Motoring Cones

Nostrodamus said:
What about a lumpy sea, windy, well reefed but engine on?
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If it's windy, why would I have my engine on? :confused:

Seriously though, last time I was in this situation (having to stem a fast tide after failing to notice a novice helmsman was letting us be swept past our destination) I did indeed hoist a motoring cone. There were a lot of other boats about that we'd have to steer through, so it seemed only sensible to make the situation clear.

I was just explaining why, in the common case of a flat-calm day with the mainsail up in case a puff comes along, few people bother.

Pete
 
I don't understand why peeps put their main sail up when there is a big high pressure around and no wind:confused:

May be if there was swell or waves, but in the Solent??:)

I rarely put my cone up mainly because I rarely motor around on a flat calm sunny day with my sail up :D if there is no wind and no sign of any I'll drop the main.

Slatting is bad for sails, as is UV damage, so I save the wear and tear and leave it in the stack pack, then don't have to worry about a cone.
 
Interesting thread this one, from a mobo perspective I have mixed feelings.

If you are sailing then generally I have to keep out of your way but as soon as you fire up the engine and put it in gear the "who is stand on/ give way vessel" could change significantly.

Having said that, from my perspective it is usually pretty obvious when a yot is motor sailing or not so it doesn't really matter.

What is of more concern are yots clearly under power who seem to think that they have right of way because they are a yot :mad: But that's nobody here so that's OK. ;)
 
alant said:
You would still be back winded !

Also in light airs, it is best to reef the main, to stop it flogging, when motor sailing, which is what will happen at these 'low' apparent winds.
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[pendant mode on]No, it would not be flogging - it would be slatting. It flogs when you let the main out when close hauled in a gale.[/pendant mode off]
 
I've used a motoring cone once (It's use is enforced over here). It quickly became an evil spinning top, tangling the halyard it was hoisted on.

I now just transition directly from motoring to sailing and vice versa, making its use unnecessary.
 
I was shooting gear one day when a small gaffer under full sail approached. Now, I should have noted his presence before starting to shoot. Anyway, he was ghosting along in light airs and I surmised he would not be able to avoid me so with considerable difficulty I avoided him while not b*****ing up the gear. Then as he passed I saw the propwash. That's when you need it, but not much use if you intend to stand on anyway.

Now you can all abandon the cone discussion and switch to fishing signals, but I have to go out, so don't do so for my benefit.
 
fisherman said:
I was shooting gear one day when a small gaffer under full sail approached. Now, I should have noted his presence before starting to shoot. Anyway, he was ghosting along in light airs and I surmised he would not be able to avoid me so with considerable difficulty I avoided him while not b*****ing up the gear.
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Surely if you're fishing he ought to avoid you even if under sail? I certainly would.

Only the other weekend I short-tacked past a baby trawler just off the Hamble. I'd just tacked away from the shore and was heading to pass reasonably close astern, assuming he was on his way home to the Itchen rather than actually fishing (never seen them doing it there before). Spotted the trawl warps over the stern and cheerfully swung back again - I wouldn't dream of trying to force him to maneouvre with all that gear out.

Pete
 
Nostrodamus said:
Of late I have come across numerous boats motor sailing but only once have I seen a yacht with a motoring cone up.

How often do you use one?
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Funnily enough, our motoring cone was going up and down like a fiddler's elbow yesterday as conditions kept changing. We only normally use use it when we expect to be in light winds for a longish period.

As most motorsailing involves hoisting the main alone, I think most people on the water can usually tell who's motoring and who isn't. However, there does appear to be an increasing number of boats who will hoist all their sails and motor. That does make it complicated, and, while solely under sail, we have given way to these crafty beggars. :)
 
'One of these days', I plan to attach my m/s cone to a length of broom handle and when I want to display it I will nip forward and stick it into a socket on the pulpit so that it is in a very visible position forward of the forestay
 
michaelchapman said:
[pendant mode on]No, it would not be flogging - it would be slatting. It flogs when you let the main out when close hauled in a gale.[/pendant mode off]
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Anytime a sail is flapping about, in danger of damaging itself, I call it flogging!

Anyway, its best not to let it happen, whatever your description & a reef or two stops that when motorsailing.
 
Because so few people show them, a lot of sailors make assumptions. I often sail with main only as furling the jib is the first reef with my rig. I may also have one or both engines ticking over ready to put into use in the event of a failure to give way. On occasion I sail under mast alone at respectable speeds. It's not unusual to have to take action for someone motoring who fails to keep clear.

I have to admit to not bothering most of the time. One one occasion I had the seamanship instructor from Plymouth ModPlod on board so I thought I'd better do the right thing. His comment was 'you don't see many of those'.
 
parsifal said:
'One of these days', I plan to attach my m/s cone to a length of broom handle and when I want to display it I will nip forward and stick it into a socket on the pulpit so that it is in a very visible position forward of the forestay
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If you made it pivot on the pulpit with 8" below the rail, you could tie a string to the end and make it hinge up remotely :)

Just been reading Francis Chichester's book, and apparently on Gypsy Moth he had a similar pole on the bow with Not Under Command lights on it, which he put up when he was asleep!

Pete
 
Boomshanka said:
Only ever seen one boat in the Solent with a motoring cone... and it was with the pointy bit pointing upwards:o
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Wot like this??? :D
invertedcone.jpg


Notice the solar panel to add a bit more confusion....Is that a barrel it's displaying????

And while we're on confusing day signals....I saw this anchor star last week :D

anchorstar.jpg

It's the thought that counts ;)
 
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