Anchor Balls & Anchor Lights

[MedDreamer]

Who uses them?

In two seasons in Majorca I have seen many boats at anchor but only one anchor ball displayed.

Likewise, in summer many boats anchor just outside the breakwater of the marina and I would be suprised if more than 10% of them have their anchor lights on.

Is this common?

Martyn

 

[Gludy]

Yes it common.
I use both.

Should someone hit my boat whilst at anchor, say a raggie, they can claim that they thought they had right of way and the issue becomes foggy. With an anchor ball up I am making it clear I am at anchor and remove the excuse so for the few pounds it costs it is well worth it.

I have two plastic clips on mine, keep it in the anchor locker and simply clip it to the bow rail.

I also use an anchor light despite often being surrounded by dozens of boats without them - for the same reason.

 

[rickp]

Usually remember to hang the anchor ball out (but not always admittedly). Always put the anchor light on overnight though - would seem crazy not to. I wonder what the implications of not having it on would be, insurance wise.

I seem to recall there was quite a debate as to whether to put the anchor light on when on a buoy overnight - such as those outside Yarmouth. Must admit, I think I would err on the side of caution - can't be any harm in being more visible...

Rick

 

[omega2]

no ball/light, no insurance, and as we all know the sailors use us as transit marks, annoying when trying to fish.

 

[mjf]

Re: Anchor Balls & Anchor Lights

I too am amazed at the cavalier attitude shown in the lights / ball thing. esp the ball.

Not displaying the correct lights/shapes means that if you have a collision then you are negligent party. Plain and simple.


On a MOBO displaying the ball forward is a bit tricky. I have a length of plastic pipe the same diameter as my anchor winch handle slot and the ball sits about 1.5m off the deck right ford and midships.

 

[guernseyman]

In a crowded recognised anchorage I normally don't bother.

 

[RupertW]

I know it can seem like you're being used as transit marks but I suspect that's very rarely true - it's much more to do with the "magnetic buoy" phenomenon that inexperienced raggie helmspeople encounter.

Basically an inexperienced helm will see a buoy/anchored boat well ahead, look at the way their bow is pointing and decides they'll pass easily to one side. As sailing boats slip sideways a bit downwind, and there may also be cross-tides then the steering gets more and more exaggerated as the object gets closer in a vain attempt to leave the object on the side that the helm originally chose. An experienced helm would have quickly changed their mind on which side to pass and left plenty of room without losing any speed or ground.

In extreme conditions of idiocy the yacht actually clangs against the bouy but mostly you see them sailing along the coast as if every bouy and anchored boat was put specifically in their way. Funny to watch but I guess not much fun if you're having a quiet day fishing.

 

[smileygirl]

on a similar theme - has anyone ever seen a sailing boat displaying a cone whilst motoring along?

 

[Gludy]

yes I have - once in five years!

 

[BrendanS]

Yep, I was on it while it was hoisted. Then took a photo.

We took it down before entering Cherbourg so we didn't get piss taken bvy other forumites

 

[tcm]

it is to show that the skipper is taking an exam...

 

[tcm]

yep, every time.

I saw an maib or something report of some pwc driving in to a boat and the facts come first. One of the facts was that the boat had no anchor ball.

 

[Gludy]

So if you are anchored without a ball and then hit by another boat - they can claim that they thought you were underway and they had right of way and this may even invalidate your insurance claim - correct?

I wonder how many MoBos even have balls?

 

[mjf]

Re: Anchor Balls & Anchor Lights

There was a case where a judge found for a vessel that was in collision with a yacht. Strickly speaking the vessel was at fault but the yacht had radar and was not able to use it - nothing wrong with the gear, just that no one O/B could use it.

Bit more complex than that of course but thats the meat.

Yacht at fault.


Similarly if you are contravening the lights and signal rules then what do you expect if you have to defend yourself?

 

[Nick_H]

I can understand the relevance for boats anchored in deep water close to shipping channels, but fail to see that having an anchor ball up is going to make a smidgen of difference to whether someone ploughs into you whilst at anchor in Newtown Creek or any other sheltered anchorage where I would consider dropping the hook. If they can't see the boat they're unlikely to spot the ball.

 

[Gludy]

Yes - but I am not talking about if they can see you or not - I agree they would hit you either way but with a ball up you are also legally covered and they cannot even raise the issue. If you have no ball up they could claim you were not following the rules and hence make the issue mirky and in the eys of the law, to some extent your own fault.

 

[duncan]

taking things to their logical extremes of conclusion (as your threads always seem too.............)

anchored without ball could be considered drifting (on the end of a piece of string?) and a hitting one of those isn't exactly a hit with the MAIB or regulations either is it?

 

[Gludy]

I do not understand you?

Anchored without a ball is not telling others you are anchored and so they could consider you making way - hence they may assume in a certain situation you are the give way vessel and hence not give way and hit you. That is what I am saying.

Its true that as they realise you are not taking avoiding action they should then take avoiding action but the issue makes for murky water hence its best to put the ball up and comply with regs.

 

[Aardee]

Re: Anchor Balls & Anchor Lights

Why even have the discussion, it takes 30 seconds to put up the ball & turn the anchor light on...

 

[Magnum]

We always display an anchor ball, mainly to ensure we are covered in the event of a collision.