sitting in the dark and no lights on

[mnypitboat]

Re: sitting in the dark and no lights on

Are you reffering to a navation buoy? If so, that is also illegal. I almost hit a pontoon boat with 4 men on it on the St Johns River about a year ago. They were tied off to the navigation buoy, not only without any lights, but also blocking the light on the nav buoy. I say almost hit, but not really. I know the area well and knew there was supposed to be a nav buoy there, so I swung a little close to see if the buoy light was burnt out so I could report it when I see these dumbasses fishing tied off to it. They all yelled at me. I was like, really???? You guys are tied off to the navigation buoy blocking it and have no lights on and your mad at me???? We encountered a FWC officer around the next corner and he was already headed that way because someone else had almost hit them and called it in. We were actually on the line with their dispatch when we came across him. LOL. Worked out well. They ended up with several tickets. We doubled back and sat and watched for a while then had a nice talk with the officer. They got tickets for the lights, blocking a nav device, tieing off to the nav device and several safety violations because apparently the anchor light didnt even work. It was poetic justice. Dont yell at me when clearly you are in the wrong.

 

[freddyray21]

Re: sitting in the dark and no lights on

I am going to disagree. I have a stern light, and a mast light. When I turn my nav lights on the front portion(270?) of my mast light, my stern light, and my red and green bow lights are lit.
When I switch it to anchor my entire mast light (360?) is lit. Using just a stern light is not the proper, legal way, as someone approaching from your bow wouldn't see you at all.
Running, this is acceptable for any craft under 65'

OR this is acceptable if under 39' 4"

At anchor, an ALL AROUND light must be displayed.

I was out at night the other night and saw people running with no nav lights, just a mast light. Plus some running with no lights at all. and some yahoo with a pontoon had his spotlight lit while running, like a headlight!!!


*EDIT*
unless you are referring to your mast light as a stern light???
My stern light is mounted flush in my transom, in the white area, in the center, right above the "A" in Twice As Nice.

you are talking sailboat or boat larger then we are talking about here and that is different then a pontoon. let's compare apples to apples.

 

[skargo]

Re: sitting in the dark and no lights on

you are talking sailboat or boat larger then we are talking about here and that is different then a pontoon. let's compare apples to apples.

Ummm, no.

 

[freddyray21]

Re: sitting in the dark and no lights on

I think we are taking terminology here. A stern light is 180 degrees where and anchor light is 360 degrees. Small boats have a combination stern light and anchor light that is 360 degrees. My whole point was to the previous poster who posted " you gotta watch out for the holiday boaters. i met a pontoon friday night after being out fishing. they didn't have any lights on the front only the white light on the back. " my objection to this is if he is anchored it is improper for him to have his bow lights on. He would only use an anchor light.

 

[skargo]

Re: sitting in the dark and no lights on

I agree, it's just terminology.
This is what I call a stern light.

And I call this a mast light, mine attached to my windshield

And a rear facing light, regardless what it's called is not 180*

 

[freddyray21]

Re: sitting in the dark and no lights on

I agree, it's just terminology.
This is what I call a stern light.

And I call this a mast light, mine attached to my windshield

And a rear facing light, regardless what it's called is not 180*

and you are correct. my err was not making myself clear. I am used to smaller boats that only have a combination stern/anchor light. My sailboat has both, but my masthead light is uh on the top of the mast. my whole point was if they are anchored the bow light should be off.

 

[Fed]

Re: sitting in the dark and no lights on

When I turn my nav lights on the front portion(270?) of my mast light, my stern light, and my red and green bow lights are lit.
When I switch it to anchor my entire mast light (360?) is lit.

The part in bold is what I haven't seen before Skargo, you have a mast light capable of displaying both 270 & 360 degrees?
Why would you need a stern light, you could just run your mast light at 360 degrees as both an anchor light & running light.
To my understanding you only need a stern light if your mast light is partially blocked by your mast, I think they want us to have a 360 degree white light and how we achieve it is up to us.

 

[wasilvers]

Re: sitting in the dark and no lights on

I carry a flashlight when fishing at night. I leave my lights on, but I will also shine anyone who looks like they are coming near me. Just enough to get their attention and let them know I am there. Haven't had any close calls yet using this method. I have had an idiot with his bow up in the air just about run me and my daughter over in the daytime. He couldn't see over the hull as he was trimmed badly and didn't look like he was trying to see either. I grabbed my daughter and we were just about to jump out when he swerved. Then looked at me like I did something wrong.

Grrrrr....

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: sitting in the dark and no lights on

well I have ben watching the diffrent responces very carfully, and my thoughts are this , I have never head of any one being cited for having the wrong lights on, and I would think, and from what I have seen if your close to the shore where thier a lot of existing lights in the back ground having nav lights on adds a diffrent color and should make it easer to spot and after all the point isnt what lights to have or run at night , but not getting ran over or hitting some one , personaly I often run nav and stern light while sitting anchored and fog lights and a search light as needed, Now is it the wrong thing to do by law, and the answer is yes, how ever after dark around here law enforcment is at home with thier feet up having a beer. One thing I have observed over the years is this the law is all well and good long after the fact, but it dont mean shi# when its just you out there alone and doing things to keep you safe is the only thing that counts

 

[Scott Chinsota]

Re: sitting in the dark and no lights on

dumb sh#t like that gets people killed. i fish in an intercoastal waterway. if someone runs over you in a scarab doin 50+ yer toast. that anoying little light is to keep you from being turned into chum. if ya dont like it in yer eyes, mount a foil pot pie pan under the cover. it puts a circle of shade in the boat but still shines 360 degrees at full brightness.