same comment, masthead anchor lights, could be said of nav lights, deck nav lights are much more sensible when working where other close quarter vessels might be anticipated. Masthead lights are fine offshore but much less easy to see against an urban background in a narrow channel.

Jonathan

[zeehag]

estarzinger--thankyou for that....i had brighter lighting in sd, as i was testing out these anchor lights i have. is good to know about the anchorages--i believe the uscg designated those used by the port of sd before leased to mooring company, but i am not certain, i had been advised that they were such and no lights were needed on our moorings.

[nimblemotors]

Originally Posted by downunder

To me someone displaying an anchor day shape indicates an understanding of the regs and a level of professionalism and will tick the boxes in the event of an incident.

I would probably stay away from such a boat and the people on them, as they would be pedantic rule followers and box tickers, not the kind I enjoy being around.
I would have a jack-in-the-box antenna ball

[rwidman]

I have very limited experience running after dark, but from what I have, I think I would be able to see boats in an anchorage and avoid them.

As for the anchor balls, I don't bother to look for them because recreational boaters just do not use them in my area. If a captain runs into an anchored boat in the daytime because it was not showing an anchor ball, he/she has no business operating a boat.

[Travelnik]

Originally Posted by nimblemotors

I would probably stay away from such a boat and the people on them, as they would be pedantic rule followers and box tickers, not the kind I enjoy being around.
I would have a jack-in-the-box antenna ball

ROFL

The universal, "Leave me alone, I'm eating!" signal.

Or, maybe the universal, "Soon hurling over the rail! Stand Clear!" signal?

[SimonV]

One thing has me a bit concerned, being a retired LEO. Some young, ambitious point scoring official may have read this thread, and at this moment is not only sharpening his pencil but signing out a whole bushel of pens and infringement pads. The old saying 5 a day keeps the Sergeant well there's a book full in every bay.

[frant]

Originally Posted by SimonV

One thing has me a bit concerned, being a retired LEO. Some young, ambitious point scoring official may have read this thread, and at this moment is not only sharpening his pencil but signing out a whole bushel of pens and infringement pads. The old saying 5 a day keeps the Sergeant well there's a book full in every bay.

We don't have to panic just yet Simon. Here in lawlessness Australia the boating safety regulations are set by the State governments up to 2 nmile from shore (This I am pretty sure will cover most anchoring situations) .In your lovely state of Qld the requirements to show day shapes is restricted to commercial craft. In Victoria and Tasmania day shapes do not come under required safety equipment (surprise surprise) so your young ambitious officer is likely to get his knuckles rapped for wasting police resources to try to prosecute non existent crime.

[downunder]

I think I saw in Australian or Courier Mail today that the Commonwealth takes over all marine boat registrations from States in July as a result of trying to standardize marine regs.

Just what that means at present I am not sure???

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/nati...-1226114057414

[Reefmagnet]

Originally Posted by downunder

I think I saw in Australian or Courier Mail today that the Commonwealth takes over all marine boat registrations from States in July as a result of trying to standardize marine regs.

Just what that means at present I am not sure???

Cookies must be enabled. | The Australian

They are bringing commercial licensing under the federal banner. The QLD'ers are bitchin' and moanin' cos this makes there licensing fees increase up to threefold.

Nothing to do with recreational users ...... Yet!

[IslandHopper]

Originally Posted by Cotemar

We light up the decks like a cruise ship. We have five solar LED stanchion lights on Port side and five on Starboard side. Have been doing this for ten years now.
Solar LED lights are much better now than they used to be.
Our boat is easier and safer to walk around at night.
It’s a lot easier to find your boat in fog or fowl weather.

We tend to anchor in a lot of remote locations where few boats are, so good lighting is a must have.

They look the goods....

Would you have the make/part number available.....be appreciated

[IslandHopper]

Originally Posted by Reefmagnet

They are bringing commercial licensing under the federal banner. The QLD'ers are bitchin' and moanin' cos this makes there licensing fees increase up to threefold.

Nothing to do with recreational users ...... Yet!

The fees will be the least of their worries.....

Welcome to the AMSA fold......

[SimonV]

Originally Posted by frant

We don't have to panic just yet Simon. Here in lawlessness Australia the boating safety regulations are set by the State governments up to 2 nmile from shore (This I am pretty sure will cover most anchoring situations) .In your lovely state of Qld the requirements to show day shapes is restricted to commercial craft. In Victoria and Tasmania day shapes do not come under required safety equipment (surprise surprise) so your young ambitious officer is likely to get his knuckles rapped for wasting police resources to try to prosecute non existent crime.

Its not local that has me concerned. And my last trip across the Pacific I never displayed or owned a day shape when anchoring and I still don't. But weather permitting I shall soon be anchoring around New Caledonia and Vanuatu and maybe others. I can't find anything on French requirements and Vanuatu, well its Vanuatu.

[GeoPowers]

I like the idea of small solar lights supplementing the all-round mast light in theory. But do you all take them down when not anchored and put them back up again at your next anchorage? If not do you just leave them up, or just take them down when night sailing? Do you use zipties?

Frank

[sailorboy1]

just leave them up and turn them off when underway at night so they don't look like nav lights, most come with a set of various mounts and mine just slide on/off a bracket

[GeoPowers]

Ahh makes sense now- I didn't realize some of them came with an on/off switch! Thanks-

Frank