how fast at night

[derekh]

I was out at midnight od Sat night. Pitch black driving on gps and radar - great fun but how fast would YOU go ?

<hr width=100% size=1>Work ? don't be daft , the suns out.

 

[powerskipper]

6 to 10 knots depending on visibility, if I have night sight will push up to about 16-knots, just on plain, but only if in open water.

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Julie

 

[BrendanS]

Same cruising speed as in day (20 - 30 knts), but you have to be keeping a good look out, and I'd be watching the water not the radar and gps. You stand the same chance of hitting something as in daylight if you bury yourself in instruments. You can see a hell of a lot at night if you take precautions to keep your nightsight.

That's in open water though, and I'd keep the same speed limits in harbours etc as I would during the day, if not slower, though your post does suggest open waters if you were on GPS and radar?

<hr width=100% size=1>Me transmitte sursum, caledoni

 

[PaulF]

Depends how much faith you have in your ability, & luck, in picking out debris. Logs and fishing nets still float about at night. If dead calm you may see enough if the moon is up, but I try like hell to avoid night travel at 10 knots or over.
Daylight is a lot less nerve wracking!

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[boatone]

Do hardly any night stuff these days but used to love it when I was deep sea. Night vision can be exceedingly good when you get used to it but lots of badly placed lights and reflections and stuff can play havoc.
My answer would be simply as fast as I feel comfortable with in the circumstances and I dont believe there is any other right answer to your question.

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[BrendanS]

You can spot as much as night as during the day. What becomes more difficult is reading wave patterns, so you slow down a bit more than during daylight. This is generalising though, as sometimes during the day you can read waves better than others. Light conditions are a huge contributory factor. I like late evening sunlight rather than dark and murky, as you can see the waves ahead

<hr width=100% size=1>Me transmitte sursum, caledoni

 

[PaulF]

OK Duncan, Thats fine by me, YOU can be lookout next time I go out at night, then I wont worry about hitting anything, or do you sign insurance waivers M. Mouse????

Do you eat lots of carrots??

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[boatone]

I\'m confused....

Is BrendanS Duncan then or is Duncan BrendanS or is there some other explanation thats passing under my keel?

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[BrendanS]

OK, now you've got me confoozled? Why are you calling me Duncan?

<hr width=100% size=1>Me transmitte sursum, caledoni

 

[Sunnyseeker]

GPS and radar...
Thats what worries me about canoeing at night, I dont think I'd show up on radar?

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[powerskipper]

"as you can see the waves ahead "


Have been out at night in a P52 and being caught and spun 180* to face the way we had come, was a scary time and this was just off Hurst point, going the inside cut to north head buoy on a trip back to poole. Once round the buoy, all I could see in front of me from the flybrigde was the next wave towering above me, as you reached the top of the wave and took the power off , you caught a glimpse of the next wave, It calmed down once we where half way across Christchurch bay.

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Julie

 

[BrendanS]

Read the post again?



<hr width=100% size=1>Me transmitte sursum, caledoni

 

[PhilF]

must eat loads of carrots then - or give me the name of your optician

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[BrendanS]

or just try doing it? It's not that difficult once you've been out a few times and tried it.

If you think it's difficult, try going out with a club who do these things, and trying it at least once? I suspect you have??/forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

<hr width=100% size=1>Me transmitte sursum, caledoni

 

[PhilF]

I was out 4 am wednesday night, and you cannot see as much as during the day.
Perspective is different and there is no colour bobbing above the waves so lobster pots and floating debris is much less visable than during the day.

Apart from that you should express caution to novices that ask for help, not bravado IMVHO of course

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[milltech]

In the days when I was driving faster boats I often crossed the channel starting in the night. I would always keep displacement speeds until the grey of dawn showed itself. It's about personal safety, safety of others, and also makes sense because if you hit a log or other obsruction at night and remove your shafts and stern gear you're not only facing a big bill but the ruination of your weekend/holiday.


<hr width=100% size=1>John
http://www.on-line-marine.com

 

[duncan]

Re: ????

but as I am named and shamed already.......
(1) Open calm water I am happy at 20 knots if I have a little moonlight - I expect to see a canoe on radar etc but wouldn't expect a canoe in what I call open water!
(2) In Poole Harbour (etc) I would go slower than at day because of unlit craft and moorings and the difficulty in differentialtting quickly on radar - also in the summer I will avoid any wake after dark as many more craft will be manned on the trots etc.
(3) I have concluded that pots and debris are 'pot luck' in poor conditions and the difference between 12 and 20 knots is pretty irrelevant however everyone is made aware that the boat might stop quickly at any time and lifejackets are worn more than in daylight.
(4) If I can't reasonably steer my preferred course without discomfort then I am certainly not going to be doing it in the dark!

Finally the only time I have ever been spun round through 180 degrees after dark was in mirror calm conditions returning from an early forum meet in Wareham (Oct 2002)......but that's another story!

BrendanS/forums/images/icons/smile.gif

<hr width=100% size=1>madesco madidum ..../forums/images/icons/smile.gif

 

[powerskipper]

It just reminded me of a night trip, phrase triggered memory, call it lateral thinking, or female logic./forums/images/icons/smile.gif

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Julie

 

[Oldhand]

Re: ????

< I expect to see a canoe on radar etc>

You have some extraordinary expectations and if they do indeed come to fruition, I'm sure your radar manufacturer would like to know about it so they could advertise the fact.

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[Oldhand]

<You can spot as much at night as during the day>

Would you thus like to explain why a RIB piled into a mooring buoy after Cowes fireworks and another RIB reportedly piled into the first? I would strongly suggest you review your opinion that your vision can spot as much at night as during the day.

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