Do use Day Shapes

[Clipper4730]

Just curious if anyone here actually uses day shapes or have them aboard. Was thinking of getting some but not sure they are worth it. The appear to be quite spendy.

Thanks for any input.
Will

[markpierce]

[a64pilot]

Some use them and swear by them, myself I have never seen one used on anything other than Commercial shipping.
I think where I frequent not many people would even know what an anchor ball is.

[savoir]

You bet I use one.

If your boat is anchored without a black shape and hit during daylight your insurance company will dump you like a hot potato. The same applies at night if you have no anchor light. How do you think they get to buy all those big buildings?

It's by saying "No" to claims.

I agree that nobody knows what they mean.

[jeremiason]

What Savior said....

You insurance company will have one less thing to bitch about in the event of a claim....

But there is a courtesy part... Other boats will know when you're anchored or motoring with your sails up during daylight....

[woodenboats]

German Police will be happy to collect 40 Euro fine for not using Ball or cone...

Sent from my Lenovo B8080-H using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[John_Trusty]

I agree that most recreational boaters have no idea what a day shape is, and I've rarely seen one on a recreational vessel on the Great Lakes. That said, I've not seen that many recreational sailboats over 12-meters (39.2 ft), so the steaming cone is not required. The limit for the anchor ball is 7-meters, so that's most boats, but I've seen only two. Perhaps I should cruise more.

Why do they make us learn these archaic rules if no one enforces them?

[Stumble]

I have never actually seen a day shape other than on commercial vessels. I won't argue their legality, but I have also never seen or heard of an insurance company making it an issue either.

[Snore]

I would honestly say 99.99999% of recreational boaters do not use them.

Also how many ships who make securite calls about leaving a dock and are constrained by draft show a black can? Wager almost none in Miami almost none in Port Everglades.

All that said, from an insurance perspective a black ball is a good hedge. Like showing an anchor light even if you are in an anchorage.


Sent from my iPhone- please forgive autocorrect errors.

[MarkJ]

I was going to use one for the first time last night!
I was doing a sunset cruise with friends to the Statue Of Liberty and was considering anchoring close in front of it for dinner. Minimum legal distance is 125 yards so virtually up her skirt.
Knowing that many tourist boats use the area I was preparing for the black ball to be hoisted. But when we got there it was quite obvious its just too busy to drop the pick... And rude too, to block others view... Everyone was doing slow passes, so thats what we did.
Sensational sunset More photos than a bus full of Japanese tourists!


Mark

[boatpoker]

It's really nice to be able to say to the judge ....

Yes your honour I was flying the appropriate day signal when that drunken AH hit me.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by Stumble

I have never actually seen a day shape other than on commercial vessels. I won't argue their legality, but I have also never seen or heard of an insurance company making it an issue either.

The practice varies greatly in different places, even within Europe.

We never used them (not sure we even HAD them) in U.S. waters, but in Northern Europe, the rules are followed very strictly, and you can be fined for failing to show the right signs. I follow the rules pretty strictly, certainly the anchor ball 100%. The motoring cone might get left up sometimes when the motor goes off if I think it will come back on soon. The Germans and Dutch in particular are very picky about it, and the CG will fine you ruthlessly. In Baltic waters, I'm not sure how many fines are issued, but it's considered really bad form to fail to show a motoring cone or anchor ball.

Insurance companies will probably be guided by local practice, but I'm not sure I would want to count on it. I think the OP's is a good suggestion. These signals are not meaningless busy-work. Whether you've got a motor on or not with sails up determines the order of maneuvering in a crossing situation. You can really tangle up a crossing with a misunderstanding about that.

[El Pinguino]

Originally Posted by Clipper4730

Just curious if anyone here actually uses day shapes or have them aboard. Was thinking of getting some but not sure they are worth it. They appear to be quite spendy.

Thanks for any input.
Will

Easy enough to knock up an anchor ball out of two slotted plywood discs...

My boat came with a set of plastic shapes.. never been used by me.

In Europe however .. as Dockhead says....

Mind you I've never quite figured out how you satisfactorily display a cone where it 'can best be seen' when you have sails up.

[Hydra]

I am in the 0.00001% of boaters who display a dayshape: a ball when at anchor in an area where I could be underway. When I display a cone, it's for the education of the crew...

Sure, most recreational boaters don't know the signification of a shape. And most don't know the signification of basic signal flags: Alfa, Oscar, Uniform, Bravo on a warship at sea...

Most fishermen in my area are *very* relaxed regarding shapes: they display the 2 cones at all times, even in port or on the hard. On many fishing vessels, the cones are welded in place.

Alain

[savoir]

Originally Posted by Clipper4730

Just curious if anyone here actually uses day shapes or have them aboard. Was thinking of getting some but not sure they are worth it. The appear to be quite spendy.

Thanks for any input.
Will

The black discs are $15 at Defender