Extra Lighting
There seems to be a pervasive practice among boaters nowadays to be 'better
seen' by installing and using more lights. However, I disagree, and
thankfully so, so does the US Coast Guard. From the Navigation Center, Dept
of Homeland Security, US Coast Guard, I noted one response to this
topic-``Decorative lights, strobes, or other high intensity or specialty
lights to be more visible at night". This response mirrors my thoughts and
I'm glad to see that the USCG has worded it as they did.
I quote- "Standard lights are displayed aboard all vessels to help others
to identify and to better understand their maneuvering characteristics or
possibly distress. The use of any lights, other than the lights prescribed
by the Rules on its Annexes, is discouraged because of the use of
decorative lights, strobes, or other high intensity or specialty light
could: confuse, rather than make you more visible; obsuscate a vessel's
navigation lights, its characteristics, or cease to provide crucial
direction and aspect information to other vessels; likely hinder a proper
lookout and operators visibility; or, be mistaken for other lights used as
aids to navigation, by law enforcement or public safety vessels."
There's a little more written in this publication, and I encourage everyone
to read the entire response.
*Rudy & Jill Sechez *
*BRINEY BUG-a 34' Sail-Assisted Trawler *
*850-832-7748 *
*www.trawlertrainingabc.com http://www.trawlertrainingabc.com *
Baltimore MD
I agree with Rudy regarding navigation lights underway and of course the USCG is a monolithic goverment organization that follows established dictum. However, most boaters are idiots. When I anchor (about 85% of a given year) I turn on the spreader lights to make my boat obvious to all. Much safer.Jelles Fonda. Talulah KK44035 Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
-------- Original message --------From: Rudy Sechez rudysechez@gmail.com Date: 6/30/21 2:08 PM (GMT-05:00) To: Trawlers and Trawlering trawlers@lists.trawlering.com Subject: T&T: Extra Lighting There seems to be a pervasive practice among boaters nowadays to be 'betterseen' by installing and using more lights. However, I disagree, andthankfully so, so does the US Coast Guard. From the Navigation Center, Deptof Homeland Security, US Coast Guard, I noted one response to thistopic-``Decorative lights, strobes, or other high intensity or specialtylights to be more visible at night". This response mirrors my thoughts andI'm glad to see that the USCG has worded it as they did.I quote- "Standard lights are displayed aboard all vessels to help othersto identify and to better understand their maneuvering characteristics orpossibly distress. The use of any lights, other than the lights prescribedby the Rules on its Annexes, is discouraged because of the use ofdecorative lights, strobes, or other high intensity or specialty lightcould: confuse, rather than make you more visible; obsuscate a vessel'snavigation lights, its characteristics, or cease to provide crucialdirection and aspect information to other vessels; likely hinder a properlookout and operators visibility; or, be mistaken for other lights used asaids to navigation, by law enforcement or public safety vessels."There's a little more written in this publication, and I encourage everyoneto read the entire response.*Rudy & Jill Sechez **BRINEY BUG-a 34' Sail-Assisted Trawler **850-832-7748 **www.trawlertrainingabc.com http://www.trawlertrainingabc.com *Baltimore MDTo access the T&T List archives, go to https://lists.trawlering.com/empathy/list/trawlers.lists.trawlering.comTo unsubscribe, send email to trawlers-leave@lists.trawlering.com with nothing in the subject or body of the message.Trawlers & Trawlering and T&T are trademarks of Water World Productions. Unauthorized use is prohibited.
Rudy, et al,
I both agree and disagree with Rudy. I'm working from memory here so don't
have citations. If someone can fill in that would be lovely. I'm taking a
break from a heavy work day.
The Rules (COLREGS and Inland Rules) are pretty clear about required
navigation lights. They are also explicit that additional lighting
(specifically "work lights" I believe) is encouraged. Such lights are NOT
to be chosen to be confused with navigation lights, including AtoNs. That
means all the deck lights and spreader lights on cargo ships, tug boats,
sail boats, and power boats are encouraged. We could have an interesting
discussion about the wedding cake of a cruise ship, but set that aside.
Strobes are explicitly a distress signal except (I believe) for air cushion
vehicles and submarines. Pink, blue, green, and red LED rope lights
are...let's see what's the right word? Oh yes. Stupid.
I'll go further and point out that if you're worried about low aspect angle
visibility at anchor you should put your second, lower light aft of the
masthead light. See Rule 30. This gives a clue to the good seaman which end
to pass so as not to conflict with your ground tackle. I hang a Davis
MegaLight from my boom over the cockpit.
sail fast and eat well, dave
Dave Skolnick S/V Auspicious
AuspiciousWorks.com
Last year, while running out the Miami main shipping channel in the
darkness of 0400 in a 55-foot trawler with standard nav lighting, I
encountered two inbound cruise ships, one of them at a turn in the
marked channel. I was not going to be comfy running outside that
channel, and I was going to be on the outside of the turn, and I was
uncomfortable that the pilot would not see our diminutive selves in
that turn despite having required lights burning. I felt fortunate to
be in radio contact with the pilot who assured me he had us in sight
and that we would be ok, but had that not been the case, I would have
used my searchlight to sweep from dead ahead of me and thence to the
starboard, never aimed directly at the ship, as a means to alert him
to my presence.
Rich Gano
Frolic (2005 Mainship 30 Pilot II)
Panama City area
-----Original Message-----
From: Rudy Sechez rudysechez@gmail.com
Sent: Wednesday, June 30, 2021 10:44 AM
To: Trawlers and Trawlering trawlers@lists.trawlering.com
Subject: T&T: Extra Lighting
There seems to be a pervasive practice among boaters nowadays to be
'better seen' by installing and using more lights. However, I
disagree, and thankfully so, so does the US Coast Guard. From the
Navigation Center, Dept of Homeland Security, US Coast Guard, I noted
one response to this topic-``Decorative lights, strobes, or other high
intensity or specialty lights to be more visible at night". This
response mirrors my thoughts and I'm glad to see that the USCG has
worded it as they did.
I quote- "Standard lights are displayed aboard all vessels to help
others to identify and to better understand their maneuvering
characteristics or possibly distress. The use of any lights, other
than the lights prescribed by the Rules on its Annexes, is discouraged
because of the use of decorative lights, strobes, or other high
intensity or specialty light
could: confuse, rather than make you more visible; obsuscate a
vessel's navigation lights, its characteristics, or cease to provide
crucial direction and aspect information to other vessels; likely
hinder a proper lookout and operators visibility; or, be mistaken for
other lights used as aids to navigation, by law enforcement or public
safety vessels."
There's a little more written in this publication, and I encourage
everyone to read the entire response.
*Rudy & Jill Sechez *
*BRINEY BUG-a 34' Sail-Assisted Trawler *
*850-832-7748 *
*www.trawlertrainingabc.com http://www.trawlertrainingabc.com *
Baltimore MD
To access the T&T List archives, go to
https://lists.trawlering.com/empathy/list/trawlers.lists.trawlering.co
m
To unsubscribe, send email to trawlers-leave@lists.trawlering.com with
nothing in the subject or body of the message.
Trawlers & Trawlering and T&T are trademarks of Water World
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Dave, I think the encouragement for deck work lights is specifically
for when at anchor. If you want to see what a classic case of nav
lights being mistaken due to too much other lighting on the ship and
measures taken to correct, look at the cruiser USS Belknap collision
with the USS John F Kennedy on a dark night in November 1973. I had
escorted carriers before and after that date, and I can assure you
that nothing was more confusing and dangerous to an escort's
officer-of-the-deck than the confusing lights of the carriers when you
were anywhere forward of their beam. Think the special effects video
of the spaceship in the movie "Close Encounters of the Third Kind."
The Navy took extraordinary measures with its carriers' lights after
this event. A new mast was erected forward of the island to better
define its forward masthead light and installed shields and redirected
topside lights to avoid them shining outwardly. Carriers are still
dangerous to their own escorts, but at least the escorts can now
better determine the aspect of the carrier while in the decision mode
when radar is just insufficient to avoid making mistakes.
Rich Gano
Frolic (2005 Mainship 30 Pilot II)
Panama City area
-----Original Message-----
From: Dave Skolnick dave@auspiciousworks.com
Sent: Wednesday, June 30, 2021 1:52 PM
To: Rudy Sechez rudysechez@gmail.com
Cc: Trawlers and Trawlering trawlers@lists.trawlering.com
Subject: T&T: Re: Extra Lighting
Rudy, et al,
I both agree and disagree with Rudy. I'm working from memory here so
don't have citations. If someone can fill in that would be lovely. I'm
taking a break from a heavy work day.
The Rules (COLREGS and Inland Rules) are pretty clear about required
navigation lights. They are also explicit that additional lighting
(specifically "work lights" I believe) is encouraged. Such lights are
NOT to be chosen to be confused with navigation lights, including
AtoNs. That means all the deck lights and spreader lights on cargo
ships, tug boats, sail boats, and power boats are encouraged. We could
have an interesting discussion about the wedding cake of a cruise
ship, but set that aside.
Strobes are explicitly a distress signal except (I believe) for air
cushion vehicles and submarines. Pink, blue, green, and red LED rope
lights are...let's see what's the right word? Oh yes. Stupid.
I'll go further and point out that if you're worried about low aspect
angle visibility at anchor you should put your second, lower light aft
of the masthead light. See Rule 30. This gives a clue to the good
seaman which end to pass so as not to conflict with your ground
tackle. I hang a Davis MegaLight from my boom over the cockpit.
sail fast and eat well, dave
Dave Skolnick S/V Auspicious
AuspiciousWorks.com
To access the T&T List archives, go to
https://lists.trawlering.com/empathy/list/trawlers.lists.trawlering.co
m
To unsubscribe, send email to trawlers-leave@lists.trawlering.com with
nothing in the subject or body of the message.
Trawlers & Trawlering and T&T are trademarks of Water World
Productions. Unauthorized use is prohibited.
There are a few issues that I notice with anchor lights. The Rule states
that the 'anchor' light should be placed where it is best seen; and at the
top of a 45-55 foot mast does not conform to this requirement. Following a
collision, I've been told, one court has ruled against the light at the top
of a sailboat's mast, stating that it was their opinion that placement was
not 'where it could best be seen'; I'm still looking for that court
opinion.
Another glaring problem that I run across occasionally is someone flashing
a strobe light when anchored under Inland Rules, where the Rules
specifically make a strobe a distress signal.
At anchor, I have no problems with showing as many white lights as one
would want, as long as they don't obscure the all-round white light placed,
as the Rules state, where it can best be seen. White lights, to me, suggest
to stay away.
*Rudy & Jill Sechez *
*BRINEY BUG-a 34' Sail-Assisted Trawler *
*850-832-7748 *
*www.trawlertrainingabc.com http://www.trawlertrainingabc.com *
Two items. 1. I was having issues with nav lights on our 36 year old boat and ordered new LED ones from Amazon. They were very dim and in no way visible the required 2 mile USCG distance. They were not marked as meeting USCG requirements. Told Amazon they had non-compliant nav lights and they said they would notify the sellers. 2. Need Help on this mystery. Boat has twin diesels with upper and lower station. The throttle on port engine is now being changed by starboard control. How is this possible?Reid GanttAtlantic30 Old Ferry Marina, Snead's Ferry NC
Sent from the all new AOL app for Android
On Wed, Jun 30, 2021 at 4:59 PM, Rich Ganorichgano@gmail.com wrote: Dave, I think the encouragement for deck work lights is specifically
for when at anchor. If you want to see what a classic case of nav
lights being mistaken due to too much other lighting on the ship and
measures taken to correct, look at the cruiser USS Belknap collision
with the USS John F Kennedy on a dark night in November 1973. I had
escorted carriers before and after that date, and I can assure you
that nothing was more confusing and dangerous to an escort's
officer-of-the-deck than the confusing lights of the carriers when you
were anywhere forward of their beam. Think the special effects video
of the spaceship in the movie "Close Encounters of the Third Kind."
The Navy took extraordinary measures with its carriers' lights after
this event. A new mast was erected forward of the island to better
define its forward masthead light and installed shields and redirected
topside lights to avoid them shining outwardly. Carriers are still
dangerous to their own escorts, but at least the escorts can now
better determine the aspect of the carrier while in the decision mode
when radar is just insufficient to avoid making mistakes.
Rich Gano
Frolic (2005 Mainship 30 Pilot II)
Panama City area
-----Original Message-----
From: Dave Skolnick dave@auspiciousworks.com
Sent: Wednesday, June 30, 2021 1:52 PM
To: Rudy Sechez rudysechez@gmail.com
Cc: Trawlers and Trawlering trawlers@lists.trawlering.com
Subject: T&T: Re: Extra Lighting
Rudy, et al,
I both agree and disagree with Rudy. I'm working from memory here so
don't have citations. If someone can fill in that would be lovely. I'm
taking a break from a heavy work day.
The Rules (COLREGS and Inland Rules) are pretty clear about required
navigation lights. They are also explicit that additional lighting
(specifically "work lights" I believe) is encouraged. Such lights are
NOT to be chosen to be confused with navigation lights, including
AtoNs. That means all the deck lights and spreader lights on cargo
ships, tug boats, sail boats, and power boats are encouraged. We could
have an interesting discussion about the wedding cake of a cruise
ship, but set that aside.
Strobes are explicitly a distress signal except (I believe) for air
cushion vehicles and submarines. Pink, blue, green, and red LED rope
lights are...let's see what's the right word? Oh yes. Stupid.
I'll go further and point out that if you're worried about low aspect
angle visibility at anchor you should put your second, lower light aft
of the masthead light. See Rule 30. This gives a clue to the good
seaman which end to pass so as not to conflict with your ground
tackle. I hang a Davis MegaLight from my boom over the cockpit.
sail fast and eat well, dave
Dave Skolnick S/V Auspicious
AuspiciousWorks.com
To access the T&T List archives, go to
https://lists.trawlering.com/empathy/list/trawlers.lists.trawlering.co
m
To unsubscribe, send email to trawlers-leave@lists.trawlering.com with
nothing in the subject or body of the message.
Trawlers & Trawlering and T&T are trademarks of Water World
Productions. Unauthorized use is prohibited.
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Trawlers & Trawlering and T&T are trademarks of Water World Productions. Unauthorized use is prohibited.
Have you traced the two individual controlls from topside to lower to
engines? Have someone move the control lever and you watch what happens
at each location. That would be the first step. Is the reverse also true
(port control linked to starboard engine)?
<><><><><><><><><><><><>Mozilla Thunderbird<><><><><><><><><><>
Bob McLeran and Judy Young
Manatee Cove Marina, Patrick AFB Florida
Formerly cruising in MV Sanderling, a DeFever 41 Trawler
which has been sold
Blog: http://mvsanderling.net/Blog
On 7/3/2021 12:56 PM, Reid Gantt via Trawlers-and-Trawlering wrote:
2. Need Help on this mystery. Boat has twin diesels with upper and lower station. The throttle on port engine is now being changed by starboard control. How is this possible?Reid GanttAtlantic30 Old Ferry Marina, Snead's Ferry NC
Had my son drop by with extra eyes and got issue resolved.Thanks
Sent from the all new AOL app for Android
On Sat, Jul 3, 2021 at 1:10 PM, Bob McLeranBob@MVSanderling.net wrote: Have you traced the two individual controlls from topside to lower to
engines? Have someone move the control lever and you watch what happens
at each location. That would be the first step. Is the reverse also true
(port control linked to starboard engine)?
<><><><><><><><><><><><>Mozilla Thunderbird<><><><><><><><><><>
Bob McLeran and Judy Young
Manatee Cove Marina, Patrick AFB Florida
Formerly cruising in MV Sanderling, a DeFever 41 Trawler
which has been sold
Blog: http://mvsanderling.net/Blog
On 7/3/2021 12:56 PM, Reid Gantt via Trawlers-and-Trawlering wrote:
2. Need Help on this mystery. Boat has twin diesels with upper and lower station. The throttle on port engine is now being changed by starboard control. How is this possible?Reid GanttAtlantic30 Old Ferry Marina, Snead's Ferry NC
To access the T&T List archives, go to https://lists.trawlering.com/empathy/list/trawlers.lists.trawlering.com
To unsubscribe, send email to trawlers-leave@lists.trawlering.com with nothing in the subject or body of the message.
Trawlers & Trawlering and T&T are trademarks of Water World Productions. Unauthorized use is prohibited.