How fast in the Dark

[BrendanS]

Well, put it this way.

One time we went out, course was from Mecury Marina, to Portsmouth. Just a few weeks after 9/11. We had various people doing different legs, and on one of last legs, I had to head off at great speed to herd a couple of boats who were heading off in wrong direction, as they weren't responding to VHF calls (not unusual at speed). Got them back on track, and a few miles off Portsmouth we all got back together.

Delayed there for a while as one of ribs needed to change fuel containers. While we were all sitting there stationary, as Xmas tree arrived. Blue flashing lights everywere.

They hollered. We laughed as the leader of our expeditionary force poddled over for a chat. He explained we were doing a night ex, which had been approved by QHM in writing months before, and double checked only days before.

Police xmas tree boat said, call them then and explain, as QHM are doing their nut at seeing small boats doing 20+knts on radar.

Leader called QHM, and they said...'arghhh' so we continued into Portsmouth. As we all milled about the piles just to port about half mile in while we drink thermos coffee etc (this is November in open boats) Police boat cruised past a way off with all lights off, so leader gets on radio and asks what problem is. Police boat comes back with 'can we take this off vhf, it's getting embarassing!'

Then we head of back to Mercury to get back before closing time, which we just made.

Made it for me, I went onto many more night voyages after this one where I was taught basics, and much advanced stuff.

On a more recent one, Oriana was coming out of Southampton Water as we all came back en-masse from Yarmouth area. We just all tucked up a bit outside main channel, and let it go past, and pilot boat turned its lights on and off. They had obviously seen us - radar or lights.

Coming out of Cowes a few years ago after a good Indian after a good firework display the Cowes ferry was coming in. Put a search light on us, as they must have seen us on radar, but in amongst all the confusion of all the moored boats, it must have been a bit cluttered( we were just inside main channel). again no probs. If they can see us, then imagine most can with decent radar, though suspect commercial ships read it better in those conditions, and have better viewpoint from higher perspective.

 

[LittleShip]

Layton...........I'm with you mate, dont spare the horses and a whole 7-10knts /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Tom

Trawler men do it slowly! Hmmm! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[steverow]

Nah, Bill and Ben everytime.
Always going behind the flowerpots for a little bit of weed.

Now lets see how old you really are...
Who remembers Muffin the Mule,
Tinga and Tucker,
and the first Gerry Anderson series..Supercar...

Steve

 

[steverow]

Ive also seen in the Bristol Channel, a telegraph pole, dustbins, a kitchen unit complete with sink and drainer, and a three peice suite...well the sofa bit anyway.
All this junk gets dumped upstream in the rivers in the valleys and floats out to sea.
Steve.

 

[hlb]

Oh I remember muffin. And the tune, Not the words though.

Super car too. Though literally it did not have the content of Torchy The Battery Boy.

 

[Gludy]

HLB
Don't ever complain again about thread drift!

No, the nocturnal meanderings do not qualify you for the 60Nm for YM because it was not you who did them it was whatever you were under the influence of at the time and bottles of whisky do not qualify for YM's.

 

[hlb]

Cant remember ever complaining of fred drift, please notify exactly where and when.

Point is I overcame the effects of rain hail storms and whiskey, arriving safely at least every time. If not more. Confirmed by the fact. I'm still here. Or there abouts anyway.

 

[steverow]

I may have misled you over tingah and tucker, it may have been on just in the Midlands ATV region only. It was with Auntie Jean Morton.
I reckon all this stuff was about 1961/62.
I also remember the original series of Redcap being on at about the same time, with John Thaw. My dad used to like it and he died in '63 so it must have been before then.

Paul is going to kill me at the weekend for drifting his thread.

Steve.

 

[Solitaire]

I have been reading this all with great amusement. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif One phrase that seems to be missing - COMMON SENSE! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[hlb]

Sheesh. I was really grown up by then.

Nah. Paul has been trained like a little puppy dog. Think he'll be a good boy from now on. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Gludy]

HLB
You see I was making the point in advance ... you just encouraged Steve for what must be the worst record of thread drift anywhere - from speed at night to Muffin The Mule!!!! So I calls you as a thread drift encourager!

 

[carlton]

Quote;

"- from speed at night to Muffin The Mule"

Sounds like a good night out............ /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[ShipsWoofy]

[ QUOTE ]
My plan for solid objects on the new boat is a forward looking sonar - this only looks 200m ahead but at say 7 knots..... it gives about 40 seconds warning. I do not know if it will pick up floating poles etc and I am sure it depends upon the sea state but it would pick up the nightmare container.

[/ QUOTE ]

Would have thought many things would be hidden in clutter during summer. Most fish finders don't work in warm water until a few metres. Isn't this used as a stealth strategy for subs, hide in the surface rubbish (small subs obviously).


How come....

You guys do not have metal plates fitted to the bow on the waterline, to take an impact. It is the initial impact that is going to do sinking damage, once the boat pushes over the object damage should then be superficial no?

 

[carlton]

Because you'd need most of the forward underwater sections covered in metal plates. Any point around the forward underwater hull section could come into contact with a submerged item, (and sterngear) sadly,dependant upon speed, weather, attitude,etc..

Wouldn't be too practical. Possibly useful in a displacement vessel, 'though........... /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[ShipsWoofy]

oooh I used to have a pile of slightly chipped screens for radar type instruments in my drawer at work. Made the light dim enough to use with NVG.

Shame I had to bung them for some 5S type rubbish. They were scrap, but as an engineery type I could not bring myself to throw them.

Would have been great for boat radar, the odd crack in the corner not being so important. Blame the consultants who like to fiddle and empty all drawers so you can't do your job. I would have had an RNLI auction type thing for them ;(

 

[BrendanS]

You never went out on a nite ex when you were a member? Always seemed to be a great deal of commense and planning to me?

 

[Gludy]

The forward sonar should pick up large floating objects with some depth to them but I do not know and we will see.

I do not know whey the metal bow plate is not fitted ..... seems like a sensible idea to me.

 

[ShipsWoofy]

Out with my sweeping brush, here goes. The zipping sound you can is my flame retardant suit going on.

I love being out at night, it has never bothered me, woo hoo to me! But seriously I have never had a problem. Though I did my apprenticeship on trawlers and one summer did a full season of night shift. I am also a night bird, I do not tend to drift off to sleep as the midnight bell tolls. I have been a shift worker most of my working life and weekends when in school / college etc. So lucky me.

Now my sweeping statement, modern sports plastic fanatic power boats are not set up for night use, no where near. Bright materials adorn the helm, shiny white GRP seems the order of the day everywhere. Even your foredecks are polished white. Luxury is measured by having every dial known to man in front of the helm under the window. There are not even blackout curtains around the lower helm.

Now you have to weigh off the difference between a work boat and pleasure, but IMHO adding nav lights to a sports power boat is like sticking a turbo on bambi, useless.

Look at a work boat, the wheel house is matte black, the dials at the side of the helm rather than the car look of having them in your eye-line. The foredeck and cabin roof in a dull material to prevent reflections.

When we sail at night all lights are off until needed, the chart plotter can not be turned off, but even at its dimmest kills vision so the cover goes on. The only light you will see at the helm is the tiny bulb over the compass and I do not even have windows to contend with.

I would suggest, if going out at night is something you guys wished to pursue, some serious redesign away from gin palace helms will be needed. I know you like to feel like James T Kirk on the helm, but it is not safe on modern powerboats to play out at night, IMHO.


Let the flames begin!

 

[Gludy]

I have to say that that makes a lot of sense to me. In gact I agree with it all.

Chart poltters - at least the ones I use have special night vision screen and as I helm fro the flybridge 99% of the time, There is not that much that gets in the way. However that does not go against every point you have made being right.

 

[Its_Only_Money]

"Extended V"

Fast groups of boats should be in echelon port so that if any single boat needs to take avoiding action it can do so with a correct turn to stb into clear water astern of the boats on that side.