Anchor Ball.

[tinkicker0]

This thread was thought up as a result of the motorsailing cone thread.

Didn't want to hijack thread hence this un.

Anchor ball.

Is there a specified size for an anchor ball?

Reason I ask is due to space constraints and more importantly, wallet constraints, I carry an anchor ball made from one of those small child's foam footballs, maybe 7" diameter, sprayed black and fitted with an hook. this would be flown off a staff on the live side of the boat, along with my anchor light.
Since my boating is on a river and everyone is (alledgedly) doing 6kts, I figure they would be blind not to see it in time to take appropriate action.

I have not used it yet cos I can't convince SWMBO to try sleeping dangling from 2 hooks and a bit of chain n rope.

So does anyone know, and if it is too small for the regs, anyone know where I could lay my hands on a black inflatable beach ball?

No room to stow anything large Y'see.

 

[Blue5]

But surely the proper anchor balls are on £7 or £8 thats got to be easier than buying a beach ball and painting it black!!!!!

http://marinestore.co.uk/Merchant2/...Category_Code=motoring-cones-and-anchor-balls

 

[Gin]

It can't be a cost consideration- the commonly used thing only costs a fiver and as to space it is a two piece circular effort which when assembled makes a 3D ball, so it packs flat

 

[sailorman]

This thread was thought up as a result of the motorsailing cone thread.

Didn't want to hijack thread hence this un.

Anchor ball.

Is there a specified size for an anchor ball?

Reason I ask is due to space constraints and more importantly, wallet constraints, I carry an anchor ball made from one of those small child's foam footballs, maybe 7" diameter, sprayed black and fitted with an hook. this would be flown off a staff on the live side of the boat, along with my anchor light.
Since my boating is on a river and everyone is (alledgedly) doing 6kts, I figure they would be blind not to see it in time to take appropriate action.

I have not used it yet cos I can't convince SWMBO to try sleeping dangling from 2 hooks and a bit of chain n rope.

So does anyone know, and if it is too small for the regs, anyone know where I could lay my hands on a black inflatable beach ball?

No room to stow anything large Y'see.

2 discs of 6m/m ply slotted & painted black approx 300 m/m Dia

 

[Elessar]

Got a foldy flat plastic thingy, only a few quid and it lives in the anchor locker.
Elastic straps with hooks permenantly attached so easy to use, but where to mount a challenge, as mine can't be seen anywhere astern.
Yes I could get a pole to mount it on, but then I wouldn't bother use it.......

 

[graham]

There is something in colregs that says basically that small boats can use a smaller anchor ball than specified.

I made ours from some scrap plywood slotted in the middle.When flat it can go under a bunk cushion so takes up no space.

 

[MarkJohnson12345]

I have rarely seen boats displaqying the anchor balls.

So was very surprised to see the majority of nearbye boats in New Grimsby Sound had them hoisted.

 

[shmoo]

Huge commercial ships seem to use the same size anchor ball as we do - about 12'. It's usually easier to spot the anchor chain than the minuscule anchor ball. So I wouldn't worry about a yacht one being a tad small.

 

[Goldie]

Huge commercial ships seem to use the same size anchor ball as we do - about 12'.

You don't believe in taking chances do you?

 

[tinkicker0]

Thanks all.

I was looking for something that would fit in a very small space along with the spare anchor light, this space is maybe 12" x 8". The 7" ball and light just fit in.

Thought if I could find a beachball that was coloured black, I could inflate it for use, then deflate it, fold it up and stow it as it would rarely be used.

Figured if a swindlers sold such a thing as an official inflatable anchor ball, it would cost £40 or so, whereas a black beachball would be £3.

If there is no min size, I could just fly the one I have now which cost nuthin, but a little bit of black spraypaint.


I'm a bit anally retentive over stuff like this, so if I anchored up, I would insist on flying the correct warning signal.
Mind you, if you had my luck, you would be too.


For instance, SWMBO wanted to fly a red duster off the stern, sure I said, so went through the rigmarole of getting an SSR number so we could do it right and proper.
Much to the mirth of those around who fly theirs regardless.

 

[laurance]

My memory informs me that a diameter of .6m is stipulated in the COLREGS. It gives me some satisfaction to offload this piece of trivia that has been rattling around my brain since studying for MCA oral exams. Not a waste of time after all.

 

[shmoo]

You don't believe in taking chances do you?

I meant 300mm not twelve feet! I was never happy with rods, furlongs, and fortnights.

 

[beneteau_305_553]

The size of cone or ball for yachts under 12 m can be smaller and comensurate with the size of boat. So if its 0.6 m dia for supertankers a golf ball would seem to be OK.

 

[l'escargot]

...For instance, SWMBO wanted to fly a red duster off the stern, sure I said, so went through the rigmarole of getting an SSR number so we could do it right and proper.
Much to the mirth of those around who fly theirs regardless.

What makes you think you need SSR to fly a red ensign?

 

[CliveG]

I have rarely seen boats displaqying the anchor balls.

Come to the East Coast.
You will find that most of us use one each time we get the hook into that lovely soft sticky mud.

Mind you some of us share the burden.

You do the anchor ball I will do the anchor light and we will all do the flag thing

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

Hee hee.... an amicable agreement I felt at the time....

 

[FullCircle]

Phew, pleased to see mine flying high and proud too.

 

[DogWatch]

I have rarely seen boats displaqying the anchor balls.

So was very surprised to see the majority of nearbye boats in New Grimsby Sound had them hoisted.

I always show mine, we keep it under elastics stretched under the anchor locker cover so it is always easily accessible at the bow.

I don't ever want it used against me in an insurance claim, something so simple could negate your claim in the event of an bump.

Insurance companies will use anything to get out of paying out.

 

[tinkicker0]

What makes you think you need SSR to fly a red ensign?

Shanklin Snail.

Someone once told me that following correct form, only British REGISTERED vessels should fly the Red Duster, hence part 1 or 3 registration and SSR numbers.
So if your boat aint got an SSR number, you should not fly the duster or so I was informed.

Whether this advice was a red herring or not, I don't know and I don't particularly give a monkey's if someone flies it without being registered.

However I registered mine on the advice given at the time cos I like to get the details right and SWMBO wanted to fly a red ensign.

 

[andygc]

Shanklin Snail.

Someone once told me that following correct form, only British REGISTERED vessels should fly the Red Duster, hence part 1 or 3 registration and SSR numbers.

That's a bit about face - British registered vessels should fly the Red Ensign, or may fly another ensign with the appropriate burgee as permitted by a warrant and permit. British owned vessels that are not registered may fly the Red Ensign to show nationality.

Flying any other ensign or flag on the ensign halyard or staff is illegal, it may be confiscated by a commissioned officer of the armed forces or by a police officer, and the offender can incur a heavy fine. This prohibition includes the ridiculous Cornish "ensign" that is currently scattered across the south west. I don't mind people flying a Cornish flag with pride at their port spreader, they are perfectly entitled to be proud of their heritage, but I do object to them defacing the Union Flag by sticking it in the corner of the Cornish flag.