anchor lights in designated mooring areas

[chinita]

Re: Wrong question?

I understand the situation when entering a designated, charted, mooring area - like Beaumaris where I used to have a mooring. However, let's take the example of a small Balearic Cala with half a dozen 'moorings' spread around the place like mad womans [--word removed--]. There seems to me to be no difference in the profile of a 'moored' vessel and an anchored one.

Add to this that I am sure I have read somewhere that a vessel at anchor is technically 'moored'. Or did I dream it!!

 

[DaveS]

Re: B&Q Solar Anchor Lights

Oops!

You are, of course, entirely correct. The sums don't add up (or in this case subtract down, - which is an expression you seldom hear, said he in a feeble attempt to change the subject.)

Somehow I managed to confuse the initial quantity (10) and cost (20) and subtracted the number used from the latter... It had me wondering for a minute, though, but a quick visit to the loft confirms that there are, in fact, three left, two of which have now been spoken for.

 

[DaveS]

Re: B&Q Solar Anchor Lights

No problem. I presume you're in no great hurry, and happy to get it when next we meet? (Might have been last Saturday night if I had got up to Craobh in time to catch the tide.)

I should, of course, have given credit in my post to being inspired by seeing the B&Q light successfully deployed on Silkie.

While berthed on the pontoon I'm leaving mine in position so that the solar panel works, but switched off so that the battery will stay fully charged. Shifting it to the guardwires while sailing is a good idea. I'll think about that, combined with a better attachment arrangement.

 

[machurley22]

Re: B&Q Solar Anchor Lights

Yes, whenever will be soon enough.

Mine stays switched on all the time and has been working daily for the last couple or three years. That'll be the kiss of death for that then! You'll know the answer to this better than I but I had imagined that the battery would prefer the regular use.

 

[DaveS]

Re: B&Q Solar Anchor Lights

Well, my theory was partly that the battery would live longer if cycling was reduced, but principally because my main usage is also likely to be finding the boat when coming back from the pub, so it means that I know I'm then starting with a full battery, and that the lamp should definitely still be lit on my return, even after an "extended" session. (This doesn't necessarily hold true in the case of successive evenings ashore, of course.)

The battery is a replacable AA Ni-Cd. My understanding is that they develop a memory if shallow cycled, which shouldn't be an issue if used continuously (other than, perhaps, in mid summer) since I would guess that it will usually be fully discharged and the light out by dawn.

Mine came with a table of estimated UK running times for different weather conditions: in each case the numbers are hours in Summer, Spring/Autumn and Winter, respectively. I would expect times towards the lower end of each range, since I suspect that "UK" really means "South of England".

Bright, sunny: 12-18, 8-12, 4-8
Fine, occasional cloud: 8-12, 4-8, 2-4
Mostly cloudy: 4-8, 2-4, 1-2
Dull, rain, fog: 2-4, 1-2, 0-1

I would assume that this is based on the battery starting flat at the dawn of the day in question. It also neatly illustrates the problem with solar lighting: you get least when you most need it!

Could my plan of normally keeping it "fully topped-up" cause over charging? Not knowing the charging circuit (yet: I plan to dissect one of them) I don't know if "overcharging" is a risk, but I would have thought not. FWIW I have an electric screwdriver with Ni-Cds which has spent the best part of 20 years permanently connected to a charger and it works fine when required.

I've just had a brainwave re. mounting. How about the top of the danbuoy? A proper wee stern lantern a la o'Brian!

 

[alant]

Always thought the actual rule was was that the vessel was 'attached to the bottom or ground', whether anchored/moored/aground. Don't know where I got it from originally. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Lack of anchor light/dayshape, could have insurance consequences of not properly shown. /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

 

[Rob_Webb]

If you anchor in an area of designated mooring then technically no you don't have to show a light, although as many have alluded it might be prudent, especially if you are slightly out on a limb and/or in a busy area.

The argument about requiring a light because you are 'not expected to be there' is bo!!ocks because it is irrelevant whether someone passing a row of moored/anchored boats is doing so for the first time or the thousandth time. So the 'expectation' factor is a red herring, more so if you are anchored in such a way that you blend in with the boats around you and the mechanism fastening you to the seabed is irrelevant.

Any vessell making way should be doing so in a fashion that enables him to see and avoid stationary boats esp in an area od known moorings/anchorage.

 

[TheBoatman]

Re: Wrong question?

Here on the Medway (in the past) the ports authority have actively dissuaded any "moored" boats from showing anchor lights. Their argument this that the commercial skippers know where the moorings are and if they see a single white it could be a vessel underway and could be confusing.

Peter.