A Coast Guard rule requires displaying an inverted black cone while motoring on a sailboat. I have not been able to find one. Do any of you have an idea where I can look? Neither W/M or BoatUS has them. Thanks, John Richard s/v Jack's Place
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Defender.com
But check the chandlery here first. Steaming Cone Folds Flat Black International signal for vessel proceeding under motor. Required for sailboats. Black, rigid. Manufacturer: Plastimo Model: 16206 Status: IN STOCK Catalog Description Ship List Price Selling Price Enter Quantity To Order 001182 STEAMING CONE 2 lbs. $14.50 $10.29
But check the chandlery here first. Steaming Cone Folds Flat Black International signal for vessel proceeding under motor. Required for sailboats. Black, rigid. Manufacturer: Plastimo Model: 16206 Status: IN STOCK Catalog Description Ship List Price Selling Price Enter Quantity To Order 001182 STEAMING CONE 2 lbs. $14.50 $10.29
Steaming Cone??
Now that's a new one. Twenty years sailing and I've never heard of a steaming cone or seen one either. I don't think anybody else would know what it is either. It seems to me, if your motoring with no sails up, you're obviously motoring. I don't think I'll buy one. I've been boarded a couple of times by the Coast Guard and was never asked for one. Only life jackets, flares, etc. They did check for stickers concerning oil and garbage overboard.
Now that's a new one. Twenty years sailing and I've never heard of a steaming cone or seen one either. I don't think anybody else would know what it is either. It seems to me, if your motoring with no sails up, you're obviously motoring. I don't think I'll buy one. I've been boarded a couple of times by the Coast Guard and was never asked for one. Only life jackets, flares, etc. They did check for stickers concerning oil and garbage overboard.
Follow-up
Rick: Thanks for the heads-up. I just ordered the cone through defender.com. Sean: Yup, the CG wants us sailboat guys to have it while under way with sails and motor. I had an inspection this past weekend. This was the very thorough go-through where they check everything. I had a black mooring ball, but no cone and was marked down for the lack. I would imagine in your area that the CG may want you to have one. I'm told that the San Diego area is pretty stringent on the requirement. John Richard
Rick: Thanks for the heads-up. I just ordered the cone through defender.com. Sean: Yup, the CG wants us sailboat guys to have it while under way with sails and motor. I had an inspection this past weekend. This was the very thorough go-through where they check everything. I had a black mooring ball, but no cone and was marked down for the lack. I would imagine in your area that the CG may want you to have one. I'm told that the San Diego area is pretty stringent on the requirement. John Richard
It is Required for Motor Sailing
I do not think I'd bother either but for ten bucks I would comply if it was being enforced in my area.
I do not think I'd bother either but for ten bucks I would comply if it was being enforced in my area.
Inland rules differ
The steaming cone is required by the international colregs but, under the Inland rules, vessels under 12m do not need to display it. Of course, nobody complains if you do...
The steaming cone is required by the international colregs but, under the Inland rules, vessels under 12m do not need to display it. Of course, nobody complains if you do...
Here's a Day Shape for Them . . .
You know it's one thing to spend every last dime I have in order to just stay afloat, but this is going too far. This namby pamby, mother may I, state we live in (because a few morons might hurt themselves) is just over the top. The complete criminalization of everything we do on the water (they just made it a misdemeanor to anchor too long in certain parts of San Diego Bay) has got to stop. Okay, alright, I’ll fly a day shape while steaming, I’ll just have to fashion something that looks like, my frigging middle Finger . . . Nick
You know it's one thing to spend every last dime I have in order to just stay afloat, but this is going too far. This namby pamby, mother may I, state we live in (because a few morons might hurt themselves) is just over the top. The complete criminalization of everything we do on the water (they just made it a misdemeanor to anchor too long in certain parts of San Diego Bay) has got to stop. Okay, alright, I’ll fly a day shape while steaming, I’ll just have to fashion something that looks like, my frigging middle Finger . . . Nick
Black Cone Requirement is Rediculous!
The coast guard requirement to display a black cone when motor sailing is just plain rediculous! I wouldn't go out and buy one either. Your money would be better spent on postage to write your congressman or senator to get the law updated. Maybe we should switch to powerboats and burn more fuel so the country can become more energy dependent. Then the price for fuel that the Coast Guard needs to stay afloat would go up and so would their budget then maybe they would have to go back to square riggers! This is another example of "Homeland Security" requirements run amuck. Arrrrgg!
The coast guard requirement to display a black cone when motor sailing is just plain rediculous! I wouldn't go out and buy one either. Your money would be better spent on postage to write your congressman or senator to get the law updated. Maybe we should switch to powerboats and burn more fuel so the country can become more energy dependent. Then the price for fuel that the Coast Guard needs to stay afloat would go up and so would their budget then maybe they would have to go back to square riggers! This is another example of "Homeland Security" requirements run amuck. Arrrrgg!
Not masthead light - you mean steaming
I'm sure you didn't mean white "masthead" light to be displayed while under way - you really meant white "steaming" light. The steaming light displayed while moving under engine power is generally located around the spreader area on sailboat and faces forward. It is never displayed while under sail only. Masthead all round white light is an anchor light and is be displayed when you are not moving at all. Cheers.
I'm sure you didn't mean white "masthead" light to be displayed while under way - you really meant white "steaming" light. The steaming light displayed while moving under engine power is generally located around the spreader area on sailboat and faces forward. It is never displayed while under sail only. Masthead all round white light is an anchor light and is be displayed when you are not moving at all. Cheers.
Semantics
I should have said, per 23(a)"...masthead light forward..." which is a white light not visible in the aft direction. The USCG rules doesn’t use the term steaming light and anchor light like most sailors use to indicate masthead anchor light and steaming spreader lights on sailboats, they use the term all around light and light forward for anchor and steaming lights. Per rule 21(a) "Masthead light" means a white light placed over the fore and aft centerline of the vessel showing an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of 225 degrees and so fixed as to show the light from right ahead to 22.5 degrees abaft the beam on either side of the vessel, except that on a vessel of less than 12 meters in length the masthead light shall be placed as nearly as practicable to the fore and aft centerline of the vessel. Per rule 21(e) "All-round light" means a light showing an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of 360 degrees. For towing, you have to hang another masthead (white)light forward and a yellow towing light in a vertical line above the white sternlight. Fair Winds. Clyde
I should have said, per 23(a)"...masthead light forward..." which is a white light not visible in the aft direction. The USCG rules doesn’t use the term steaming light and anchor light like most sailors use to indicate masthead anchor light and steaming spreader lights on sailboats, they use the term all around light and light forward for anchor and steaming lights. Per rule 21(a) "Masthead light" means a white light placed over the fore and aft centerline of the vessel showing an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of 225 degrees and so fixed as to show the light from right ahead to 22.5 degrees abaft the beam on either side of the vessel, except that on a vessel of less than 12 meters in length the masthead light shall be placed as nearly as practicable to the fore and aft centerline of the vessel. Per rule 21(e) "All-round light" means a light showing an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of 360 degrees. For towing, you have to hang another masthead (white)light forward and a yellow towing light in a vertical line above the white sternlight. Fair Winds. Clyde
Is Officialdom Arriving?
If the Coast Guard is going to enforce day shapes because “you might need them” then what about lights. If they see you towing a dingy and you “might go into fog/restricted visibility” then look at the legal requirements for lights. The regulations would require the installation of a second steaming light and a yellow stern light to be in full compliance. How can you complain? It's for homeland security and safety! "But Sir, it's not a dingy, it's a large inflatable fender!"
If the Coast Guard is going to enforce day shapes because “you might need them” then what about lights. If they see you towing a dingy and you “might go into fog/restricted visibility” then look at the legal requirements for lights. The regulations would require the installation of a second steaming light and a yellow stern light to be in full compliance. How can you complain? It's for homeland security and safety! "But Sir, it's not a dingy, it's a large inflatable fender!"
I've seen clam dredges use a day shape
In Oyster Bay Harbor, Long Island the old clam and oyster dredges use the "black widow" dayshape: upright cone under an upside down cone. They use two dimensional sheet metal about 2' long painted black and hung from the mast. I have never seen any other day shapes, even among the high-fallutin' monster yachts flying Bahamas ensigns with a crew of 10. I agree that we should follow maritime law, but I wonder if anyone would know what the hell the cone means. This calls for an experiment...
In Oyster Bay Harbor, Long Island the old clam and oyster dredges use the "black widow" dayshape: upright cone under an upside down cone. They use two dimensional sheet metal about 2' long painted black and hung from the mast. I have never seen any other day shapes, even among the high-fallutin' monster yachts flying Bahamas ensigns with a crew of 10. I agree that we should follow maritime law, but I wonder if anyone would know what the hell the cone means. This calls for an experiment...
Scott, Forget the experiment....nobody up here
would notice or care. LOL You probably would get one or two guys seeing it and say to themselves "hey, lookey there.....a steaming cone"
would notice or care. LOL You probably would get one or two guys seeing it and say to themselves "hey, lookey there.....a steaming cone"
I Agree
Very few folks would have a clue what it was. I teach classes for the Coast Guard Auxiliary and am fairly certain it is not somthing we cover it is in the book I think but not part of the lesson. The lights for towing your dink may be a good thing as most folks down here along the ICW (the ones who have taken our class anyway) know what the white and yellow lights indicate and avoid them as much as possible.
Very few folks would have a clue what it was. I teach classes for the Coast Guard Auxiliary and am fairly certain it is not somthing we cover it is in the book I think but not part of the lesson. The lights for towing your dink may be a good thing as most folks down here along the ICW (the ones who have taken our class anyway) know what the white and yellow lights indicate and avoid them as much as possible.
More on day shapes
I was a merchant seaman for 23 years and I can tell you while many small boat operators don't know one day shape from another merchant vessels do and they use them. So while some yatchies well wonder why you are flying that funny triangle, the ships/tugs and other proffessionals well understand it and abide by the rules.
I was a merchant seaman for 23 years and I can tell you while many small boat operators don't know one day shape from another merchant vessels do and they use them. So while some yatchies well wonder why you are flying that funny triangle, the ships/tugs and other proffessionals well understand it and abide by the rules.
Rick Ellis, very good point !
So if you are around lots of commercial traffic then these day shapes make a lot of sense !
So if you are around lots of commercial traffic then these day shapes make a lot of sense !
Actually...
I stay as far away from commercial traffic anyhow. Besides, around here they pretty much do what they want wether you are sailing or motoring. Pleasure boaters just get in the way of people who rely on boating to make a living. ;<) Tim
I stay as far away from commercial traffic anyhow. Besides, around here they pretty much do what they want wether you are sailing or motoring. Pleasure boaters just get in the way of people who rely on boating to make a living. ;<) Tim
Tim... Yep.
Tim - same thing in the Chesapeake. I wouldn't even dream of pushing my right-of-way in a sailboat with one of the big commercial boys coming down the channel. I can just hear the Paster at my funeral. "He was dead right..." What REALLY chaps my posterior is how the more expensive boats seem to think they've got right-of-way over the smaller boats.
Tim - same thing in the Chesapeake. I wouldn't even dream of pushing my right-of-way in a sailboat with one of the big commercial boys coming down the channel. I can just hear the Paster at my funeral. "He was dead right..." What REALLY chaps my posterior is how the more expensive boats seem to think they've got right-of-way over the smaller boats.
Not the price
Walt, it's not the price but the amount of alcohol on board. I have found that whichever boat/skipper can drink the most gets the right of way! Tim
Walt, it's not the price but the amount of alcohol on board. I have found that whichever boat/skipper can drink the most gets the right of way! Tim
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