Does anyone use an anchor ball?

[kingfisher]

1) Identical lights, different meanings? Yes , it happens: in Dutch inland waterways regulations
Green over white = trawler = ferry
If you see a white light: stern of 200m oil tanker=anchor light= mast light of 7m sailing dingy = rear light of parking car
2) Some small fishing craft have a ball permanently welded to the roof of the boat. Hmmm
3) Yes I use it.

<hr width=100% size=1>Group of people on the pontoon: skipper is the one with the toolbox.
http://sirocco31.tripod.com

 

[MedMan]

Yes, I always hoist an anchor ball, partly because I feel it is the right thing to do and partly because I fear I would be giving my insurance company a get-out if someone ran into me when I was anchored with no signal displayed.

I also always display an anchor light from the rigging on my foredeck. It is a small dedicated anchor light on a long lead with a plug on the end. It has a 10 watt bulb and so draws less than an amp. I unplug the lead for the steaming light at the foot of the mast and plug the anchor light in instead.

If I could make an appeal to those who display an all-round white light at the mast top when at anchor. Please don't! It is in totally the wrong place. I have more than once all but collided with a yacht displaying a light 15 to 20 metres above my sight-line. Please do yourselves and the rest of us a favour and display a light a metre or so above your foredeck where it will actually be seen by a latecomer.

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[hylas]

A funny thing with the anchor ball is that, when I arrive in an anchorage where nobody is showing the ball.. soon after I rise it, I can notice many other boats which are putting it in place...

About the light.. a French company (www.selectronic.fr) is planning to sell in september, kits of LED (light Emitting Diodes) bulbs to remplace standard lamps..Although quite expensive, the electrical consumption is less than 1/8 the one of the standard lamps..

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[Trazie]

We always do and always have raised our anchor ball on our motor cruiser. We cruise around the Algarve and last year there was reports that the Maritime Police were fining people for not displaying it in the islands around Faro - didn't make an awful lot of difference though. Very often when we are anchored up in a busy anchorage we can be the only ones showing the ball. If somebody runs into us at least it should help with the insurance!

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[Trazie]

We always do and always have raised our anchor ball on our motor cruiser. We cruise around the Algarve and last year there was reports that the Maritime Police were fining people for not displaying it in the islands around Faro - didn't make an awful lot of difference though. Very often when we are anchored up in a busy anchorage we can be the only ones showing the ball. If somebody runs into us at least it should help with the insurance!

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[Trazie]

We always do and always have raised our anchor ball on our motor cruiser. We cruise around the Algarve and last year there was reports that the Maritime Police were fining people for not displaying it in the islands around Faro - didn't make an awful lot of difference though. Very often when we are anchored up in a busy anchorage we can be the only ones showing the ball. If somebody runs into us at least it should help with the insurance!

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[Trazie]

Sorry about that. My computer keeps doing strange things.

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[Reap]

You the author can delete those duplicate posts if you click on the correct symbol by the post

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[charles_reed]

I suspect you were lucky

I've heard that their Dutch counterparts levy an on-the-spot fine.

I'm afraid that even suspended from the spreaders a cone would be obscured, except from astern, by my genoa.

Perhaps I can set a new fashion in the Tyrrhenian and sport an imported cone.

They're certainly not available in chandlers and I doubt that local boaters would understand the significance.

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[Reap]

Re: I suspect you were lucky

But surely most of the time you motor-sail it is because there is little and no wind, meaning you will not have your genoa set?

I am aware that this is not always the case

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[Guest]

If memory serves me ....

if you check closer - it also depends on size of boat etc. Similar to lights etc.

So the full regulation size is accepted as impractical on a yacht and allowed for. Similar to the ights ...... who carries enough power for such except for the Sunseeker / Fairline PB'rs ???? (No disrespect to powerboaters intended - just that you have more electric available than most !!!!)


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ...
Bilge Keelers get up further ! I only came - cos they said there was FREE Guinness !

 

[Mirelle]

Board of Trade certificate!

You have'nt seen my "new" riding light! Christmas present from my sister, who rescued it from an antique shop in Whitstable - 'twas a Davey & Co. cone burner oil NUC light, dating from 1954, probably off a coaster scrapped on the Medway. Took the red shade out. Definitely good for two miles!

<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by Mirelle on 30/08/2003 10:25 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[Guest]

Re: Board of Trade certificate!

When I was a cadet a few ships I sailed on still had the remnants of the WW2 gun mounts !!!! on the bridge-wings etc.

Well anyway - I kick myself now - as on one ship I was told to dispose of some old oil lights that had been replaced. Over they went !!!! They would be worth a fortune now IF I was ever silly enough to sell ....... but sadly they are fish havens now.

Now that reminds me actually - my lights don't work !!!! Now there's an admission - I keep meaning to sort 'em out. When I get back I'll set to and get 'em going again.


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ...
Bilge Keelers get up further ! I only came - cos they said there was FREE Guinness !

 

[Mirelle]

Re: Board of Trade certificate!

Probably the deck plugs.

Got a set of copper oil burning side lights and stern light which came off a Hong Kong tug that was being sold for scrap - HK Mardep had a rule that oil lights must be carried as reserve - and they have HK Mardep certificates. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time! They do actually fit on the light boards, because I bought a same size electric set from the same makers, Tung Woo, before they closed down, and made the light board to fit.

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[Gunfleet]

Re: Board of Trade certificate!

I had endless troubles with my electric nav lights - I solved them all by making joints with crimps, epoxy and shrink wrap, then leading the new wires under the deck and using (dead cheap) b&q waterproof junction boxes there. Worked a treat. Course, after I'd done all that TomE informed us you can buy resin impregnated shrink-wrapped crimps. Duh!

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[Gunfleet]

Re: Of course it is

Agree about the anchor light position. I use an oil one though I have a masthead one. Last weekend in Pyefleet every boat I saw anchored had a ball up. We didn't - we used an Oyster company mooring. The pinch came in the morning - seven quid. Ouch! That's the first and last time I use the moorings!

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[MainlySteam]

Going to start a trend...

Never, ever seen an anchor shape used on a small (like say 80 foot and under) pleasure vessel or commercial vessel out here. After following this thread I am now determined to use mine (I do actually have one, never been used though) - I wonder if I will set a new trend? At least I could then keep myself amused by reporting all the boats I see not using one - maybe I could report them as dangers to navigation?

John

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[Guest]

Made mine out of scrap 1/4 Marine ply ...

Motor Sail cone, Anchor ball - Two pieces for each cut to shape and slotted together as a cross ...... cheap, works, and take apart to lay flat when not in use. Similar idea to radar reflector but only two pieces instead of the 3 in that one .....

AND size ...... in keeping with the allowed reduction for small boats ..... I made mine about 12inch wide........ can't remember exact dimensions ...... but they are slightly larger than the more expensive plastic versions in chandlers !!!!!

Last time used ....... can't remember !!!!



<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ...
Bilge Keelers get up further ! I only came - cos they said there was FREE Guinness !

 

[tcm]

So, we\'re agreed, nobody has an amnchor ball

So, I (and many others) have bought anchor ball shapes that are below regulation size - proabably just over half the minimum size. Of course, it is a bit weird that they are for sale in the first place. And any dive boat showing a rigid Alpha flag where the height of a flag is less than 1m is also showing an illegal flag, or perhaps the same as no flag at all. What's the legal standing of a boat using these under-sized items? Surely - they aren't using (wearing?) the correct signals at all if the one they show is undersize, the wrong shape and so on. I mean, saying that the ball you are showing is a bit small "but for goodness sake it's better than nothing" is weak no? - you surely can't have a ball 100 mm in diameter - so it's 600mm or nothing?

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[MainlySteam]

Re: So, we\'re agreed, nobody has an amnchor ball

You are out of luck TCM because you are over 20m. But generally vessels under 20m can use smaller shapes. Like Nigel's, mine are about 12 or 15 inches or so.

Also, are your navigation lights that are required to be in line above each other (eg Not Under Command lights which I am sure you have have a great need for) 2m apart as they should be according to the collision rules for vessels over 20m? However, we are looking after a new build (just a little bit longer than yours) which will have the lights 1m apart because the boat "will look better" with the mast 1m shorter. Like for women, beauty comes before practicality

Some countries allow smaller dive flags (say 0.5 m) for vessels under some defined length.

John

<hr width=100% size=1><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by MainlySteam on 31/08/2003 10:21 (server time).</FONT></P>