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07-05-2013, 07:39
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#166
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Moderator
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: aboard, cruising in Australia
Boat: Sayer 46' Solent rig sloop
Posts: 24,285
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Re: A Plea For Decent Anchor Lights.
" I am still puzzled why strobes are sold as distress signals (and included on epirbs) when they are not recognized as such by the rule, and 'shall be avoided'."
Evan, perhaps it is merely that "truth in advertising" hasn't caught up with the manufacturers, who see themselves as helping to save lives....while purchasers who may be in the water at night want very much to be seen. Do the Colregs apply to persons overboard?
Ann
__________________
Who scorns the calm has forgotten the storm.
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07-05-2013, 07:40
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#167
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Moderator
Join Date: May 2008
Location: cruising SW Pacific
Boat: Jon Sayer 1-off 46 ft fract rig sloop strip plank in W Red Cedar
Posts: 19,575
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Re: A Plea For Decent Anchor Lights.
Evans, could it be because the personal strobe is not fitted to a vessel, but rather to a person?
It is confusing for sure!
Cheers,
Jim
__________________
Jim and Ann s/v Insatiable II, still hanging out in Port Cygnet. Summer was nice... it was on a Tuesday... and now autumn is here and being pretty nice so far!
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07-05-2013, 07:41
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#168
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Moderator
Join Date: May 2008
Location: cruising SW Pacific
Boat: Jon Sayer 1-off 46 ft fract rig sloop strip plank in W Red Cedar
Posts: 19,575
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Re: A Plea For Decent Anchor Lights.
Jeeze, I think that I have been living with this woman too long! There was no communication between us re the above two posts!
Jim
__________________
Jim and Ann s/v Insatiable II, still hanging out in Port Cygnet. Summer was nice... it was on a Tuesday... and now autumn is here and being pretty nice so far!
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07-05-2013, 07:58
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#169
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Senior Cruiser

Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: 29° 49.16’ N 82° 25.82’ W
Boat: Pearson 422
Posts: 16,166
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Re: A Plea For Decent Anchor Lights.
If Colregs say you shall not use a strobe or flashing light then what is suggested as the proper way to signal distress or attract attention, other than waving and screaming?
__________________
The water is always bluer on the other side of the ocean.
Sometimes it's necessary to state the obvious for the benefit of the oblivious.
Rust is the poor man's Loctite.
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07-05-2013, 08:03
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#170
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CF Adviser
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: sausalito
Boat: 14 meter sloop
Posts: 7,260
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Re: A Plea For Decent Anchor Lights.
Quote:
Originally Posted by skipmac
If Colregs say you shall not use a strobe or flashing light then what is suggested as the proper way to signal distress or attract attention, other than waving and screaming?
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Three shots into the air.
(Probably not a good way to signal the Coast Guard, however.)
__________________
cruising is entirely about showing up--in boat shoes.
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07-05-2013, 08:10
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#171
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Nearly an old salt
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Lefkas Marina ,Greece
Boat: Bavaria 36
Posts: 18,802
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Re: A Plea For Decent Anchor Lights.
No point in banging on , I disagree with your interpretation , you with mine.
Its clear that EPIRBS fall outside the scope of the COLREGS , hence they dont apply, equally a person in the water may use a strobe in whatever capacity they desire, again these are outside of the COLREGS. The COLREGS do not prohibit things they dont cover.
As to "shall' coupled with 'avoid' , thats one for the lawyers. My original comments where about the assumption that strobes are an indication of distress. Clearly under the COLREGs they are not.
Furthermore I see no prohibition on using strobes for other purposes, the wording in rule 36 ( yes the 4 was a typo) is very clear that the 'avoid' applies to this rule only Vessels may exhibit all sorts of lights as long as their intention does not confuse them for navigation lights. Hence I see no issue with using a strobe for anti collision warnings and such strobes have become more common on small yachts, specifically for that. Clearly Rule 36 covers the actions taken specifically to attract the attention of other vessels, equally a yacht flashing an anti collision strobe, is not specifically seeking the attention of a vessel.
It must be stated that several accident reports have mentioned that strobes are not recognised anti-collision lights, but have not mentioned that they are specifically prohibited by the COLREGS for that specific purpose. In this regards they are exactly like the use of white flares ( also sold as anti collision ) in that the COLREGS does not mention their use.
Its clear however that the COLREGS should be updated to allow white strobes to be used as an indication of distress, thus bringing EPIRBS, and the US position into the COLREGS.
__________________
Interested in smart boat technology, networking and all things tech
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07-05-2013, 08:27
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#172
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Senior Cruiser

Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: 29° 49.16’ N 82° 25.82’ W
Boat: Pearson 422
Posts: 16,166
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Re: A Plea For Decent Anchor Lights.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bash
Three shots into the air.
(Probably not a good way to signal the Coast Guard, however.)
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Or the local marine patrol.
__________________
The water is always bluer on the other side of the ocean.
Sometimes it's necessary to state the obvious for the benefit of the oblivious.
Rust is the poor man's Loctite.
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07-05-2013, 10:22
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#173
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Punta Gorda, Florida
Boat: Cruisers Yachts 420 Express
Posts: 1,430
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Re: A Plea For Decent Anchor Lights.
Rule 37 - ***US inland rule only*** A high intensity white flashing light (50-70 times per minutes) is considered a distress signal.
The COLREG does not prohibit strobes as described above for off shore, it discourages them since they can be blinding at night (Go figure). Here is a link from the Philippine's Martime Academy that has a long discussion on the use of white strobes...
Navigators International Rules of the Road' 1998 Ed. - F. Ventosa - Google Books
__________________
Tom Jeremiason
Punta Gorda, Florida
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07-05-2013, 11:12
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#174
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Do… or do not

Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: in paradise
Boat: Sundeer 64
Posts: 13,177
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EPIRB is fully regulated in GMDSS regulations. Another exam that I had to pass in order to be allowed to purchase and use EPIRB, SSB, Inmarsat Class-C etc.
__________________
May the Force be with you!
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07-05-2013, 11:24
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#175
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Nearly an old salt
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Lefkas Marina ,Greece
Boat: Bavaria 36
Posts: 18,802
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Quote:
Originally Posted by s/v Jedi
EPIRB is fully regulated in GMDSS regulations. Another exam that I had to pass in order to be allowed to purchase and use EPIRB, SSB, Inmarsat Class-C etc.
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Use yes , purchase no, anyone can buy them
Dave
__________________
Interested in smart boat technology, networking and all things tech
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07-05-2013, 11:51
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#176
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Do… or do not

Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: in paradise
Boat: Sundeer 64
Posts: 13,177
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Quote:
Originally Posted by goboatingnow
Use yes , purchase no, anyone can buy them
Dave
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Now, may be (everywhere?). Back then, no. You could not even buy a VHF radio without operators certificate when I first got that... on my 14th.
I just checked regulations for distress signals for maritime use and they are regulated by the SOLAS regulations. This includes the strobes.
I think the US can't comply so they have their own regulations as defined by the USCG which is why they have added it I think. Just like the pyrotechnics, life vests etc.
__________________
May the Force be with you!
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07-05-2013, 12:01
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#177
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Nearly an old salt
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Lefkas Marina ,Greece
Boat: Bavaria 36
Posts: 18,802
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In my neck of the woods you could always buy but not operate unlicensed radio emitting equipment !
Dave
__________________
Interested in smart boat technology, networking and all things tech
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07-05-2013, 12:08
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#178
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Nearly an old salt
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Lefkas Marina ,Greece
Boat: Bavaria 36
Posts: 18,802
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Quote:
Originally Posted by s/v Jedi
Now, may be (everywhere?). Back then, no. You could not even buy a VHF radio without operators certificate when I first got that... on my 14th.
I just checked regulations for distress signals for maritime use and they are regulated by the SOLAS regulations. This includes the strobes.
I think the US can't comply so they have their own regulations as defined by the USCG which is why they have added it I think. Just like the pyrotechnics, life vests etc.
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The US is a signatory , so that can't be the case. I beleive the US rules are inland waters only.
Dave
__________________
Interested in smart boat technology, networking and all things tech
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07-05-2013, 13:05
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#179
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Do… or do not

Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: in paradise
Boat: Sundeer 64
Posts: 13,177
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Quote:
Originally Posted by goboatingnow
The US is a signatory , so that can't be the case. I beleive the US rules are inland waters only.
Dave
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Correct; when you sail internationally, your flares, lifevests etc. must conform to SOLAS. This means 12-gauge flares do not comply IIRC. I meet many who think their USCG approved flares and safety items are valid outside the US. I once got some 12-gauge flares and was boarded by coast guard who checked and approved them. These were strange longer than normal shells, reducing diameter for the extra length. May be those are SOLAS approved? This was Colobian CG so may be they are okay with USCG approved.
For the strobe light: sailors from outside the US must check SOLAS, not COLREGS for regulations. I mention this because I read that it was deemed not allowed or regulated.
The reason they don't want us to use a strobe as navigation light is because it is only used for distress or danger or other extreme situations. So, a masthead strobe should never be used under sail to "make them see you better". Or to help son find the boat after drinking or anything like that. It is allowed to use when pirates have boarded or other distress situations. Also, there are strobes to throw after MOB instead of the old normal lights that I still see so often. Genuine distress.
Here is a masthead strobe from Aquasignal that is also IMO approved (so international) : http://www.aquasignal.info/ecat/htdo...48&item_id=327
__________________
May the Force be with you!
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07-05-2013, 13:27
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#180
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 201
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Re: A Plea For Decent Anchor Lights.
Quote:
Originally Posted by s/v Jedi
For the strobe light: sailors from outside the US must check SOLAS, not COLREGS for regulations. I mention this because I read that it was deemed not allowed or regulated.
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Colregs is the international standard to avoid collision at sea regardless of where you are (unless inland waterways, obviously).
Colregs does not deal with lifevests and lights for them and such things.
Equipment (lifevests etc) falls under SOLAS for the international approval, and USCG for the US (it's usually a matter of applying and paying for the second approval).
Quote:
The reason they don't want us to use a strobe as navigation light is because it is only used for distress or danger or other extreme situations. So, a masthead strobe should never be used under sail to "make them see you better". Or to help son find the boat after drinking or anything like that. It is allowed to use when pirates have boarded or other distress situations. Also, there are strobes to throw after MOB instead of the old normal lights that I still see so often. Genuine distress.
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You are once again confusing matters: Colregs does NOT deal with MOB situations, liferafts, lights on horse shoes, life slings, or anything of the sort.
IMO stands for 'International Maritime Organization', and as such, they have been instrumental in drafting the SOLAS convention, and I believe they have had a hand in drafting the COLREGS (as a convention to be signed etc.) But COLREGS and SOLAS are not the same. One deals with avoiding collisions at sea, the other deals with safety at sea and equipment standards (as does the USCG). I hope you can make out which is SOLAS and which is COLREG.
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