When should you use an anchor light?

[tcm]

When you're at anchor, of course. But a chap i was talking to said well, of course he used an anchor light - but not when on a mooring buoy - as though being on a mooring bouy was totally different. Um, but I reckon you should put on the anchor light, cos in lots of places it is flippin dark. So who's right?

For what it's worth, I don't reckon you are at anchor in a marina. If you need to put an anchor down in a marina (like in greece etc) then i suppose it's a nice touch to have the anchor light. If unsure, i'd put it on.

But in an openish anchorage, on a mooring buoy, then what? I reckon it must be manadatory to have an anchor light, but dunno if there's a catchall in the colregs such as "at anchor or EFEFFECTIVELY at anchor". Is there?


But if there's a load of boats, some at anchor and some -aha! - on mooring bouys - what's the difference?

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[jimi]

Maybe .. sensible answer is .."When you want to be seen!"

<hr width=100% size=1>.. when's that again, but ..

 

[Talbot]

It is not a bad idea to have one that switches on/off when the light level dictates.

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[MainlySteam]

We always use an anchor light unless in a marina berth, and also would not use one if in a harbour's permanent long term designated mooring area on a mooring (but never been there!).

John

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[alanporter]

Doesn't international maritime law state that you must show an anchor light when anchored except when in a "designated anchorage". If the mooring buoys are thus designated, you don't need a light. However, that said, I always use a light no matter where I am and I enter that fact in my log. It helps with the insurance claim when someone runs into you.

<hr width=100% size=1>Alan Porter

 

[Dave99]

I don't use an anchor light in a designated mooring area. Afterall anyone entering can see on the chart that there are lots of boats, and should be looking out.

<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by Dave99 on 26/12/2003 22:10 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[chippie]

So that's two instances where you wouldnt use one, any others?

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[webcraft]

I use an anchor light to see my boat when I come out of the pub. These dinghy rides are dodgy enough as it is.

Once safely back on board, whether or not I leave the light on depends on a complex calculation involving the relationship between the estimated probability of anyone running into me while I am asleep and the state of charge of the batteries.

- Nick




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[Mirelle]

Not on a mooring

My boat spends her spring, summer and autumn tethered to her mooring buoy unless her owner is aboard and wants to go somewhere. I don't for one moment consider setting a riding light if I'm not aboard - so, what's different when I am?

And if that applies when my boat is on her own mooring, surely it must apply if she is not, and someone else is borrowing it? And surely it must apply if I am borrowing someone else's mooring?

BUT if at anchor - where a vessel under way might not expect to find a vessel brought up - things are very different, and I will certainly set a riding light.

<hr width=100% size=1>Que scais-je?

 

[Dominic]

Is Common Sense Enough ?

Moorings are marked on charts -
Ergo a light is not required when moored to a buoy.

When anchored in a harbour a light may help to avoid a collision.

When anchored in what the Americans call a "a designated anchorage" then a light is not required.

Use a light and a black ball and your insurers´lawyers will be buying the champagne if your boat is struck.

To answer your question directly - Should you use common sense or would a pedantic following of Collregs be better ?

I suggest you should use your common sense.

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[TheBoatman]

Re: Not on a mooring

We often get visitors on our river moorings during the summer months and some are apt to switch on an anchor light. The first thing either myself or the trot boat drivers do is go over and politly ask them to turn it off!
We have a couple of hundred moorings both sides of a commercial fairway with large boats going to and fro most tides and it serves no purpose to confuse the bridge crews with one boat showing a white light amongst so many other unlit craft.They could easily mistake you for a small craft showing just the stern light.
These boats are on MOORINGS which are clearly marked on the local charts. The ColRegs DON'T demand that you need to show a light whilst on one, if however you ANCHOR in open water then the ColRegs demand that you do show one.


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[Mirelle]

Whilst we are about it....

Quite so. Indeed, I've been confused by this myself, on the Orwell, which has sizeable ships moving up and down it near High Water and which is almost lined end to end with yacht moorings. When you see a white light, in a position where you know there are moorings, you assume that it is either the masthead light of a vessel whose sidelights are hidden by a moored yacht or, more probably, the stern light of a vessel ahead of you and which may cross the fairway. Very misleading.

And, whilst we're at it, can I have a whinge about people who:

(a) use their all round white masthead light as a riding light (in very many places, this high up light is lost against shore lights, and when close to the anchored boat it may be missed completely!)

(b) use their steaming light (sometimes in comjunction with their masthead light!!!) as a riding light!

<hr width=100% size=1>Que scais-je?

 

[Chris_Robb]

Re: Not on a mooring

I sometimes wish that I had flood lights on overnight as I have been hit twice this year (Plymouth) by what I presume to be fishing boats. But your right - no need to show ball or light on a mooring, as moorings are in designated places on the chart. If you laid a mooring yourself in some out of the way bay (like Studland) then perhaps a light should be used.

<hr width=100% size=1><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by Chris_Robb on 27/12/2003 10:00 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[Chris_Robb]

Re: Whilst we are about it....

Quite agree - the anchor light should be set fairly low down. I use a good old huricane lamp which I recon is all you need.


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[Mirelle]

Re: Whilst we are about it....

Yes, and it cannot be mistaken for anything else - the yellowish light of a paraffin lamp is distinctive - it says, "There's a yacht anchored here!"

<hr width=100% size=1>Que scais-je?

 

[roger]

Re: Not on a mooring

In theory - "not on a mooring" but, in practice, this depends where you are. I had a mooring on the Dart in the middle of a group of other boats and had no problems. A friend of mine has his on the main stream not far below the anchor stone and has had his boat hit but not seriously damaged a number of times. It gets very dark there between high wooded banks and the channel is fairly narrow. He now has a dim solar powered light. It seems to have kept the idiots away and cost 8 pounds. Seems an easy precaution to me.
The lights are solar powered garden lights and the last ones I saw cost 5 pounds each and were brighter than the one he has.

<hr width=100% size=1>Roger

 

[pugwash]

By day ?

In Plymouth last summer I sailed round the big aricraft carrier (is it Invincible?) as she rode to a buoy behind the breakwater and I noticed she'd hoisted a not very big anchor ball. I wondered at the time what the book would say about this. Was the captain technically wrong or just doing a permissible belt and braces job?

I was hit on my mooring further up the Tamar 18 months ago, lots of damage. My boat was on a buoy among dozens of others. I am sure having an anchor light would have made no difference at all.

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[Boathook]

I feel that anchor lights should not be needed when in a designated anchorage or on a permanent mooring.
Having said that I am using an anchor light more often now, after going in to Studland on a dark, windy and wet night. At times all I could see were the 'anchor lights' and the little parafin things at low level were useless. I have a 5 watt 12 volt bulb in what was a battery operated anchor light and hoist it up, the hight being limited by the cable length.

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[Guest]

Technical and Practical

I consider the two different ..... BUT always adopt the practical .....

If you are lacking light such as partying etc. - then a riding light to show you are there is not a bad thing......

Again though there has to be a sensible limit to this ..... as most harbours have a multitude of small boats on moorings and no lights .....

I would carry a light when it is prudent and likely that advance warning of your presence is needed ..... such as open area which is not marked on chart as 'Small craft moorings'


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ...
Bilge Keelers get up further ! I came - cos they said was FREE Guinness !
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[brianrunyard]

My boat lives on a mooring in Poole Harbour, are you suggesting that I and everyone else on a mooring should show an anchor light every night.
The charts show "Small Craft Moorings", so I believe it's the resposibility of anyone moving through such an area to do so with care. Agreed if I anchor in an area where boats are not normally anchored then I would show the Anchor light.

<hr width=100% size=1>Brian
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/brunyard