Do you have a 360 white light on your dinghy?

[Jdege]

In the YouTube video that inspired this thread, the dinghy had a flashlight on the bow, and was run over by a larger and faster boat coming up from behind.

It's not only your running into things that you have to worry about.

[Copacabana]

A bright flashlight can be useful to light up your dinghy to show others where you are. I have only had to use it once (so far!) to shine the beam directly at an oncoming power boat that seemed to be heading right for me. A small but powerful LED light fits in your pocket and can save your life.

[Discovery 15797]

Originally Posted by Captain Bill

Wrong in Florida! Bring your Dinghy to Florida we can use more money in our states coffers if your dinghy is mechanically powered. The USCG may not ticket you but any Florida LEO sure will. The Colregs and Inland Rules are not the only boating laws one must be familiar with.

I agree, familiarity with laws of the places one operates a vessel is important.

But, if a vessel is fully registered in another state outside the state of Florida, that vessel only has to comply with US Inland Navigation Rules. (I'm pretty sure this has been discussed ad nauseam.)

Florida law provides a 90-day reciprocity time for vessels fully registered in another state. But, it does not allow reciprocity for US documented vessels that are NOT currently registered in another state (that's the gotcha).

However, comments on this thread also seem to be conflating 'international' COLREGS with US Inland Navigation Rules (which do vary slightly).

Internationally registered boats would need to comply with international COLREGS when operating in US waters (including FL). US registered (and documented) vessels must always follow US Inland Navigation Rules when operating within US waters and the Great Lakes.

Bottom line...for US registered boats operating in Inland waters need to follow Inland Navigation Rule 23(c). Internationally registered vessels operating in Inland waters need to adhere to International COLREGS Rule 23(c)(i) OR Rule 23(c)(ii).

[Jdege]

All this talk about abiding by the various local, national, and international rules is helpful and could help you avoid a fine.

But keeping yourself from being run over by a larger, faster boat, after dark, could save you more than a fine.

[senormechanico]

Originally Posted by Hudson Force

'want a cheap all round white light for your dinghy that will not be blocked by passengers in the dinghy? Simply attach a white LED to the top of a bicycle helmet.

New to this thread, and exactly what I was thinking from the first post.
Cheap, effective and portable. Maybe, even rechargeable.

[Jammer]

Originally Posted by Jason Flare

Here’s NY requirements. It appears you need an anchor and a fire extinguisher under 16’:

Safety Equipment-NYSHBCA

New York, and all other jurisdictions I'm aware of, exempt most small boats. Language varies from one jurisdiction to another, in New York, it's "open construction."


https://www.boat-ed.com/newyork/stud...501_700141849/


In Minnesota it's required on boats with "construction permitting the entrapment of explosive of flammable gases or vapors[.]"

[GeneM]

The international rules just say to display a white light. I just bring a bright flashlight and watch carefully when dingying around at night. If a big boat approaches, they get a chance to test their night blindness.

[Captain Bill]

Originally Posted by GeneM

The international rules just say to display a white light. I just bring a bright flashlight and watch carefully when dingying around at night. If a big boat approaches, they get a chance to test their night blindness.

From Rule 23:
(ii) a power-driven vessel of less than 7 meters in length whose maximum speed does not exceed 7 knots may in lieu of the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) of this Rule exhibit an all-round white light and shall, if practicable, also exhibit sidelights;



A flashlight is not an all-round white light.



from rule 21:
(e) “All-round light” means a light showing an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of 360 degrees.

[StuM]

Originally Posted by GeneM

The international rules just say to display a white light. I just bring a bright flashlight and watch carefully when dingying around at night. If a big boat approaches, they get a chance to test their night blindness.

"All round" (q.v.) white light for a power vessel.



Only sailing vessels and vessels under oars can make do with a bright flashlight.

[Pegu Club]

Yes we do, as well as port & starboard running lights. They all easily detach when not needed.

We also use a black ball when at anchor .... ( could not resist)

Fair winds,

[fxykty]

We have a RailBlaza 360 white light that we mount on a one metre pole from our dinghy transom. Most of the time we stay too late on shore or another boat and as it’s dark when we head back to our boat we say to each other, ‘darn, should have mounted the light on the dinghy before we left.’ Then we make do with a torch that lives in the dinghy or our phone flashlights if the torch batteries are dead.

Haven’t found a one piece battery tricolour locally but would use that on the dinghy light pole instead of the all around white.

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by Jdege

Do you have a 360 white light on your dinghy?

https://youtu.be/HwvefNQfqas

I do, xxxxxxxxxx (to make message long enough)

[mikedefieslife]

Rare to see dinghy lights other than a head torch in Europe. As for carrying an anchor, life vests, fire extinguisher and flares, you've got no chance in some of the 2.3m or smaller dinghies I see over loaded to the hilt with an extended Spanish family.

[sailorboy1]

If you sail around Key West and Marathon FL you will see LOTS of lights in dinghies. Because the FWC there like to give tickets out for it.

[MV Wanderlust]

Yep. Our dinghy has an all around white light, red and green marker lights, underwater lights, an interior courtesy lamp, a fire extinguisher, life jackets, a chart plotter and depth sounder, and it's own VHF radio. It's nice (and legal) to be seen and to be prepared but there are plenty of other boats we see at night that are running dark and it's a bit scary.

John