Strobe Lights

[tarik]

Given that the use of strobe lights is not permissable as per the Col Regs, nevertheless more and more cruisers are using them - apparently.

What does the team think that the most effective colour light should be used to indicate a yacht's presence?


David

 

[awol]

Red and green at the bow, white at the stern!

 

[damo]

Hazardous cargo ships sometimes show a flashing red at the masthead, so if they can do it why shouldn't I??

Yellow is hovercraft, red is hazardous, blue is emergency vehicle, so I would suggest a VVQ white /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif (Although if it was a quick white, then other vessels would try to pass to the north /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif )

 

[KellysEye]

As you say they are illegal. However we have a large white strobe at the masthead, to scare off ships. In eleven years and c.25,000 miles it has been used once. It worked.

 

[Ariadne]

I have a blue one, strobe that is /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

It works, and gets you noticed!

 

[damo]

Rule 20
(b) The Rules concerning lights shall be complied with from sunset to sunrise, and during such times no other lights shall be exhibited, except such lights which cannot be mistaken for the lights specified in these Rules or do not impair their visibility or distinctive character, or interfere with the keeping of a proper look-out.

Notwithstanding Rule 36, Signals to Attract Attention ...may make light or sound signals that cannot be mistaken for any signal authorized elsewhere in these Rules.....Any light to attract the attention of another vessel shall be such that it cannot be mistaken for any aid to navigation. For the purpose of this Rule the use of high intensity intermittent or revolving lights, such as strobe lights, shall be avoided.

So is a low-intensity strobe OK? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Since singlehanding can also be construed to be against the Rules (keeping lookout), I may as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb.

Oh, and WIGs also can display a flashing red /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[roly_voya]

I really think people are barking up the wrong tree with this one. What is the evidence to say that a decent set of nav lights don't show up well enough? Ok is you have a 15yr old set designed for min 1 mile range before the glassess whent crazed and opaque you will have a problem but something like the aquasignal 40's show up at well over 2 miles and with LED bulbs draw 200ma. If thats not enough and you can aford it fit the aquasignal 60's. The coll regs only specify the min spec, they dont prevent you going for a higher spec. If that fails the a bright torch or hand flare or if you a really worried a whit rocket will illuminate everything for about a kilometer in all directions. All these things of course assume someone is on watch both to see the nav lights and to decide further signals are nescessary. My personal stratagy is to use visual/radar watch the ensure I never get into uncomfortably close quaters sitations so I don't need anyone else to see me.

What we must aviod is individuals deciding the coll regs are not adequate and inventing the own wayof doing things, This will lead to anachy and mean you would know longer be able to reliably identify the type of ship, its size and course and any special considerations, problems with manoverability etc just from a vessels lights. When you think about it cll reg lighs correctly used do give a lot of very useful info fom a very simple set of signals and I suspect the only time they dont work is due to lack of maintainance, ether of the lights or the watch!!

 

[robstracey]

It is seriously not a good idea to go showing misleading lights, especially given the quality of training recieved by some of the 'international officers' i have sailed with.

Now the problem arises that if you have a strobe, it will distract from your nav lights, you will possibly be mistaken for either, a WIG craft (red) a hovercraft (yellow) or a buoy (red, green or white)

A good way of getting attention is to have one of those 2million candle power torches, and to flash five short and rapid flashes onto the accomodation of the vessel. This is the international siganl for "what are your intentions". Nothing will get the attention of an officer better than that coming through the bridge windows!

(please dont shine it straight into the windows though, as it really hurts!)

 

[robstracey]

Singlehanding in itself is not against colregs, it all depends on your interpretation of rule 5,

<span style="color:red"> </span> "Every vessel shall ata all times maintain a propper lookout by sight and by hearing as well as by all available means appropraiate to the prevailing circumstances and conditions so as to make a full appraisal of the situation and risk of collision"

<span style="color:black"> </span> So, assuming your not intending to knock off for a full eight hours, what is wrong with assesing the traffic situation, and allowing yourself a period of rest. for example, in busy waters, you need to keep your wits about you. but in deep sea areas, a couple of hours below is perfectally acceptable. if your boat has a full ARPA system, it is possible to set up a radar guard zone, which will sound an alarm if anything comes within a certain distance (we use this a lot in pirate areas, and is surprisingly good). AIS also makes the situation safer.

So, if the prevailing circumstances and conditions permit, and suitable precautions have been taken, such as radar, the a propper lookout is being maintained, as you will be woken by anything that comes close, an alarm clock to wake you up at regulat intervals to lookout and check radar is also imperitive. (anything likly to send you to the bottom will be a big target on even the crappest radar). And unless you have an engine thumping away next to you, a ships whistle will be sure to wake you up, as they are amazingly loud.

No what out of all that isnt all available means appropriate to the prevailing circumstances and conditions?

 

[damo]

Yes it's the old chestnut isn't it? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

What is undeniable though is that a flashing light is more noticeable than fixed lights low down, especially in any kind of sea. It is also not unheard of for bridge lookouts to be doing anything but looking out properly.

In a minimum boat with low electrical capacity, without radar, it would seem to be sensible to show something that is more likely to be noticed, especially when the lone skipper is having a rest. And a fast white strobe is unlikely to be confused with anything else, except possibly cardinals, and won't affect the night vision of either the sender or receiver.

 

[Malabar]

Eric Hiscock was in favour; and who am I to argue.

 

[Salty John]

You could get a torch with a strobe function and wave it around in the event of a too close for comfort incident.

 

[MASH]

It is arguable that fitting a strobe for use only in time of dire necessity is acceptable under the colregs, as long as it's use is restricted to just that.

There are, as others have pointed out, many acceptable and practical ways to make your presence obvious and a strobe seems superfluous to me.

To those who appear to be advocating regular use I can only say, what is it about obeying the law that you don't understand? Don't do it because it is ILLEGAL. Period. What next? Rig up two steaming light so they think you're a supertanker and thus keep out of your way? That way lies anarchy, and collapse of the system.

If you're that worried, fit brighter nav lights and probably better, a transponder.

Unless things have changed recently a lot of aviation survival suits (eg N Sea passengers and crews) are equipped with strobes. Set one off up there and you're likely to trigger a SAR mission...think about it...because any helicopter / support vessel / fisherman seeing one will assume that it is a survivor in the water.

Bad plan!

 

[robstracey]

I agree. A strobe should only be used as a last resort, and we have white flares for that.

One point i would like to pick;
[ QUOTE ]
What next? Rig up two steaming light so they think you're a supertanker and thus keep out of your way?

[/ QUOTE ]

there is absolutly nothing to stop anyone from doing this. to quote COLREG Rule 23 part a,
[ QUOTE ]
A power driven vessel underway shall exhibit:
i) a masthead light forward;
ii) a second masthead light abaft of and higher than the forward one;
except that a vessel of 50m in length shal not be obliged to exhibit such
a light but may do so;

[/ QUOTE ]

Sorry to split hairs, but with the MCA orals comming up COLREGS are kind of my thing. Do bear in mind they are LAW, and should be observed as such. Whilst a strobe light may seem a good idea, so do flashing bike lights, but they cant be used on the road.