sealine 218
New Member
Hi all, just got myself a little run around, its a 15ft with a 55 hp outboard. Can anyone tell me if i need navigation lights for this and if so will an all round white light on a pole be ok . Regards Mark
Nav lights or not
- Thread starter sealine 218
- Start date
jimg
Well-Known Member
An all round white light on a pole is fine, you tend to see so many running around with no light.
Nick_H
Well-Known Member
If you only need nav lights for the odd occasion, you can buy battery operated lights with suction cups to attach them when you need them. Simple and cheap, and no wiring needed on the boat.
VicS
Well-Known Member
A single all-round white light is acceptable on a boat less than 7m in length if it also has a maximum speed of less than 7 knots. Side lights should also be fitted however if possible.
See rule 23 of the "Collision regulations"
You can buy an allround white light that will attach to the cowling of an outboard with a suction cup if that is appropriate
SEE HERE
See rule 23 of the "Collision regulations"
You can buy an allround white light that will attach to the cowling of an outboard with a suction cup if that is appropriate
SEE HERE
barfly4657
N/A
[QUOTE A single all-round white light is acceptable on a boat less than 7m in length if it also has a maximum speed of less than 7 knots
epervier
Well-Known Member
[/QUOTE]
So it's an all-round white AND sidelights too.
Unless you're returning from Cowes Fireworks of course, when no-one bothers![/QUOTE]
love it,
and it's so true.
So it's an all-round white AND sidelights too.
Unless you're returning from Cowes Fireworks of course, when no-one bothers![/QUOTE]
love it,
and it's so true.
Searush
Well-Known Member
Probably won't matter until you kill someone . . . . .
I would suggest an auxilliary o/b (4-5hp?) for night time use, idling a 55hp for long periods may not do it any good. Travelling at high speeds at night is a recipe for disaster - in ANY waters. You will not see any floating debris (nets, containers, planks, MoB, unlit anchored boats, unlit moving boats, lobster pot markers, unlit bouys etc etc etc) until too late.
A bright hand held torch would be handy to help you identify unlit channel markers too.
Just a matter of common sense really.
I would suggest an auxilliary o/b (4-5hp?) for night time use, idling a 55hp for long periods may not do it any good. Travelling at high speeds at night is a recipe for disaster - in ANY waters. You will not see any floating debris (nets, containers, planks, MoB, unlit anchored boats, unlit moving boats, lobster pot markers, unlit bouys etc etc etc) until too late.
A bright hand held torch would be handy to help you identify unlit channel markers too.
Just a matter of common sense really.
T
timbartlett
Guest
AAARGH!!
This is the third thread I have read this evening on this forum in which people have (apparently seriously) suggested things that directly contravene the collision regulations.
If we want to have compulsory registration, licensing, and fixed penalties forced upon us, this is a good way to go about it.
In this case the rule says "a power-driven vessel of less than 7 metres 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;"
A fifteen footer with 55hp on the back is clearly capable of more than 7knots, so the all-round white is not an option. It's OK to combine the masthead and stern lights into an all-round white, but sidelights are essential.
This is the third thread I have read this evening on this forum in which people have (apparently seriously) suggested things that directly contravene the collision regulations.
If we want to have compulsory registration, licensing, and fixed penalties forced upon us, this is a good way to go about it.
In this case the rule says "a power-driven vessel of less than 7 metres 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;"
A fifteen footer with 55hp on the back is clearly capable of more than 7knots, so the all-round white is not an option. It's OK to combine the masthead and stern lights into an all-round white, but sidelights are essential.
Doghousekeeper
Well-Known Member
Well said Tim. Some of the anarchic "advice" posted on this forum looks very scary.
Maybe we should introduce a new day shape and lights for people to display when they don't intend to follow the colregs - at least that way we'd have some warning that they may be about to act unpredictably!!
jimg
Well-Known Member
But what about the practical aspect? I have NEVER seen a Dell Quay dory 13 with sidelights and only a few with a white light. The rule does NOT say "capable" but does not exceed. You could interpret that to mean at the time of use and any sensible person would be doing less than 7 knots at night.
Doghousekeeper
Well-Known Member
Interesting point. I've always assumed that the intent of the rules was capability to exceed 7 knots, but it is written in a way that appears to allow interpretation. I doubt if that was the intent, and I wonder how the MCA would interpret it (or foreign equivalents to the MCA, since the regs are international). Anyone know a definite answer?
jimg
Well-Known Member
I have to admit I had never thought about it until this thread started. Personally I have an 11' dory on the River Dart which I fitted with an all round white light. It is also capable of exceeding 7 knots but I am not sure the Harbour Master would approve. 
T
timbartlett
Guest
Cockroft and Lameijer's definitive "A Guide to the Collision Avoidance Rules" isn't exactly light reading (Ha! Ha!) but it is the book that the MCA quote at you if you ask them this kind of question.
And it says that the sidelight exemption "...takes account of the fact that small low-speed vessels may not have sufficient power to exhibit the normal navigation lights. It does not apply to a vessel capable of more than seven knots which is proceeding at reduced speed."
Makes sense to me. If someone asks you the maximum speed of your boat, surely it's obvious that they are asking how fast *can* it go, rather than "how fast is it going at the moment"?
And it says that the sidelight exemption "...takes account of the fact that small low-speed vessels may not have sufficient power to exhibit the normal navigation lights. It does not apply to a vessel capable of more than seven knots which is proceeding at reduced speed."
Makes sense to me. If someone asks you the maximum speed of your boat, surely it's obvious that they are asking how fast *can* it go, rather than "how fast is it going at the moment"?
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