| Author | Message | ||
     Ted Lavino Moderator Username: tlavino Post Number: 46 Registered: 01-2006 |
Greetings folks, some pithy comments from my former crew mate Arnstein Mustad, senior instructor at Club Nautique in San Francisco: What a great Kaboom, eh? I thought so anyway. What was with those slow moving fireworks that wiggled their way into the sky, very cool! Did ya notice the ordered chaos right after the show? Channel 16 was relatively quiet. I expected to hear, but didn't, a lot of "F*^@ You's" and the like from Mr. Stand-on O-Porty and Mr. Better Dead Than Wrong Murphy. That was the good news... But please answer me this...what the heck was going on with all the navigation lights? Are people just not aware of which lights to turn on at night? Heck, there aren't that many choices. I figured that 1 in 5 boats that I saw showed improper navigation lights or were in violation of other COLREGS regulations. Come on folks, it's bad enough that a third of the boats had fenders banging their topsides. This is San Francisco...the Mecca of sailing! We should know better than this! * I saw several sail boats with tri-colors lit (on top of the mast) and steaming lights on. This is a no-no and may confuse others as to your identity and aspect. On the port bow you'd see Red over White (Fishing and not making way), and on starboard Green over White (Trawling and not making way). Besides, the tri-color is the worst nav light because it is on top of the mast where it blends into the background lights of the city. Tri-colors are for "under sail" only! * I saw anchor lights over steaming lights over running lights. Lets see, White over White over Red/Green bow lights...yes, that must be a tug with a tow less than 200 meters or a power driven vessel. Wrong, it was an idiot who forgot to turn off his anchor light! * I saw an anchor light with no running/steaming lights while making way. Perhaps he was dragging his anchor at 6 knots? * I saw running lights and no steaming lights for a sail boat under power. Smart move! This skipper was able to gain the stand-on over all the other power driven vessels because he had to be under sail (of course he's assuming the other guys know something about navigation lights). * I saw a strobe light on top of the mast with running and steaming lights. So I called the USCG and told them they were in distress and needed immediate assistance because that is what a "strobe light" means under the INLAND NAVIGATION RULES. * I saw boats using spot lights to find other boats...embarrassing them (shining it into their eyes) with their light is a big no-no. * I saw vessels with so many lights turned on you didn't whether they were coming or going...and neither did they! * I saw one boat skippered by Captain Super Safety Sam with his custom Volvo Station Wagon inspired abundance of SOLAS grade reflective tape and extra nav lights...yes, he had two extra red and green running lights (if one is good then two must be better!), and he had some big "U" shaped florescent array of lights mounted on his push pit that stood about two feet high. And I bet his boat goes BEEP, BEEP, BEEP when he goes into reverse too. I wonder if Mr. Volvo Station Wagon Guy realizes that he's breaking about 6 different navigation rules. Not very safe now, are you buddy? All I can say is thank god it wasn't foggy or I'd be talking about sound signals as well. At least all the "KABOOMS" were up in the sky! Nice job KFOG! | ||
| Susie Campbell Senior Member Username: Susie Post Number: 92 Registered: 10-2002 |
You don't need running lights on a power-driven unless your over 7 meters. | ||
| Ted Lavino Senior Member Username: Tlavino Post Number: 205 Registered: 01-2004 |
Hi Susie, the way I read Rule 23c is that any power driven vessel under 12 meters in length must exhibit a masthead light, stern light and side lights. If the vessel is under 7 meters in length AND travelling at less than 7 knots then you have the option of omitting side lights and combining the stern and masthead light into an all-around white light. In all cases my understanding is that a power driven vessel always is required to have some sort of light. In our discussion in class regarding a flashlight in lieu of running lights, I was speaking of a sailboat of less than 7 meters in length or an oar-powered vessel of any length, which would only require a flashlight or lantern to be used to avoid collision, which is discussed in Rule 25. A reminder to those that did not catch my post in the resources thread, official information reqarding Navigation Rules are online at: http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/mwv/navrules/rotr_online.htm , and can be downloaded from http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/mwv/navrules/download.htm Cheers, Ted | ||
| Susie Campbell Senior Member Username: Susie Post Number: 93 Registered: 10-2002 |
Thanks for the web site on navigation rules. The way I see it is...a power driven vessel under 7 meters/7kts has to have the all around light but the running lights are opptional. They leave it up to your own judgement...is it practicable for you to have running lights? I think it's practicable but they couldn't give me a citation if I didn't have them. | ||
| Ted Lavino Senior Member Username: Tlavino Post Number: 211 Registered: 01-2004 |
Hi Susie, I guess I didn't understand what you meant by "running lights" I was assuming what you meant was a generic term for navigation lights, but it sounds like what was really meant was side lights, the official term for the red and green lights most smaller boats exhibit at the bow. Makes sense now! | ||
| Susie Campbell Senior Member Username: Susie Post Number: 94 Registered: 10-2002 |
This is a rule we shall never forget! That's what so cool about debates...listening and learning from both sides always creates the best learning environment! |
