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Post by CorneliaGale on Sept 17, 2014 15:37:29 GMT -5
9/16 report Heading back in we got a nasty surprise. My boat is equipped with "shark eye" halogen headlights. Apparently these run off the same fuse as my nav lights. . . Which I discovered shortly after we began our run back to the ramp when everything on the boat went completely dark! Thankfully my gps runs on a separate fuse, so we managed to avoid running into anybody or anything, but it was a good reminder how quickly things can go unexpectedly south when fishing after dark! Hate to tell you but boats do not have headlights, they are docking light and are to be used only when docking, not running up and down the lake at night. Just so you will know, hate to hear you got a ticket for using them. here is a link to the Navigation rules online, nice to save and look up any questions on navigation rules both international and inland. www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=navRulesContent |
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Post by greenmonster on Sept 18, 2014 6:25:54 GMT -5
What am I missing there- I could find nothing referencing what you described. Can you point me to the right paragraph?
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BentRod
Global Moderator
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Post by BentRod on Sept 18, 2014 6:43:48 GMT -5
Rule 20
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Post by greenmonster on Sept 18, 2014 8:06:01 GMT -5
(b) The Rules concerning lights shall be complied with from sunset to sunrise, and during such times no other lights shall be exhibited, except such lights which cannot be mistaken for the lights specified in these Rules or do not impair their visibility or distinctive character, or interfere with the keeping of a proper look-out.
Is this what you are referring to? Not challenging, just want to make sure I am understanding. As CG indicated, I really do not want get a ticket, but those lights help me to see channel markers and floating debris. Curious if handheld lights would be allowed and why the difference.
Mward, if you want to movethis discussion to a more appropriate section, feel free. I think this is a worthwhile convo.
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BentRod
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Post by BentRod on Sept 18, 2014 8:46:14 GMT -5
(b) The Rules concerning lights shall be complied with from sunset to sunrise, and during such times no other lights shall be exhibited, except such lights which cannot be mistaken for the lights specified in these Rules or do not impair their visibility or distinctive character, or interfere with the keeping of a proper look-out. Is this what you are referring to? Not challenging, just want to make sure I am understanding. As CG indicated, I really do not want get a ticket, but those lights help me to see channel markers and floating debris. Curious if handheld lights would be allowed and why the difference. Mward, if you want to movethis discussion to a more appropriate section, feel free. I think this is a worthwhile convo. Key words are "during such times no other lights shall be exhibited" and "impair visibility" Yes, they are illegal to run with and I personally hate when people use them as they blind oncoming boaters such as myself. Then you've got the guy that wants to make sure you see him and points his spotlight dead in your eyes so that now you can't see anything or anybody else. It's a lot easier to see other boats and lights when your eyes are adjusted to the darkness and not impaired by your own or someone else's spotlight reflecting all over the place. You just have to be careful in debris fields and drive at a safe speed. The channel makers all should be visible with lights unless they're out. |
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Gator
New Member
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Post by Gator on Sept 18, 2014 9:22:21 GMT -5
I am with BentRod on this one. Use your nav lights and let your eyes adjust to the darkness and run at a safe speed. At night I get my boat just on a plane and that is fast enough for me. On another note, I keep extra fuses aboard just in case one blows and they always seem to just when you need your lights. Also, I have the battery powered backup navigation lights stored in a waterproof container with the batteries stored separately. After all, it is a boat and you never know about the condition of the electrical circuits. I could not live with myself if I were to hurt someone or worse.
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Post by greenmonster on Sept 18, 2014 9:31:49 GMT -5
I think this answers my question. Thanks CG for the heads up. Looking over the rule itself, it is only illegal to run the lights if they interfere with the view of the other, required lights, something I can check out this evening. To your point Bentrod, there is another element of courtesy to other boaters, and I agree and generally shut them off if another boater is present. With the amount of debris in the roanoke arm, however, if they don‘t obstruct view of my other lights, and there arent other boaters around, they are very useful at spotting logs, etc ahead of me ( they are angled slightly downward).
Gator, good point on the spare fuse, something I will be adding to my toolbox. I don't ever want to do that run again!
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Post by CorneliaGale on Sept 18, 2014 9:39:00 GMT -5
Take a look at Rule 23, it tells the lights depending on the length of the boat.
Less than 12 meters (39 feet)can use a combination lantern ( a red and green light together mounted on the center line) and a all around light. The red and green lights also can be separate. The all around white does not have to be on center line.
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Post by CorneliaGale on Sept 18, 2014 9:53:56 GMT -5
I think this answers my question. Thanks CG for the heads up. Looking over the rule itself, it is only illegal to run the lights if they interfere with the view of the other, required lights, something I can check out this evening. To your point Bentrod, there is another element of courtesy to other boaters, and I agree and generally shut them off if another boater is present. With the amount of debris in the roanoke arm, however, if they don‘t obstruct view of my other lights, and there arent other boaters around, they are very useful at spotting logs, etc ahead of me ( they are angled slightly downward). Gator, good point on the spare fuse, something I will be adding to my toolbox. I don't ever want to do that run again! Reread the rule and Rule 23, you can not have any other lights on while running at night, only the red and green on the front and the white on the rear. There are two types of lights used on vessels, running lights (the red and green and the white) which tells you which direction the vessel is going depending on which lights you see, and there is identification lighting which tells you what the vessel is doing or that he can't do something. As far as fuses extra bulbs extra lights that is part of Rule 2, Rule of good seamanship andthey should always be carried on board. |
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Post by CorneliaGale on Sept 18, 2014 10:07:31 GMT -5
I know how hard it is to look at the navigation rules and understand them, but when you get behind the helm of a vessel it's up to you to know them. some time when you have some time to mess around go to this website and answer some of the questions, I found it and use it to study the rules. www.raynorshyn.com/NavRules/Default.asp |
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BentRod
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Post by BentRod on Sept 18, 2014 11:14:33 GMT -5
I think this answers my question. Thanks CG for the heads up. Looking over the rule itself, it is only illegal to run the lights if they interfere with the view of the other, required lights, something I can check out this evening. To your point Bentrod, there is another element of courtesy to other boaters, and I agree and generally shut them off if another boater is present. With the amount of debris in the roanoke arm, however, if they don‘t obstruct view of my other lights, and there arent other boaters around, they are very useful at spotting logs, etc ahead of me ( they are angled slightly downward). Gator, good point on the spare fuse, something I will be adding to my toolbox. I don't ever want to do that run again! If you have bright headlights on, I guarantee you nobody can see your bow lights, not that it matters at that point, but I would consider that obstructed view of those lights. Basically it comes down to respect for others no matter how you interpret the rules..yeah we could all run them and blind each other and then run over people we can't see, but I'd rather get home safe along with the next guy. |
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Post by greenmonster on Sept 18, 2014 11:42:15 GMT -5
I think we are good here, folks. Again, appreciate the heads up from Cornelia Gale.
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Post by CorneliaGale on Sept 18, 2014 11:57:14 GMT -5
A lot of boats on SML use them, don't know where they got the idea that they can put headlights on boats. Was doing a vessel inspection and ask to see his lights and when he turned them on a set of bright lights came on, I told him they were docking lights he told me that they were headlights he had put them on and he knew what they were and what they were used for. We also saw a almost new boat down at the fireworks this year with the red and green lights reversed, told them about it and only hope they got it repaired.
Like Bentrod said nothing worse than to have a bright light in your eyes running down the lake. Please don't use them running up the lake or a spotlight scanning the bank. And if you are out at night make sure your lights work and you use them.
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Post by hotdog on Sept 18, 2014 17:51:09 GMT -5
I keep extra fuses on the boat just for that reason. The second part about the battery power back up lights is an excellent idea too. I'm going to get some of those. Thanks Gator. You guys are the best.
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Post by striperjohn on Sept 26, 2014 6:25:17 GMT -5
Greenmonster, one thing you mentioned was using your GPS to guide you back home. I certainly hope you did that while not on a plane. Your GPS light alone can cause "night blindness". I usually turn my off when coming back in, or dim it way down when moving to another location.
I'm not intending this to "pile on", the other guys answered the light issue quite well. I just didn't want the GPS guidance issue left hanging as it got my attention as well.
Cheers,
John
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