Two things I noted about boating at night

[hostage]

This 4th we stayed and watched the fireworks. After the fireworks the armada of boats started to head to the public launch, which wasn't as bad or took as long as I fearing.

1) Docking lights (head lights): Way to many people use these at night. I saw at least a half dozen boats using these, while everyone was headed to the ramp. At least the nearest boat shut his lights off, when I shouted for him to kill them. I guess one advantage of them having them on is that it beacons the people who have no night boating experience and who you should avoid.

2) Towing Vehicle headlights: On a boat ramp that can launch 6 boats at once, it is nice to kill your headlights, before you exit your vehicle to load the boat. It is very difficult/impossible to back up when all you see is a glare of your neighbors headlights. That person turned their headlights off immediately, when I asked politely. Running lights okay, headlights bad.

Feel free to mention any others. I wouldn't have thought of 2, until I was put in that situation.

-Hostage

 

[spdracr39]

Re: Two things I noted about boating at night

Turning off your nav lights when anchored. With all those boats its hard to tell who's moving and who's not. And stay in the boat!! There is no place for swimmers or floaters at night in a crowd of boats. We watched from the shore and the chaos of people that had no clue made me happy I did not remain in the water.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Two things I noted about boating at night

I have small spotlights mouted on my rear bumper of my 3/4 ton (I use it for plowing in the Winter) and they are a huge help when loading onto the trailer however, they are only hooked to my reverse switch.

 

[HellRaZoR004]

Re: Two things I noted about boating at night

Turning off your nav lights when anchored. With all those boats its hard to tell who's moving and who's not. And stay in the boat!! There is no place for swimmers or floaters at night in a crowd of boats. We watched from the shore and the chaos of people that had no clue made me happy I did not remain in the water.

I agree/disagree at the same time. It can be difficult to see people but if you are in the water I suggest a light (which is exactly what we did last weekend). This was so you can tell if someone is in the water.

 

[5150abf]

Re: Two things I noted about boating at night

Probabaly not right but I NEVER shut my nav lights off, I night fish a river so both banks and all the porch lights on them are visible and it is way to easy to mistake an all around for a porch light, not gonna mistake red/green for a boat, not that anyone around here know what an anchor light is.

Those of us that are land locked really don't knwo any of the Coast Gaurd requirement, like signaling with your horn, people hear would just think you went a little bonkers "Why does that jerk keep blowing his horn?"

Running at night is alot different, we normally leave at 5-6pm and stay out till 1am so I have alot of hours in the dark and I agree, headlights on the water are really bad, they blind other boats and actually make it harder to see where you are going, I have a spot I hit when I need to identify an obsticle but it is only on for a second, easier to pick out things with just the moon light.

Never even thought to try the herd on the 4th, looks WAY to scary for me, it is kinda cool to see from shore though, all the red light go out and the green lights come back

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Two things I noted about boating at night

I don't think people should keep their nav lights on when anchored, or even drifting (although technically that is under way). But i also think the single white anchor light is dangerously insufficient in busy waters. I'm in a busy harbor and/or city boating, and a sinlge light is hard to spot. The stupidest rule is the single white light on top of a sailboat mast--lined up with the street and bridge lights.

Boats anchored or even driftnig in crowded water should have some kind of additional light suchas a ligth against the hull, cabin light, light on a super structure, t-top, etc.

But not the super bright spreader lights or worse, headlights

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Two things I noted about boating at night

I would just be happy if most of the boats had working lights.

 

[64osby]

Re: Two things I noted about boating at night

I would just be happy if most of the boats had working lights.

The local launch has that issue, one night I saw 5 little tinnys out after dark with no lights. Navigation by sound and lack of a reflection on the water.

 

[acarter92]

Re: Two things I noted about boating at night

Yep, we were out for the firework in the chesapeake and I saw way too many boats with their docking lights on. They are horabble and they don't even seem like the help the operator see any better, not to mention it's illegal to use them within 100' or so from the dock.

I also saw more than one boat with backwards nav lights (red and green switched). Not sure how this happens, I guess when they change the bulb they put it together wrong. Not a real big deal but I did have to look twice (and laugh).

I think the best thing is to just go SLOW, there will always be boats with improper lighting. If your going no wake speed it's unlikely you will have any problems either way, except for the guy who is doing 20+ mph and runs into you. I have to say I was impressed with everyones behavior when I was out. 90% of the boats were going slow and safe.

Austin

 

[Tagerman]

Re: Two things I noted about boating at night

Cheap solution I use when anchored at night to keep people from confusing you with dock lights or other lights on the lake is I get some of the glow sticks where you crack them and they light up from the dollar store and hang them from my railing. They are like a dollar for a pack of 5 and considering most marine lights are outrageously priced it's a cheap solution.

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: Two things I noted about boating at night

Or you can lighty up your boat to look like a ufo and no one will hit you,lmao.

I actually run two all around lights, one lights my flag up nicely at night and that adds to the visability to others. When people blind me, I have a spot light to give them the same enjoyment after dark that they give me with there spots or driving lights. They usually get the hint pretty quik but then you have those that have not a clue. Its illegal here to run with spot lights/headlights on while underway. They are excepted for spotting debris in short spurts.

I usually wait for the crowds to leave before pulling anchor on any holidays, then just leisurely head back to dock. Its amazing what just one or two hours does, because most are in a hurry to get home for some reason. I would say 60 percent of my time on the water is after the sun goes down. radar is priceless also.

Think they will see me? If not, turning the flashing blue and red on usually does the trick!

 

[Maclin]

Re: Two things I noted about boating at night

My Boat came with a post light that I can stand up on the windshield. It has 2 lights about an inch apart. One comes on when I hit the Nav switch. Both lites come on when I hit the Anchor switch.

I looked this up a long time ago and as I remember this followed some protocol. Double nav lites "up top" meant the boat was anchored.

 

[bekosh]

Re: Two things I noted about boating at night

Or you can lighty up your boat to look like a ufo and no one will hit you,lmao.

Kind like this little gem I saw last week.

Of course if you live in an area that the CG patrols you might still get hit, with a citation for improper lighting.

Think they will see me? If not, turning the flashing blue and red on usually does the trick!

You're with the CG/Police? If not, that could get you in a whole heap of trouble.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Two things I noted about boating at night

You're with the CG/Police? If not, that could get you in a whole heap of trouble.

I'd be reporting that person IMMEDIATELY if someone turned on red/blue's on a boat I knew was not a official patrol vessel. And the amazing part is, law enforcement will pretty much drop everything to respond to that, doesn't matter if they are going to an armed robbery, impersonating law enforcement ends up going to the top in a hurry.

 

[hog88]

Re: Two things I noted about boating at night

A few weeks ago we were heading back to the ramp, no moon, dark as a well digger's ***** and just above idle speed. About 50 yrds infront of us a light comes on, someone just happened to turn on a galley or some other interior light. This was an 80+ foot houseboat anchored with NO exterior lights at all.

Scared the crude out of me and the wife, thank goodness we were going slow enough to change course. What the heck were they thinking anchored without lights?

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: Two things I noted about boating at night

Kind like this little gem I saw last week.
View attachment 157658
Of course if you live in an area that the CG patrols you might still get hit, with a citation for improper lighting.


You're with the CG/Police? If not, that could get you in a whole heap of trouble.

Actually there is nothing illegal about it, as long as you have your proper lighting on as well, there is nothing they can say. If so, they would have to stop every cruise ship on the water,lol

My flashing lights flash more than just blue and red, there is some white in there also, so technically not against the law. If it was a choice of getting a citation or getting hit, I'll take the citation any day.

I'd be reporting that person IMMEDIATELY if someone turned on red/blue's on a boat I knew was not a official patrol vessel. And the amazing part is, law enforcement will pretty much drop everything to respond to that, doesn't matter if they are going to an armed robbery, impersonating law enforcement ends up going to the top in a hurry.

Nah, one of my best buds here is a patrol officer on a patrol vessel and they never bother unless your breaking the law really bad. Mostly intoxication, which I never am because I don't drink. How exactly would you know if I was a "official" patrol vessel anyway. They run all sorts of boats around here and not all are marked. And like I said, the flashing lights have white in there also or green depending on what button is hit. Its amazing how quik boats will slow down and turn when they see any flashing lights, no matter what color.

I have yet to see a boat pulled over for led lighting. But I also don't flash them while underway. They are static if I am moving.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Two things I noted about boating at night

Actually there is nothing illegal about it, as long as you have your proper lighting on as well, there is nothing they can say. If so, they would have to stop every cruise ship on the water,lol

My flashing lights flash more than just blue and red, there is some white in there also, so technically not against the law. If it was a choice of getting a citation or getting hit, I'll take the citation any day.




Nah, one of my best buds here is a patrol officer on a patrol vessel and they never bother unless your breaking the law really bad. Mostly intoxication, which I never am because I don't drink. How exactly would you know if I was a "official" patrol vessel anyway. They run all sorts of boats around here and not all are marked. And like I said, the flashing lights have white in there also or green depending on what button is hit. Its amazing how quik boats will slow down and turn when they see any flashing lights, no matter what color.

I have yet to see a boat pulled over for led lighting. But I also don't flash them while underway. They are static if I am moving.

I think you need to reread the Nav lighting reg's
Actually it is illegal, if they are on under way and are deemed by the Fish and Game or Coast Guard to be an interference with navigation/ lights and or channel markings you will be cited.Local laws might have restrictions on this also.

 

[countryboy26047]

Re: Two things I noted about boating at night

Well, not to get away from the "Great Lighting debate" (lol) but, I will start by saying this... I have only captained a boat at night a few times, all within the last couple weeks...Been on many boats after dark, but was always just a passenger.. Anyhow, after seeing quite a few boats running 30-40mph down the middle of the river in total dark, some with and some without their NAV lights on.... I have decided that when I'm out after dark and underway, I stick close to the riverbank, and just putt along at around 5mph.. If I'm out that late, I'm in no hurry anyhow since chances are I'm off the next day.

 

[countryboy26047]

Re: Two things I noted about boating at night

A few weeks ago we were heading back to the ramp, no moon, dark as a well digger's ***** and just above idle speed. About 50 yrds infront of us a light comes on, someone just happened to turn on a galley or some other interior light. This was an 80+ foot houseboat anchored with NO exterior lights at all.

Scared the crude out of me and the wife, thank goodness we were going slow enough to change course. What the heck were they thinking anchored without lights?

Say, you wouldn't happen to have been on the Ohio River when this happened, were you??? I had a very similar 'incident' on July 3rd... we had been anchored for a few hours fishing... had my anchor lights on, no nav lights... anyhow, every time there would be a break in music on our stereo, we could hear loud music coming from somewhere just north of us... Well, we pulled anchor, and I started basically idling up-river.. all of the sudden we come upon this 50-60' party barge, with 5 other boats moored to it and probably 50-60 people on the deck..... absolutely NO lights, except for one or two of what I'm assuming were those little citronella candles burning... I couldn't believe that out of all those people and boats, apparently not a one of them had ANY common sense AT ALL...

 

[Campylobacter]

Re: Two things I noted about boating at night

Had 2 scares this weekend,

1st, came within about 100' of a totally dark boat in the channel, I was on plane but just barely. I do this run at least once a week and know the water very well, but this scared the poop out of me.

2nd, while watching the fireworks I managed to rotate my seat so that it dislodged the anchor light plug and short it out. This caused the all the nav lights to go out in the middle of the lake, and people would be leaving soon! At this point I went ahead and used the "headlights" (the only way others could see ME0 and got to shore ASAP to figure out the problem.

scary stuff.