Would you navigate at night without radar / FLIR nowadays ?

[simonfraser]

This very early morning I crept out of the Maldon river, plotter, depth, nav lights, mark one eyeballs, no moon
Doing about 2 kts with the slight tide in the narrow bits
One Smack (boat) in the Centre Chanel, took me a little while to work out how low that vvvvv bright anchor light was
And found two moored sailboats in my way, no lights on them at all

Speeded up to 6 when out in the Centre of the wide river and out to bench head

I think a flood light would have been helpful ? Is that Legal, where it was tightish

 

[ctva]

Absolutely!

Out at night with basic gps, depth, charts, compass and the highly underated and underused, Mk1 eyeball is one of my favourite times on the water. Skills that all would benefit from.

 

[LittleSister]

Well, yes! I've never had a boat with radar, and often navigate at night. (And I don't know what FLIR is!)

I'd be generally wary of using a floodlight - destroys your night vision for a long time, so you tend to actually end up seeing less - but have used a powerful torch on a few occasions in very tight, very dark situations. I found it didn't illuminate much as the damp air reflected too much light so it didn't penetrate far.

You were right to keep the speed right down to the conditions.

 

[Mr Proach]

Well, yes! I've never had a boat with radar, and often navigate at night. (And I don't know what FLIR is!)

I'd be generally wary of using a floodlight - destroys your night vision for a long time, so you tend to actually end up seeing less - but have used a powerful torch on a few occasions in very tight, very dark situations. I found it didn't illuminate much as the damp air reflected too much light so it didn't penetrate far.

You were right to keep the speed right down to the conditions.

FLIR = Forward Looking Infra Red

 

[maby]

Only with great reluctance and if I had no choice.

 

[Uricanejack]

Routinely. Sometimes navigation is easier at night.

The biggest risk if running after dark here, are logs and dead heads, I don't worry much about them when sailing. Because I am not going very fast.
I do also have a small fast mobo. which I go fishing with. I often return after dark. I slow down. I can usually see well enough. Often I stand to see over wind shield. Twilight or moonlight I can see well enough. If really dark I drop down to displacement speed.

Personally, I prefer to run without a spot light. I find the backscatter more a hindrance than help. A lot of others use " log lights"
A bright spot or headlight aimed down at the water some distance ahead. Technical a breach of rules if nav lights are obscured.
I have never heard of anyone being reprimanded for using "log lights". Hitting logs a speed is not good.
Other bright lights yes. Other vessels may complain.

The only time I have ever hit something at planning speed, I had log lights on, Didn't see a log in a slight chop and went over it. Fortunately was not running with motors locked down, Stalled em both when they kicked up. But no damage, Ribs hull, well marked.

I find a nice LED tack light is very helpful if looking for an unlit buoy or day mark. I think Its polite not to shine it at another vessel and to slow and turn of any log lights if there is another vessel ahead.

Running though popular anchorages or moorings at speed at night. Apart from being inconsiderate, is not wise. A lot of anchored pleasure boats a very poorly lit, if lit at all. Moored boats hardly ever lit.