A Plea For Decent Anchor Lights.

[rwidman]

On a related subject, I have never seen a recreational boat showing an anchor ball when anchored in the day time and of course, I don't have one and don't display one.

I'm sure one or two people here will have one and claim to use it, but what are other people's experiences? You see anchor balls or not?

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by rwidman

On a related subject, I have never seen a recreational boat showing an anchor ball when anchored in the day time and of course, I don't have one and don't display one.

I'm sure one or two people here will have one and claim to use it, but what are other people's experiences? You see anchor balls or not?

You don't have to do this. But it also means you're breaking the law and that you are not insured and always the party at default in case of a collision.

I know places where it is enforced by writing tickets.

[boatman61]

Seen quite a few cats with blue lights shining down onto the water from under the bridgedeck over the last year or so.. definitely makes em stand out well

[rwidman]

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

...............

I know places where it is enforced by writing tickets.

Where?

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by rwidman

Where?

Europe, Caribbean.

[Boracay]

I'll go along with the poster who said we should be using a low down blue light when at anchor.

I brought one of the Bebi Owl LEDs for when returning for the boat at night but have not used it at anchor, though we do have two bright white LEDs at the stern just above the cockpit cover. I fitted a cigarette lighter plug and can hang it inside the dodger.

I will admit to feeling that it would be slightly silly and pretentious to show it at anchor and did feel rather vulnerable being so visible when I tried it.

It's the closest to an effective legal auxiliary anchor light that I can think of.

Can we agree that it is highly desirable to have it lit while at anchor?

[Kettlewell]

kettlewell,when you anchor in a beautiful bay with hills around it and lighted homes and restaurants, i PROMISE no one will see your anchor light.

That's why I said I also have two lower lights, one on each stay, forming a pattern I can see from a distance, and illuminating the deck from closer range.

But, no matter how good many of our anchor lights are, there will always be some poor ones and many without, so it still comes down to you to navigate your way safely through the anchorage at night and not to depend on everyone being well illuminated. And yes it sometimes means waiting until dawn to see better, or maybe anchoring in another spot where there are fewer hazards after dark. Done it many times in order to avoid blundering around a crowded anchorage in the dark. For one thing, no matter how great the anchor light, someone always has a trailing sailboard behind on a long line, or someone has stupidly deployed a tiny anchor float in the hopes of fouling your prop. In Maine you can just about count on winding up a lobster float if you wander around after dark.

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by rwidman

Where?

In San Diego in the late 80's for one... ask me how I know!

And from your skeptical tone you may not believe me, but we routinely display the anchor ball, and see a small few others in the South Pacific. Mostly on European boats and boats with professional crew.

What I have never seen myself is the inverted cone for motor sailing...

Cheers,

Jim

[sailorchic34]

Originally Posted by rwidman

On a related subject, I have never seen a recreational boat showing an anchor ball when anchored in the day time and of course, I don't have one and don't display one.

I'm sure one or two people here will have one and claim to use it, but what are other people's experiences? You see anchor balls or not?

Vessels under 20 meters in an anchorage are not required to show a black ball day shape.

[Kettlewell]

Vessels under 20 meters in an anchorage are not required to show a black ball day shape.

That is only the case in a designated "Special Anchorage" area, which are relatively rare and only within the USA.

I'm not sure I've ever seen an anchor ball used by a recreational vessel. They are certainly not seen very often between Canada and the Caribbean.

[s/v Jedi]

A picture to show it:



This is in the Caribbean.

[model 10]

It's a little flamboyant but I also turn on this Red truck LED tail light I have mounted inside the cabin. They have connections for both tail and stop and on stop, our boat looks like it's going to explode.

[JPA Cate]

Our vessel is well under 20 m. in length, as you can see from our avatar... About 2 months ago, we had the British couple from the yacht next to us in Sandy Bay come over in the afternoon. They actually thanked us for flying our anchor ball! And the next day they put up theirs!

Jedi's right, without proper signals where required, you are uninsured! But for us, who are over 30 ft., but under 60 ft., the fact is that in this day of litigious people, anything we can do to show that we are doing all we can to be seen can ultimately work to our benefit.

[rwidman]

I call BS on the "uninsured" if you're not showing an anchor ball. Just because you violated a regulation doesn't let the insurance company off the hook. If it did, they would almost never pay out.

Example: You run a stop sign (in your car) and someone hits you. It's your fault but the insurance pays.

Your policy lists exclusions. A few that come to mind are are racing, illegal activities (like drug running), etc.

[Reefmagnet]

In Australia I've never seen anchor balls used, but I did find one in the inventory of my 27 footer when I got it (it came over from Europe). Tbh I didn't know what it was at the time so went and had a look at the COLREGS. I can only conclude that displaying anchor balls on even small recreational vessels must be enforced somewhere.