silliest question of the day

[Mogwai]

I was out the other night with a mate and he was telling me when under way at night I need a white light at the back(stern) of my boat is this true if so can I use my anchor light when under way

Thanks
Mogwai

[flotsom]

if you have a white light 360 degree showing it would indicate to me you are anchored not underway, a anchor light is just that a anchor light, all rules and regs are in the marine safety website and is wortha look for your self.

[MulletMan]

Don't forget that when anchored, you are not permitted to have your running lights on i.e. red and green port/stbd lights!

The Patrol guys will chip you if you do!

[bay_firey]

Taken from MSQ Web site

http://www.msq.qld.gov.au/qt/msq.nsf/index/nav_lights


" Power driven ships must show sidelights and either an all round white light or a stern and mast head light. Sailboats under engine power are considered to be power driven ships, and must show the same lights as a power driven ship."

[Mr__Bean]

Just to clear this up 100%.

The white light visible all the way around the boat is not just an anchor light.

# # It must be on at all times when operating at night (along with your other navigation lights).

# # AND

# # It must remain on when at anchor (other navigation lights off).


Correct????????

- Darren

P.S. No such thing as a silly question if you ar not sure of something .....

[flatstrap]

You might think it's a silly question (which it isn't) but I'll tell you what looks sillier; colliding with another craft because the correct lighting wasn't displayed. The silliest case of all is no lights at all...... flatstrap

[Grand_Marlin]

Spot on Mr Bean.

It is never a silly qustion.... if you dont know, ask...

And by a couple of the replies, a few others could do with a refresher as well.

Also remember that as your boat gets bigger, the rules change with masthead lights, stern lights etc... but I dont think Mogwai is operating a small ship !

Mogwai, the stern light on an outboard powered boat is next to useless as it is obscured by the outboard and cant clearly be seen from all angles.

Cheers

Pete

[dnej]

Just to add my two cents worth,an all round light can consist of two lights, if one doesnt cover the all round situation.

For example, one at the front of a canopy,may not be seen from the stern, but having a stern light as well, corrrects that , as the two make an all round light.
What I dont like, is that no one in authority, seems to understand, how much your vision is impaired, when the all round lights are on, when running.

Any one agree
David

[Fishin_Dan]

dnej - Some lights do make it very hard to see when driving at night. This is usually due to where it is located though. The main place it causes hassles is when it is mounted just in front of the windscreen on a pole. It's above your eye height, but shines down as well.

Moving the light so it is up on top of the canopy will reduce that immensly. Obviously this is not always possible for all boats...

[dnej]

That is exactly where mine is situated, due to space,in front of the screen, and yes it shines down as well.Is one brand of light better than another, for the specific purpose.?
Regards David

[impulse492f]

http://www.maritime.nsw.gov.au/nav_night.html#powerdriven



Navigation at Night

The waterways are not like well-defined roads. It is unsafe to navigate a vessel with lights illuminating the water directly ahead because it will deprive you and other vessel operators of night vision. Spotlights can be used to identify specific hazards, but this should only be done when operating at very slow speed and without affecting other waterway users.

The most important rules to remember when driving a boat at night are to slow down and keep a good lookout. The speed of travel should be much less than that travelled by day.

Remember the following:

* not all navigation hazards have lights indicating their position (especially moored vessels, shallow areas, oyster leases, and many navigation markers)

* background lighting on the shore can cause confusion
* all vessels (except certain moored vessels in approved mooring areas) are required to show some form of lighting

* a safe speed is a speed at which sufficient action can be taken in time to prevent a collision. At night this is a very slow speed.

Vessel Lights

Navigation lights or an equivalent are required to be shown or be available to be shown by all vessels between sunset and sunrise. Vessels which have navigation lights must also show them between sunrise and sunset when visibility is restricted.

The lights of a small power vessel should look like this:

http://www.maritime.nsw.gov.au/images/handbook/NavigationAtNight_a1.gif

or

http://www.maritime.nsw.gov.au/images/handbook/NavigationAtNight_b1.gif

http://www.maritime.nsw.gov.au/images/handbook/NavigationAtNight_a2.gif http://www.maritime.nsw.gov.au/images/handbook/NavigationAtNight_b2.gif
http://www.maritime.nsw.gov.au/images/handbook/NavigationAtNight_a3.gif http://www.maritime.nsw.gov.au/images/handbook/NavigationAtNight_b3.gif

Power Driven Vessels

Power driven vessels underway must, as a minumum, exhibit the following lights:

Vessels less than 7m in length & with a maximum speed of 7 knots or less

(a) masthead light forward
(b) sidelights and
(c) sternlight.
or
(a) all-round white light; and
(b) sidelights (only if practicable).

Vessels less than 12m in length

(a) masthead light forward
(b) sidelights and
(c) sternlight.
or
(a) all-round white light and
(b) sidelights.

Vessels 12m or more in length but less than 50m

(a) masthead light forward
(b) sidelights and
(c) sternlight

Vessels 50m or more in length

(a) masthead light forward
(b) second masthead light abaft of and higher than the forward one
(c) sidelights and
(d) sternlight.

Anchored Vessels

Vessels less than 7m in length

(a) no lights - if not anchored in a narrow channel, fairway or anchorage or where other vessels normally navigate.

Vessels less than 50m in length

(a) all-round white light

Vessels 50m or more in length

(a) in fore part - all-round white light or one ball and
(b) at or near stern and at lower level than light in (a) – all-round white light.

Drifting Vessels

Vessels which are drifting are still 'underway' and must show the same navigation lights as if they were still making way. For example, if a power vessel is drifting it must show its white light and side lights.

Sailing & Rowing Vessels

Sailing vessels less than 7m long and rowing vessels must as a minimum have a torch or lantern showing a white light, ready to display in time to prevent collision. It is however, strongly recommended that rowing sculls show an all-round white light between sunset and sunrise.

Sailing Vessels (7m or more)

When underway a sailing vessel of 7m or more must show:

* sidelights and
* sternlight.

The lights of a sailing vessel should look like this.

http://www.maritime.nsw.gov.au/images/handbook/NavigationAtNight_sail1.gif

http://www.maritime.nsw.gov.au/images/handbook/NavigationAtNight_sailAnchored.gif http://www.maritime.nsw.gov.au/images/handbook/NavigationAtNight_sailAstern.gif

http://www.maritime.nsw.gov.au/images/handbook/NavigationAtNight_sailAhead.gif http://www.maritime.nsw.gov.au/images/handbook/NavigationAtNight_sailCrossingPort.gif http://www.maritime.nsw.gov.au/images/handbook/NavigationAtNight_sailCrossingStarboard.gif

Note: this is different from a power vessel.
Sailing Vessels Propelled by Engines

If a sailing vessel is using an engine to propel it even with sails up, the regulations consider it to be a power driven vessel. In this case, a sailing vessel MUST display the same lights as a power driven vessel.

[2iar]

dnej - Some lights do make it very hard to see when driving at night. This is usually due to where it is located though. The main place it causes hassles is when it is mounted just in front of the windscreen on a pole. It's above your eye height, but shines down as well.

Moving the light so it is up on top of the canopy will reduce that immensly. Obviously this is not always possible for all boats...

Good point. I also find my all round light gets in the way a bit when at anchor (it's near the gunnel rod holders on the starboard side). So what I did was buy one of those battery operated ones for about $20. I then attached it to a bit of 20mm PVC tubing I had lying about, and put a piece of bamboo cane through the PVC for support. Now when I'm at anchor, I remove my all round light, which means I can use the rod holders, and use the portable one in a rod holder on the bimini pole. This keeps it high, out of the way, and I don't get any glare since it's above the bimini. If you've got rocket launchers, this would also work. Just don't forget some spare batteries.

Good luck,
Mike

[Fishin_Dan]

Mike - Where yours is is a horrible place for them.... Also I don't think it would be 360 degree visible because of the cabin....

For your boat, it would be pretty easy to re-route the wiring from the current place to up on your rocket launcher ;) Then it's still the same switch to turn it on/off, and no need to worry about batteries

[2iar]

Mike - Where yours is is a horrible place for them.... Also I don't think it would be 360 degree visible because of the cabin....


I agree it's not ideal, but it's no problem when running. I don't troll at night as I might hit Mud again :-)

I'm sure it's legal though - it's high enough to be visible over the dash, but low enough to be visible under the bimini. I'm fairly sure I asked the question when I bought the rig.



For your boat, it would be pretty easy to re-route the wiring from the current place to up on your rocket launcher ;) Then it's still the same switch to turn it on/off, and no need to worry about batteries

Yep that's the long term plan - I didn't want to go to the trouble of relocating the wiring and housing until I put "proper" rocket launchers on later, so this will do in the meantime. Of course, if you want to throw a few bucks my way, I'll get the RL's, re-wire, plumb the livewell and fit a new GPS & sounder and install a proper dual battery system. $5000 will do, thanks ;)

Got you mail BTW. I'll be in touch.

Good luck,
Mike

[BlitzBaga]

I just bought a pair of LED navigation lights, they are exeptionally bright and don't use much power.

Cheers
Murray

[Grand_Marlin]

Hi All,

I have mounted anchor lights on standard biminis by bolting or riveting a small aluminium plate to the "bow" of the canopy.

Run the new wire either inside the bow or just inside the material of the canopy.

Looks neat, works well, and you dont need the rocket launcher to achieve it.

Cheers

Pete