Our first sunset cruise

[Mark42]

We decided to go out for an evening trip. Wife cooked a great dinner; boneless pork chops with wild rice and black beans w/sauteed onions. She packed up the dinners in a cooler and we set out with the kids (who ate before we left). Found a nice calm area on the Peconic bay by Jessup Neck and just drifted and ate dinner while our 6yr old daughter and 1.5 yr old son fished using her Barbie fishing pole. Then we kicked back and watched the sun set. Really beautiful on the water. Yep, its corny but great fun.<br /><br />After the sun set the bay became smooth as glass and we took off full speed just driving around in the twilight. What a blast!<br /><br />By the time we got near the marina, it was dark. But the lights from town and the partial moon was plenty to see by. I did forget the big halogen spotlight in the trunk of the car but it wasn't really needed until we were backing the trailer into the water and strapping down the boat.<br /><br />What a great time. And it was not a problem driving in the dark or pulling the boat out. We will do this again, but remember to bring the spot light with us.<br /><br />Next time I'll bring real bait and see what we can catch. Hot dogs just aren't doing it.

 

[QC]

Re: Our first sunset cruise

Sounds like a great evening. Some of our best memories are from sunset and night cruises. Just another dimension to boating . . .

 

[brother chris]

Re: Our first sunset cruise

That is one of my favourite things to do is to go boating during sunset, then troll for some fish.<br />Then when it gets just about dark, go for a boot at full blast on a crystal clear lake. <br />Sounds great just thinking about it.

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: Our first sunset cruise

the sunset cruise is great on the right day.Done a lot of night cruises and you have to pick and choose a night where it is calm and there is moonlight.When there is no moonlight,man !!! it is dark.Glad you had a good pm cruise but they are certainly not all like that.Wish they were.

 

[Reel Poor]

Re: Our first sunset cruise

Some of your finest days on the water will be at night.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Our first sunset cruise

Here are some photos from that trip:<br /><br /><br />

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[Mischief Managed]

Re: Our first sunset cruise

Sunset cruising rocks. Nice photos.<br /><br />My favorite susnset shot for now:<br />

 

[ziggy]

Re: Our first sunset cruise

my last evening cruise was my last camp trip to the lake this year(mid oct, seems so long ago ). had a great time, steaks on the grill w/ my girlfriends yummy potato salad on ice for us. um,um. the evening cruise was great but beware, it can be a bit more exciting. there was at least one sailboat on the lake too that night for me. saw him just after dark, comeing towards me. only a white light. went on by and didn't think much about it. comeing back though it's like hum, where'd that sailboat go...yep, he was out there alright. improper lighting, like none looking at him from behind....saw his sails in the small amount of moonlight there was that night. some people, geez....i've seen others out at night too w/o lighting. me included i'm sorry to say, but i did learn my lesson. 30 years ago when i was 16. i was comeing home from work in my boat(16' alum. fishing boat, 10HP johnson), and almost had a head on that night with someone else w/o lights...only luck kept that from being an accident as we both turned to starboard at the very last moment....gave me that heart in yer throat feeling. man, that boat had lights on it the very next day too..... great pics folks. sure do hope winter goes by fast as them pics make me yern for another evening cruise. <br />nowadays, i keep a spotlight on board as basic equiment. ya never know when ya may come home after dark....willingly or not so willingly....

 

[ST]

Re: Our first sunset cruise

Agreed with you ziggy !<br />Some 24 years ago, I was on a Glastron 16 boat, inside the Long Beach (Ca) breakwater after sunset, all of a sudden I saw this big sailing ship heading fast toward me; to this day I can't recalled if it has any light on that sailing ship; my boat has only the typical red/green half split round navigational light on it.<br /><br />Luckily I saw that sailing boat just in time for me to make a sharp turn, avoiding getting crushed by it! I believe the people onboard the sailing ship ever saw my tiny boat just ahead of them!<br /><br />I will surely prepared myself with a bigger lighting, possibly a spotlight like yours, if I needed to go out after dark again!<br /><br />I guess the lesson here is: when boating in the dark, we need to see and be seen<br /><br />Safety first, boaters!

 

[rwidman]

Re: Our first sunset cruise

Be sure you have the required navigational lights on your boat. If you take a spotlight, don't use it as a "headlight" (it's illegal to do so) and remember that using the spotlight will seriously affect your night vision for several minutes. And don't shine it in someone else's eyes.

 

[ST]

Re: Our first sunset cruise

Hi rwidman!<br />Thanks for your advise re. the spotlight! Other than the stern light, what other lighting alternative one can have on the boat, in order to be seen more clearly? As you know, the standard typical navigational light looks pretty tiny, to me. Thanks!

 

[Mark42]

Re: Our first sunset cruise

Mischief Managed, that is a nice photo. Thanks for sharing.<br /><br />You guys, I am glad my lights work. I was afraid that those little lights would get lost easy out on the water, but the sure do show up better than I thought.

 

[Mischief Managed]

Re: Our first sunset cruise

Originally posted by Mark42:<br /> Mischief Managed, that is a nice photo. Thanks for sharing.<br /><br />You guys, I am glad my lights work. I was afraid that those little lights would get lost easy out on the water, but the sure do show up better than I thought.

Thanks.<br /><br />Be sure to put spare bulbs and the tools to change them in your tool kit. They always burn out at the worst possible times. My boat, of course, takes two different kinds of bulbs for running lights. Dumb idea. I'm thinking of going with LED replacement bulbs so they'll last the life of the boat.<br /><br />We did tons of night cruising last year and it is so peaceful and pleasant. I can't wait to do more. It's best on a full or nearly full moon but there's something to be said for pitch black as well. Just gotta take it slow and easy in the dark. GPS will make night boating less stressful too. You'll spend less time worrying about where you are and more time looking for hazards ahead.<br /><br /><br />Dark night<br />