Help! How to get my new Sonata back to the Solent?

[grumpy_o_g]

The key word is 'practicable'. It doesn't say 'if possible'. 'Practicable' is open to interpretation. It implies having the time and money, or skills to fit permanent lights, perhaps. It's possible to do the journey in daylight hops, though that would involve a stopover at Lyme which may not be practicable.

They mean the same thing really - if it is it feasible or possible to fit nav lights. There's a degree of interpretation I agree (so you wouldn't realistically modify a rowing scull to fit lights) but on a Sonata it's clearly practicable as it's been done before on more than one boat.

 

[Uricanejack]

I'm not sure if the length of a Sonata is just over or just under 7m. 23ft 11 1/2 inches.
even so there is no requirement for the lights to be permanently fitted or powered by main electrical system.
So a set of battery operated lights is perfectly legal and may well be the most practical solution. Certainly short term and possibly long term.
Ether way a combined lantern is acceptable but getting a single tri color light up to the masthead would not be an easy
task prior to bringing boat home.
A combined bow light would be the simplest solution. depending upon what attachment points for a light fitting are available on the Sonata without modification.
A single stern light would be the easiest permanent solution. on the same circuit as a combined bow light.
with a separate circuit to a mast head light.
Unless the owner intends to be going out overnight or in reduced visibility regularly having a couple of battery operated lights available in the chart table. would be perfectly acceptable. for a boat of this size.

If you fit a battery, you have to be able to charge it. My old boat required me to bring an extension cord and car battery charger down to the boat and then visit a marina.
or you need a outboard with a charging system.
Compared to the cost of an outboard with a charging system. You can by a lot of packs of batteries.

 

[Uricanejack]

They mean the same thing really - if it is it feasible or possible to fit nav lights. There's a degree of interpretation I agree (so you wouldn't realistically modify a rowing scull to fit lights) but on a Sonata it's clearly practicable as it's been done before on more than one boat.

Any boat not having a permanently fitted electrical system which includes the ability to recharge the battery would probably qualify as having the ability to use lights as practical.
My motor boat with a battery, charger and fitted nav lights does not conform. It has a single combined bow light and an off centered all round white which doubles as a stern and mast head. It is less than 7m. Its quite legal. Close as practical.

 

[bbg]

MissFitz - if you are looking for temporary lights you might consider NaviSafe lights. There may be other brands on the market, but that is what I carried as emergency nav lights on my (now ex-) boat.

 

[{151760}]

Any boat not having a permanently fitted electrical system which includes the ability to recharge the battery would probably qualify as having the ability to use lights as practical.
My motor boat with a battery, charger and fitted nav lights does not conform. It has a single combined bow light and an off centered all round white which doubles as a stern and mast head. It is less than 7m. Its quite legal. Close as practical.

I don't wish to launch a pedantic grammar dispute, but the word in the regs is 'practicable' not 'practical'. They're different.

 

[{151760}]

They mean the same thing really - if it is it feasible or possible to fit nav lights. There's a degree of interpretation I agree (so you wouldn't realistically modify a rowing scull to fit lights) but on a Sonata it's clearly practicable as it's been done before on more than one boat.

While it may be practicable for Sonatas generally to be fitted with permanent nav lights, that doesn't mean it's practicable for one particular owner just now. That's what I meant by it being open to interpretation. Anyway, it seems the OP has decided to fit nav lights, which is obviously the best idea.

 

[Motor_Sailor]

There is one other thing to check on a Sonata:

If the rudder is allowed to go 'hard over' (in either direction), the bent metal lower gudgeon fitting on the transom can make quite a deep 'cut' into the rudder at the point of maximum flexion. It's exactly the point you would put a cut if you wanted to snap the blade off! A little bit of rot can then set in and make things worse. Bizarrely, some people even tie their rudders across in this position when they leave them on a mooring.

Just have a look and if in any doubt, have someone scarf a piece of mahogany back in there and don't let the rudder slam hard over.

 

[ronmarson]

One thing not mentioned yet is LOBSTER POT MARKERS. By far and away the biggest threat to your safety if single handed or even short handed. The bl00dy things appear right on the bow as soon as you loose concentration for even a few seconds.
Only other bit of advise, don't be in a hurry and enjoy.
Capt. RoN

 

[jac]

There is one other thing to check on a Sonata:

If the rudder is allowed to go 'hard over' (in either direction), the bent metal lower gudgeon fitting on the transom can make quite a deep 'cut' into the rudder at the point of maximum flexion. It's exactly the point you would put a cut if you wanted to snap the blade off! A little bit of rot can then set in and make things worse. Bizarrely, some people even tie their rudders across in this position when they leave them on a mooring.

Just have a look and if in any doubt, have someone scarf a piece of mahogany back in there and don't let the rudder slam hard over.

AT the risk of fred drift. ( I know)

Bank in the min 80's I was sailing with my uncle on his Iroquois from Pin Mill round to North Norfolk. For some reason lost in the mists of time we went to the backwaters for the first night. Long story short, at the turn of the tide we gently swung into a mobo that had arrived late bashing the rudders ( which were raised) into the mobo.

Next morning off Harwich and we look back and see one blade missing, snapped off at water level.

Quick diversion back to the mooring - Uncle is quite handy and a farmer and lives not far away - makes up a new blade with a suitable piece of wood , using existing blade as template and off we go.

3 days later and not far from our ultimate destination and am looking astern and see the other original blade flexing massively as the boat powers down the quartering seas - blade wobbling about 30 degrees from side to side. Then breaks off, rotates and disappears. A couple of hours later we get into Overy Staithe where we anchor on a drying sand bank. Uncle then takes other rudder blade off and repeats the exercise.

A lot of fun but quite surprising that neither rudder blade could show any signs of damage but both could fail so easily.

 

[markhomer]

But my question is whether an all round white alone is a legitimate option at all, as you stated it was, on a Sonata.

Well my interp of the rules is thats ok , my mod marine policeman crew of same opinion , my sonata was fitted with a ships battery powered all round white masthead light ,by previous owners , however goosed by time i got it .

 

[Uricanejack]

Here are the requirements.

Rule 23

(d)
•(i) A power-driven vessel of less than 12 meters in length may in lieu of the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) of this Rule exhibit an all-round white light and sidelights.
•(ii) a power-driven vessel of less than 7 meters in length whose maximum speed does not exceed 7 knots may in lieu of the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) of this Rule exhibit an all-round white light and shall, if practicable, also exhibit sidelights.
•(iii) the masthead light or all-round white light on a power-driven vessel of less than 12 meters in length may be displaced from the fore and aft centerline of the vessel if centerline fitting is not practicable, provided the sidelights are combined in one lantern which shall be carried on the fore and aft centerline of the vessel or located as nearly as practicable in the same fore and aft line as the masthead light or all-round white light.

Annex 1

(d)A power-driven vessel of less than 12 meters in length may carry the uppermost light at a height of less than 2.5 meters above the gunwale. When however a masthead light is carried in addition to sidelights and a sternlight, then such masthead light or all-round light shall be carried at least 1 meter higher than the sidelights.

 

[Uricanejack]

I don't wish to launch a pedantic grammar dispute, but the word in the regs is 'practicable' not 'practical'. They're different.

So I'm told but my grammar has never been good enough to comprehend the difference

 

[jordanbasset]

No reason you can't do it.
Re the outboarrd engine, do you intend to get it sorted at some time and or replaced. If so maybe an idea to do it now ?

 

[fisherman]

The lights question: you can of course make any suitable arrangement which may be eminently sensible and adequate, but if you have an incident the MCA will be stringent in checking. I have had transport bulbs in my nav lights, they are perfectly good and a few pence to buy, you have to flatten one of the lugs, but the MCA would take a dim view, even though the lens gives the light the conforming vertical pattern. In your case I wonder if a tricolour could be fitted with an LED cluster, which would extend battery life.

Hold fast: available here:
http://www.marinescene.co.uk/produc...1LMptjUK_NX1dW6znfySZUE9VARWmOLVhQaAv0T8P8HAQ

 

[dk]

The boat will be fine if the rig is sound, you use the tides to your advantage and you don't set a time schedule. Do keep a watch out for pots if you're taking the inshore route too. Lyme is a possible stopover as there are buoys just outside the harbour. There are also pontoons for small craft from Easter onwards, which will give you access ashore, although they can be a bit rally if the wind is from the S to E sector. Read the pilots well if you're going for Weymouth and planning to use the inshore route around the Bill.
Finally, take a few flares as well as a handheld vhf. An all round White is legal for night nav but do take a powerful spotlight for spotting pot markers. Otherwise, enjoy!

 

[{151760}]

So I'm told but my grammar has never been good enough to comprehend the difference

Practicable is about feasibility, practical is about usefulness. I only raised it because I'm sure the people who wrote the Colregs would have carefully considered every word. Normally it wouldn't matter.

 

[markhomer]

More important than pedantics of nav light, shoot me down !!!

Sonatas can have structural defects that need checking before an offshore voyage .
Rudders as mentioned in thread are prone to cracking ,
Mast feet rivets , especially on raced sonatas , can be loose or holes oversized , due to the excessive mast raking forward offwind in racing , mast can come off foot . ( done it ! )
Chain plates can pull out of rotten water penetrated bulkheads . Most boats will have additional plates fitted on deck and sealing to stop water penetration , some new bulkheads .

stanchion bases can be dodgy , dont rely on as hand holds ?

All above pretty easy to check .

Again as said before , class association is your friend and wealth of help

 

[jac]

More important than pedantics of nav light, shoot me down !!!

Sonatas can have structural defects that need checking before an offshore voyage .
Rudders as mentioned in thread are prone to cracking ,
Mast feet rivets , especially on raced sonatas , can be loose or holes oversized , due to the excessive mast raking forward offwind in racing , mast can come off foot . ( done it ! )
Chain plates can pull out of rotten water penetrated bulkheads . Most boats will have additional plates fitted on deck and sealing to stop water penetration , some new bulkheads .

stanchion bases can be dodgy , dont rely on as hand holds ��

All above pretty easy to check .

Again as said before , class association is your friend and wealth of help

Hopefully any decent surveyor would spot those!!!

 

[LadyInBed]

All this faf about nav lights! Simple answer is day sail without lights, at Easter sunrise / set is about 06:00 to 20:00.
Up to 14 hrs sailing a day is more than enough single or short handed without an autopilot.

 

[Topcat47]

All good in theory, but I had one horrendous trip that should've taken no more than 12 - 14 hours that ended up taking 28.