Strobe lights

jfkal

jfkal

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Is there any "LEGAL" circumstance where a sailing vessel may use a strobe light?
I saw quite a number with Strobes at the mast top, but I am not sure what the regulations say.

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See Rule 36.

"Any light to attract the attention of another vessel shall be such that it cannot be mistaken for any aid to navigation. For the purposes of this rule the use of high intensity intermittent or revolving lights such as strobe lights, shall be avoided."

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Please, please, _don't_ use a strobe light on a boat/yacht/vessel.

As has been said before, they could be confused with a north cardinal light. If everyone sticks to the colregs and obeys them then we won't have all these problems. My case in point is the 'Tricolor'. In the Merchant Navy, we spend so much time learning and relearning the colregs and read case studies about how they fail to be used correctly in collision situations.

I have also heard reported that yachts don't turn their nav lights on at night to save on battery power until another vessel is close at hand. This propect terrifies me, you must remember our vessels can travel at up to 20+ knots and because we are so high up on the bridge we can see for a greater range and if the lights of a yacht suddenly switch on 2 miles or so ahead of us, we may be forced to take drastic action putting both vessels in a close quarters situation.

Please, I don't run out in front of your car at night and switch on a strobe light, so don't do it to me either!

~Dyflin

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A quick glance through my Boat Owners Highway Code (PBO/RYA) booklet and Hovercraft (120fpm yellow), Submarines (90fpm yellow) and Seiners (not sure what they are) are the only vessels I can find that use flashing lights.

<hr width=100% size=1>Gavin
 
While I understand your concern - don't forget that to comply with Colregs my side lights only need a range of one mile anyway - so if you're two miles away you won't see me whether they are on or off

Scarey or what?

I really place zero reliance on being spotted by eye by a ship at night.


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I don't give a stuff about the legality. It would make me happier to have something on top of my mast that is far more noticable than a standard tri.

I know the arguments from the professional merchant men, who say they wouldn't know what I am (ie: North Cardinal), but lets face it, these are the same people who can't avoid a 50,000 ton car transporter.

If you listen to guard ships in the Channel, they have difficulty getting the attention of so called professional skippers and the guard ships are a lot bigger than my yacht.

I heard one who had to put a flare across the bridge of an approaching freighter to get his attention to avoid a collision with a cable laying ship, whose position was being broadcast by the coastguard every hour. This was after the guard ship failed to get his attention by calling repeatedly on the radio and steaming alongside.

So, on the off chance that someone is watching, I want something that will grab their attention and make them double check what they are seeing.

NOW....my question is where can I get a 12v strobe for permanent mounting? And I don't mean an Aqua Signal as they are too expensive.

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Wow - thats a dubious attitude. At least it's clear from your insurers point of view, as they will never need to pay out!

As I've said elsewhere we do have a strope at the masthead - but it is a very low intensity device, aimed at the underside of the Windex for night sailing. With the tricolour on, you cant even see it from 100 yards away, so it hardly fits the definition of high vis. I also have an LED (well 6 actually) aimed up the luff of the jib, in order to see the tell tales. The light is so dim as to be hardly visible, except from the cockpit, and certainly cant be seen by another ship.

If you are worried about ships seeing you (I only really worry whether I can see them, as I would always manouevre early to avoid a close approach at night), then a white flare, or a searchlight has to be the right answer, or of course an active radar transponder.

Having non standard lights only serves to confuse any deck officer who is plotting your course, and increases the risk of collision markedly.

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Unsociable, at least

Legalities notwithstanding, a strobe light flashing from a masthead in an anchorage is deeply annoying. Those on the offending boat probably can't even see it, but those anchored around it have the damn thing flashing in their eyeballs. Good enough to reason to take out the old rifle and do some target shooting...

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<I don't give a stuff about the legality>

Do you think that your attitude to colregs gives ammunition to those in power who seek enforceable legal controls on us all? Is that something you want?

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Re: Unsociable, at least

had this happen in Ireland with visiting US boat, strobe on when anchored, talk about bloody annoying!!!!!!!!!!!!..........keith

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As Jimi points out "strobe lights shall be avoided"; the colregs don't say "strobe lights shall not be used" which would be an interdiction of their use. I wouldn't dream of using a strobe light on a Channel crossing but I've used it regularly in mid-Atlantic (heven't seen a North cardial there as yet...)
john

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FWIW I've got a strobe at my masthead.

So far I've only used it at Fowey Regatta (when everybody had everything on!) and when coming into a marina and talking to the Marina staff on the radio("I've got a strobe on my mast"...."Ah, yes sir. I can see you).

I've not used it when at anchor as it seems a bit over the top in that situation. However, having read the earlier comments I definately won't use it now except in one situation. If there's a bunch of boozers on deck nearby at an unreasonable hour, if it puts them off, I'll try it!

At sea I only intend to use it with discretion but if it alerts someone to my presence then its worth every penny. I wouldn't use it without the proper lights, but in addition.

The only other time that I think it may be useful is in an emergency. If I can switch it on to show somebody where I am then its worth it.

I recognize that it may not be legal but if it's an additional safety device then I think it's worth it.

Joe Cole

<hr width=100% size=1><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by Joe_Cole on 03/04/2003 21:01 (server time).</FONT></P>
 
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