Am I the only one....

[photodog]

Who likes to have a anchor light on when I am on a mooring?

Having witnessed a small boat smack into a moored boat at dittisham a few years back, I now
Always put a light out when we pic up a mooring....

I do wonder how folks can sleep alongside the Orwell for instance with all the ships going by and be totally invisible...

Am I just being paranoid?

 

[Jamesuk]

No, We put a strobe light on similar to those found on road works - solar powered by day, flashing strobe by night

 

[SamanthaTabs]

Playing devils advocate I guess but, despite knowledge of col regs et al, I still don't get it. If we anchor we are relying on our kit and display our anchor light, pick up a buoy assuming its grounded and we're good to sit in darkness?

Having had many experiences of going into new places at night how I wish that a light of some kind was necessary and I'm sure I'm not alone in that thought!

 

[sarabande]

and the strobe light indicates what, under colregs, please ?

 

[Hadenough]

Who likes to have a anchor light on when I am on a mooring?

Having witnessed a small boat smack into a moored boat at dittisham a few years back, I now
Always put a light out when we pic up a mooring....

I do wonder how folks can sleep alongside the Orwell for instance with all the ships going by and be totally invisible...

Am I just being paranoid?

You are being paranoid! I'm on the Orwell right next to the dredged channel and am sure that an anchor light ain't gonna save me if one of them coasters has got it so badly wrong that he's out of the channel.
Having said that I religiously use an anchor light in anchorages, assuming (perhaps naively) that the other visitors will be looking out for anchored boats on their way in!

 

[LittleSister]

Who likes to have a anchor light on when I am on a mooring?

I like to have an anchor light on when you are on a mooring!

 

[Ex-SolentBoy]

and the strobe light indicates what, under colregs, please ?

Who cares?

Moorings are more like towns than open fairway. Set up the disco lights and you are unlikely to get hit. Sit in darkness and accept the penalty if a muppet crashes into you.

 

[nigelmercier]

and the strobe light indicates what, under colregs, please ?

One assumes this is in addition to the anchor light, and I think an excellent idea.

 

[Jamesuk]

and the strobe light indicates what, under colregs, please ?

A single flashing strobe light means nothing in the COLREGS. You might say the IALA Buoyage system could voice "a strobe light close to an area with lots of cardinal marks could be confused with the similar light sequence of a a North Cardinal Q or VQ flashing".

Outside of that, Keep the anchor light on. I have been to some "anchorages" where they have not even bothered to put any light on.

 

[Woodlouse]

I think the reasoning is that moorings are generally in known areas and in known patterns, so when entering these areas you're going to be careful because you have the buoys to look out for as well as the boats on them. Anchoring is much more random and less easy for others to predict or foresee. Naturally people will be keeping a good lookout when entering a known anchorage, but the rules are more there for the boats anchored in less obvious places.

and the strobe light indicates what, under colregs, please ?

Nothing, but it can be handy as an extra "I am here!!!" indicator. I believe a masthead strobe light is quite commonly used in fast solo offshore racing in addition to normal navigation lights.

 

[Lakesailor]

If I was approaching and saw a strobe light my reaction would be extreme caution (without recourse to reading Colregs).
So it would have the desired effect.

In reality Col Regs are only for the tribunal afterwards.

 

[BelleSerene]

and the strobe light indicates what, under colregs, please ?

Certainly confuses all navigating vessels in the vicinity, who try to relate your flashing pattern to something on the chart. Imagine if we all set up flashing lights at sea: you'd never be able to navigate by the buoys. It's a cute idea, but unnecessary and inconsiderate.

 

[Lakesailor]

But you won't get T-boned.

 

[Jamesuk]

Certainly confuses all navigating vessels in the vicinity, who try to relate your flashing pattern to something on the chart. Imagine if we all set up flashing lights at sea: you'd never be able to navigate by the buoys. It's a cute idea, but unnecessary and inconsiderate.

Inconsiderate? now that's cute ;-)

For you tho, I take it back DON'T have a strobe light Buy a DISCO light instead, no confusing a party boat!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/DISCO-LIGHT-SOUND-PARTY-MULTICOLOR/dp/B002YUQHB0

 

[Twister_Ken]

Assuming you may be on a mooring for days or even weeks - who is going to turn it off at daybreak and on at dusk, and how is the battery going to be kept charged?

 

[BruceDanforth]

That there is an idiot on the loose.

and the strobe light indicates what, under colregs, please ?

 

[Jamesuk]

That there is an idiot on the loose.

So no Disco lights then? :-(

As for the turning the lights on and off at mooring - Well the strobe light I suggested which "in the Rules" is fine to have it is off by day (charging) and flashing (dimmed) by night.

I think if everyone had seen the flashing strobe I'm talking about they would all say "ahhhh, thats fine" I think the hooters think I am on about installing a Strobe so bright that Ravers at the Isle of Wight festival might think they are not at the best disco that night as they look up into the sky and see the light of a flashing strobe at the top of a mast lighting up the sky to the East.

 

[BruceDanforth]

No, you are on about installing a small weedy light complying with no standards that may confuse helmsmen from several miles away over the course of an hour or so.

So no Disco lights then? :-(

As for the turning the lights on and off at mooring - Well the strobe light I suggested which "in the Rules" is fine to have it is off by day (charging) and flashing (dimmed) by night.

I think if everyone had seen the flashing strobe I'm talking about they would all say "ahhhh, thats fine" I think the hooters think I am on about installing a Strobe so bright that Ravers at the Isle of Wight festival might think they are not at the best disco that night as they look up into the sky and see the light of a flashing strobe at the top of a mast lighting up the sky to the East.

 

[Sybarite]

A single flashing strobe light means nothing in the COLREGS. You might say the IALA Buoyage system could voice "a strobe light close to an area with lots of cardinal marks could be confused with the similar light sequence of a a North Cardinal Q or VQ flashing".

Outside of that, Keep the anchor light on. I have been to some "anchorages" where they have not even bothered to put any light on.

I remember speaking with a ferry captain who recommended strobes because the first imperative is to be seen.

 

[Ariadne]

I would always use an anchor light on a mooring, as well as low down flashing lights around the boat, I don't want to hit by anybody and the better lights you have have the less chance you have of getting hit. ColRegs ask for an anchor light/riding light - but you can have as many extra lights as you want.

As for strobes - fantastic you can see them for miles and they are very distinctive - you won't steam/sail into one by accident!!!