What am I not understanding? I read on the Coast Guard web site for safe boating, that during the day, all vessels at anchor must display, forward where it can be best seen, a black ball shape. Additionally, during the day, vessels under sail also being propelled by machinery, must exhibit forward, where best seen, a black conical shape with the apex pointing down. I generally sail coastal waters and bays. To the best of my recollection, I have never seen any boat displaying a black ball while at anchor, nor have I ever seen a sailboat displaying a black conical shape while motoring with the sails up. I can't believe every boater I've seen is doing it wrong, yet this web site is stating these are actual regulations. The only exception it makes to these laws is if your boat is less than 39.4 feet in length and on inland waters. What am I missing? Do you display these markings as required?
Am I Missing the Boat?
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"...if your boat is less than 39.4 feet in length"
Doesn't that answer it for most of us? West Marine used to sell them, and still may continue to do so. This reg has been around since Noah.
Doesn't that answer it for most of us? West Marine used to sell them, and still may continue to do so. This reg has been around since Noah.
Aaaa Yes
At times I think I am the only one who does. When I do anchor during the day and fly my black ball all but a few old timers know the meaning.
At times I think I am the only one who does. When I do anchor during the day and fly my black ball all but a few old timers know the meaning.
Not Related to Bill Gates
Stu, Thanks for your response and I certainly agree that 39.4 and under includes most of us (I have a 23'); however the regs state it doesn't apply to boats that size on inland waters. Checking the definition of inland waters they mean: lakes, rivers, reservoirs, etc. Basically the fresh water, non-tidal stuff. I sail in brackish/salt water and don't see these items displayed. I see you hail from S.F. so in all likelihood the regs would apply to you too. Do you see the folks in S.F. Bay using them? Frank
Stu, Thanks for your response and I certainly agree that 39.4 and under includes most of us (I have a 23'); however the regs state it doesn't apply to boats that size on inland waters. Checking the definition of inland waters they mean: lakes, rivers, reservoirs, etc. Basically the fresh water, non-tidal stuff. I sail in brackish/salt water and don't see these items displayed. I see you hail from S.F. so in all likelihood the regs would apply to you too. Do you see the folks in S.F. Bay using them? Frank
I dont ever recall............
This has been the law for a very long time. I dont recall ever seeing day shapes being used on pleasure craft although they are required. I dont ever recall the CG asking to see them when I was boarded. I think this falls into the 'no spitting on sidewalks' category as far as pleasure craft are concerned. Some shrimp boats hang a basket in lieu of the black ball...it was legal once and probably still is. In the Gulf Of Mexico the day shapes are used extensively by shrimp boats and all large commercial vessels. When they didnt hang a ball or basket, the CG would drive on past them without giving it a thought.It is an indication of what the craft is doing. The balls are visible for quite some distance. Tony B Exerpt: EXCEPTIONS: If your vessel is less than 23 feet/7 meters in length, then it is not required to display an anchor light or shape unless it is anchored in or near a narrow channel, fairway or anchorage, or where other vessels normally navigate. If your vessel is less than 65.6 feet/20 meters in length, then it is not required to display an anchor light if it is anchored in Inland Waters in a special anchorage designated by the Secretary of Transportation. Sailing Vessels Under Power (Machinery) During the day, vessels under sail also being propelled by machinery, must exhibit forward, where best seen, a black conical shape with the apex pointing down. (Figure 10) Figure 10 EXCEPTION: If your vessel is less than 39.4 feet/12 meters in length, then it is not required to display the shape in Inland Waters.
This has been the law for a very long time. I dont recall ever seeing day shapes being used on pleasure craft although they are required. I dont ever recall the CG asking to see them when I was boarded. I think this falls into the 'no spitting on sidewalks' category as far as pleasure craft are concerned. Some shrimp boats hang a basket in lieu of the black ball...it was legal once and probably still is. In the Gulf Of Mexico the day shapes are used extensively by shrimp boats and all large commercial vessels. When they didnt hang a ball or basket, the CG would drive on past them without giving it a thought.It is an indication of what the craft is doing. The balls are visible for quite some distance. Tony B Exerpt: EXCEPTIONS: If your vessel is less than 23 feet/7 meters in length, then it is not required to display an anchor light or shape unless it is anchored in or near a narrow channel, fairway or anchorage, or where other vessels normally navigate. If your vessel is less than 65.6 feet/20 meters in length, then it is not required to display an anchor light if it is anchored in Inland Waters in a special anchorage designated by the Secretary of Transportation. Sailing Vessels Under Power (Machinery) During the day, vessels under sail also being propelled by machinery, must exhibit forward, where best seen, a black conical shape with the apex pointing down. (Figure 10) Figure 10 EXCEPTION: If your vessel is less than 39.4 feet/12 meters in length, then it is not required to display the shape in Inland Waters.
Inland waters
Inland waters are not limited to lakes and the like. If you look at the charts for coastal areas, you will see the COLREGS demarcation line. Inland waters are everything inshore of that line, and includes lots of real salt water. For example, in the areas where I sail, all of Long Island Sound is considered inland waters, the COLREGs demarcation line runs from the tip of Orient Point up to fishers Island and then Rhode Island.
Inland waters are not limited to lakes and the like. If you look at the charts for coastal areas, you will see the COLREGS demarcation line. Inland waters are everything inshore of that line, and includes lots of real salt water. For example, in the areas where I sail, all of Long Island Sound is considered inland waters, the COLREGs demarcation line runs from the tip of Orient Point up to fishers Island and then Rhode Island.
Inland Rules
On the chart for your area there will be a demarcation line the designates where you switch from one set of rules to another. If I remember right it is a magenta line and reads ColRegs Demarcation or somthing very similar to that. You can look it up if you want to. For one on a 23' boat it really does not have that much meaning as your primary rule should be to stay away from anything large enough to be using these things.
On the chart for your area there will be a demarcation line the designates where you switch from one set of rules to another. If I remember right it is a magenta line and reads ColRegs Demarcation or somthing very similar to that. You can look it up if you want to. For one on a 23' boat it really does not have that much meaning as your primary rule should be to stay away from anything large enough to be using these things.
Eureka!
Ted and Rick, Thanks! COLREGS defining Inland Waters solves the dilemma. I see what you mean, our coastal waters are considered Inland Waters under COLREGS and therefore freeing (most of) us from having to display the conical day shape when motoring with the sails us. I wouldn't have thought the coast and bays were "Inland" but I see they are. Frank
Ted and Rick, Thanks! COLREGS defining Inland Waters solves the dilemma. I see what you mean, our coastal waters are considered Inland Waters under COLREGS and therefore freeing (most of) us from having to display the conical day shape when motoring with the sails us. I wouldn't have thought the coast and bays were "Inland" but I see they are. Frank
This is the law but largely ignored by ......
sailboaters. HOWEVER, until you have a crash or someone crashes INTO YOUR boat when YOU are at anchor or 'motor sailing' ----and even if TOTALLY BLAMELESS on your part; THEN, if you didnt have these shapes flying, an admiralty court will render that YOU were CONTRIBUTORY (at a to-be decided %) to the incident/damage because YOU didnt comply with the current regs. Would be the same if someone crashed into your anchored boat at night and you DIDNT have a proper anchor light up/on -- "your ass is then grass" to a goodly % of the judgement.
sailboaters. HOWEVER, until you have a crash or someone crashes INTO YOUR boat when YOU are at anchor or 'motor sailing' ----and even if TOTALLY BLAMELESS on your part; THEN, if you didnt have these shapes flying, an admiralty court will render that YOU were CONTRIBUTORY (at a to-be decided %) to the incident/damage because YOU didnt comply with the current regs. Would be the same if someone crashed into your anchored boat at night and you DIDNT have a proper anchor light up/on -- "your ass is then grass" to a goodly % of the judgement.
Ignored
Indeed, I am aware of the regs, but in 50 years of sailing, have never seen an inverted cone actually flown. I suspect that's because if you see a sailboat with just the main up and jib furled or off, you can pretty much *assume* it is under power and if the jib is up, you couldn't see the cone usually anyhow. I think I have one *somewhere* but wouldn't have a clue. As far as the anchor ball, I have never seen one on a private vessel, aside from a mega-yacht. However, they are of course used by commercial shipping. It's obsolete in my view since the things are almost invisible. I sail in a large commercial area with typically over a dozen anchored tankers and other commercial craft, and it would be nice to know if they are at anchor or not. Stack emissions are not reliable and anchor chains hang pretty much straight down from one side. The ball is lost in the foremast stuff and even with binocs is hard to pick out. A strobe of some type or even a high-intensity light would be a lot better choice (again, IMHO). I suspect these are in the category of regs that are easy to ignore and hard to decommission. Rick D.
Indeed, I am aware of the regs, but in 50 years of sailing, have never seen an inverted cone actually flown. I suspect that's because if you see a sailboat with just the main up and jib furled or off, you can pretty much *assume* it is under power and if the jib is up, you couldn't see the cone usually anyhow. I think I have one *somewhere* but wouldn't have a clue. As far as the anchor ball, I have never seen one on a private vessel, aside from a mega-yacht. However, they are of course used by commercial shipping. It's obsolete in my view since the things are almost invisible. I sail in a large commercial area with typically over a dozen anchored tankers and other commercial craft, and it would be nice to know if they are at anchor or not. Stack emissions are not reliable and anchor chains hang pretty much straight down from one side. The ball is lost in the foremast stuff and even with binocs is hard to pick out. A strobe of some type or even a high-intensity light would be a lot better choice (again, IMHO). I suspect these are in the category of regs that are easy to ignore and hard to decommission. Rick D.
Rick
I'm not sure and too lazy to look it up but I know someone here while chime in behind me. I dont think that the ball or anchor light is required in a designated anchorage for the large ships. As for the visability of a ball, if its hung properly, its visable for quite a distance. If not, eventually you will figure out that the vessel is not moving. Its just another way of telling 'what business the vessel is engaged in' at the time. Tony B
I'm not sure and too lazy to look it up but I know someone here while chime in behind me. I dont think that the ball or anchor light is required in a designated anchorage for the large ships. As for the visability of a ball, if its hung properly, its visable for quite a distance. If not, eventually you will figure out that the vessel is not moving. Its just another way of telling 'what business the vessel is engaged in' at the time. Tony B
Tony...
...good question, but they do indeed fly them even in the designated anchorage areas. I guess it's just me then, since someone else had mentioned that they are visible, but I sure can't pick them out of the bow clutter until I am way close and in a position where comfort level is way gone. The problem, Tony, for me is that these guys come and go often and so it isn't at all uncommon to be crossing and notice the ship begin to move. Like I said, the anchor chain would be a good hint except it is often hidden on the far side. It isn't a big deal except that a day light would be a far better choice. Rick D.
...good question, but they do indeed fly them even in the designated anchorage areas. I guess it's just me then, since someone else had mentioned that they are visible, but I sure can't pick them out of the bow clutter until I am way close and in a position where comfort level is way gone. The problem, Tony, for me is that these guys come and go often and so it isn't at all uncommon to be crossing and notice the ship begin to move. Like I said, the anchor chain would be a good hint except it is often hidden on the far side. It isn't a big deal except that a day light would be a far better choice. Rick D.
For those of you sailing on the coast
the Colregs demarcation line is defined in the Coastal Pilot for your region. They are available for free from NOAA at this website: http://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/nsd/cpdownload.htm Download the one(s) for your sailing area. Plenty of winter reading. What is interesting is that basically all of LI Sound and the Chesapeake are considered inland waters but many of us sail at the defined edges of the demarcation line and a number of destinations are considered outside, such as Block Island. In Ted's case I believe that even Gardner's Bay is considered outside while the Peconic Bays are considered inside. Better get that cheap black ball and cone just in case. Here is an excerpt from Coastal Pilot 2 defining the demarcation line from RI to Sandy Hook, NJ. §80.150 Block Island, R.I. (60) The 72 COLREGS shall apply on the harbors of Block Island. §80.155 Watch Hill, R.I. to Montauk Point, N.Y. (61) (a) A line drawn from Watch Hill Light to East Point on Fishers Island. (62) (b) A line drawn from Race Point to Race Rock Light; thence to Little Gull Island Light thence to East Point on Plum Island. (63) (c) A line drawn from Plum Island Harbor East Dolphin Light to Plum Island Harbor West Dolphin Light. (64) (d) A line drawn from Plum Island Light to Orient Point Light; thence to Orient Point. (65) (e) A line drawn from the lighthouse ruins at the southwestern end of Long Beach Point to Cornelius Point. (66) (f) A line drawn from Coecles Harbor Entrance Light to Sungic Point. (67) (g) A line drawn from Nichols Point to Cedar Island Light. (68) (h) A line drawn from Threemile Harbor West Breakwater Light to Threemile Harbor East Breakwater Light. (69) (i) A line drawn from Montauk West Jetty Light 1 to Montauk East Jetty Light 2. §80.160 Montauk Point, N.Y. to Atlantic Beach, N.Y. (70) (a) A line drawn from Shinnecock Inlet East Breakwater Light to Shinnecock Inlet West Breakwater Light 1. (71) (b) A line drawn from Moriches Inlet East Breakwater Light to Moriches Inlet West Breakwater Light. (72) (c) A line drawn from Fire Island Inlet Breakwater Light 348° true to the southernmost extremity of the spit of land at the western end of Oak Beach. (73) (d) A line drawn from Jones Inlet Light 322° true across the southwest tangent of the island on the north side of Jones Inlet to the shoreline. §80.165 New York Harbor. (74) A line drawn from East Rockaway Inlet Breakwater Light to Sandy Hook Light.
the Colregs demarcation line is defined in the Coastal Pilot for your region. They are available for free from NOAA at this website: http://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/nsd/cpdownload.htm Download the one(s) for your sailing area. Plenty of winter reading. What is interesting is that basically all of LI Sound and the Chesapeake are considered inland waters but many of us sail at the defined edges of the demarcation line and a number of destinations are considered outside, such as Block Island. In Ted's case I believe that even Gardner's Bay is considered outside while the Peconic Bays are considered inside. Better get that cheap black ball and cone just in case. Here is an excerpt from Coastal Pilot 2 defining the demarcation line from RI to Sandy Hook, NJ. §80.150 Block Island, R.I. (60) The 72 COLREGS shall apply on the harbors of Block Island. §80.155 Watch Hill, R.I. to Montauk Point, N.Y. (61) (a) A line drawn from Watch Hill Light to East Point on Fishers Island. (62) (b) A line drawn from Race Point to Race Rock Light; thence to Little Gull Island Light thence to East Point on Plum Island. (63) (c) A line drawn from Plum Island Harbor East Dolphin Light to Plum Island Harbor West Dolphin Light. (64) (d) A line drawn from Plum Island Light to Orient Point Light; thence to Orient Point. (65) (e) A line drawn from the lighthouse ruins at the southwestern end of Long Beach Point to Cornelius Point. (66) (f) A line drawn from Coecles Harbor Entrance Light to Sungic Point. (67) (g) A line drawn from Nichols Point to Cedar Island Light. (68) (h) A line drawn from Threemile Harbor West Breakwater Light to Threemile Harbor East Breakwater Light. (69) (i) A line drawn from Montauk West Jetty Light 1 to Montauk East Jetty Light 2. §80.160 Montauk Point, N.Y. to Atlantic Beach, N.Y. (70) (a) A line drawn from Shinnecock Inlet East Breakwater Light to Shinnecock Inlet West Breakwater Light 1. (71) (b) A line drawn from Moriches Inlet East Breakwater Light to Moriches Inlet West Breakwater Light. (72) (c) A line drawn from Fire Island Inlet Breakwater Light 348° true to the southernmost extremity of the spit of land at the western end of Oak Beach. (73) (d) A line drawn from Jones Inlet Light 322° true across the southwest tangent of the island on the north side of Jones Inlet to the shoreline. §80.165 New York Harbor. (74) A line drawn from East Rockaway Inlet Breakwater Light to Sandy Hook Light.
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