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Simi 60 · 19-10-2022, 01:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by requiem

Spotted near Alcatraz the other week, part of the Fleet Week airshow crowd. Not too busy here, but when there's a large number of boats it makes the anchored ones easier to spot.

Attachment 266004

Geez, glad he had that tiny ball up.
If he hadn't I would not have been able to see him and would have ploughed right into him

rslifkin · 19-10-2022, 04:51

In areas where people like to drift around fishing, etc. the ball can be an extra confirmation of "I'm really anchored, so I'm not going to move".

Lodesman · 19-10-2022, 05:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mickeyrouse

I have been through numerous anchorage's of yachties and commercial vessels, including really heavy traffic. I can count on one hand with fingers left over the number of times I’ve seen a day shape of any kind, excluding dredges, which always have them.

You obviously didn't look very hard. It would be a very rare case that a commercial vessel didn't have its shapes up, when required. Many fishing vessels have them welded in place (which is also wrong). When you look for them, they become quite obvious and serve a purpose.

Lodesman · 19-10-2022, 05:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simi 60

Geez, glad he had that tiny ball up.
If he hadn't I would not have been able to see him and would have ploughed right into him

Didn't you make the argument that you could see the anchor chain - now you're complaining that the ball is tiny. I'd argue that ball is a lot more visible than the chain, and likely would be visible from more angles than the chain.

thinwater · 19-10-2022, 06:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by donradcliffe

I count 100 special anchorages. That must mean there are 10000 mooring fields. C300

Interesting. The ratio obviously varies regionally. The ratio is probably 100:1 in the Chesapeake. A mooring field starts with a single mooring, there is no permit requirements in Maryland or Virginia, and there are countless useable creeks lined with houses.

Notice that the MD state web site photo for private (not special anchorage) moorings shows no black balls.

caradow · 19-10-2022, 06:16

I don't understand you guys.
It's the frigging law. So if one chooses not to fly one then do what you want but don't degrade those who try to do the right thing. I do understand the irony of a little black ball on a big boat but I don't make the rules. It would complicate my life more to have to deal with a situation that could occur if the rule is not followed than the effort it takes to hoist a day shape.

Mike OReilly · 19-10-2022, 06:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by carstenb

Not flying one is akin to not using your turn signal when in a car or disconnecting your brake lights

Sorry, but no. This is a false comparison. Turn signal and brake lights are well proven functional tools. They actually make a difference. A dayshape on a recreational vessel serves no such purpose. The only purpose they serve is to follow a law. There are lots of laws that make no sense, which is why so many don't actually get enforced.

I'm shocked to hear people are receiving heft fines for not showing dayshapes. I've never even heard of anyone being fined for not showing a proper anchor light, and that definitely does have a clear function.

Chotu · 19-10-2022, 07:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

Sorry, but no. This is a false comparison. Turn signal and brake lights are well proven functional tools. They actually make a difference. A dayshape on a recreational vessel serves no such purpose. The only purpose they serve is to follow a law. There are lots of laws that make no sense, which is why so many don't actually get enforced.

I'm shocked to hear people are receiving heft fines for not showing dayshapes. I've never heard of anyone being fined for not showing a proper anchor light, and that definitely does have a clear function.

Exactly.

A more apt vehicle comparison would be leaving your hazard lights on when you park your car just in case someone can’t figure out your car is parked and hits it.

**boatman61** · 19-10-2022, 07:15

There is only one day shape for anchoring.. a black ball..

Am curled up on the floor holding my stomach as I read so many usually staunch advocates for ColRegs trashing a ColReg..

Franziska · 19-10-2022, 07:24

Surprising that this spawns such a discussion.
How can one be so lazy & indifferent?

It does take exactly 10 seconds to hoist or store the anchor ball up.
The balls do take zero space to store.
Sometimes they are helpful to others in a busy anchorage.

I do not get why someone would object or even really get into a discussion to do such a simple thing, especially as it might safe your own butt if someone runs into you.

Lodesman · 19-10-2022, 08:45

When moving through a crowded anchorage, if only there was some way to quickly tell which vessels are moving, and which aren't...

Franziska · 19-10-2022, 08:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lodesman

When moving through a crowded anchorage, if only there was some way to quickly tell which vessels are moving, and which aren't...

That's what day shapes and anchor lights are for. AIS helps with that as well...

Mike OReilly · 19-10-2022, 08:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lodesman

When moving through a crowded anchorage, if only there was some way to quickly tell which vessels are moving, and which aren't...

Here's the thing... those of us who cruise in areas where shapes are not used, have no trouble managing this challenge. There are lots of ways an observant crew can use to tell if a boat is moving.

Those of us on this side of the pond are as bemused by you folks needing such as thing as you apparently are for us not needing it. We'd all be better off in this discussion if people stopped demeaning others who clearly can manage without (and with) dayshapes just fine.

I certainly can see where a dayshape could be used in this way, but as I say, IF dayshapes truly made things so much better, it would be apparent in accident & insurance data. Maybe it is... but I've never been able to find it, and I've looked.