Day shapes

[jviss]

Does ANYONE reading this display the appropriate day shape signals when motoring and while anchored?

While virtually all large yachts I see display the anchor ball when anchored, I don't think I have ever seen a popularly-sized family yacht, say in the 30 to 40 foot range, displaying an anchor ball; nor have I ever seen a sailboat displaying a cone while motoring during the day.

Maybe I have misinterpreted the regulations, but I think it is pretty clear:

a. that all vessels over 7m require an anchor ball during the day, if you exclude inland waters;

b. vessels over 39' require a cone shape when motoring during the day.

Comments?

 

[Paul J. Rusyniak]

NO DAY SHAPES

We don't display them and seriously doubt that more than 0.01% of the folks on the lake (including me) would know what they meant.
Paul

 

[RichH]

Probably everyone should .....

Admiralty court will assess YOU a lot of the % of blame if you are anchored in daylight & get hit and dont have a black ball in the rigging.
Ditto if 'motoring' without the inverted cone and ......... .

 

[kloudie1]

RULES

Basically vessels less than 12 meters long have a good many exceptions .. as below:


A vessel proceeding under sail when also being propelled by machinery shall exhibit forward where it can best be seen a conical shape, apex downwards. A vessel of less than 12 meters in length is not required to exhibit this shape, but may do so.

(g) A vessel of less than 20 meters in length, when at anchor in a special anchorage area designated by the Secretary, shall not be required to exhibit the anchor lights and shapes required by this Rule.

Rule 30
(a) A vessel at anchor shall exhibit where it can best be seen:
i. in the fore part, an all-round white light or one ball;
ii. at or near the stern and at a lower level than the light prescribed in subparagraph (i), an all-round white light.
(b) A vessel of less than 50 meters in length may exhibit an all-round white light where it can best be seen instead of the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) of this Rule.

 

[jviss]

exceptions

kloudie1,

I mentioned both of these exceptions in the base note, except that the text you supply for "(g)" above omits the inland waters context.

I don't think you point out any exception I didn't already mention, unless I'm missing it somehow.

Boats over 7 meters are still required to display the anchor ball when anchored during the day unless in a special anchorage designated by the secretary in inland waters.

 

[BobM]

Just following my nose...so to speak.

If it is moving and has no sails up it is motoring.

If it is moving with sails up against wind and tide or much faster than me with the tiny amount of wind available it is probably motor sailing.

It there is a rope or a chain hanging from the bow it is anchored.

I must admit that I don't know my rules as well as I could as I was confused by the movement or lack thereof, of some shipping Saturday. There was a barge anchored, but with a tug alongside. The tug later moved behind the barge and started pushing it. I can't recall it changing any flags it was displaying and it was too bright for lighting to be apparent. There was also a large vessel at anchor in a "parking spot" in the outer harbor for such vessels. I was a bit concerned as at one point the engines were obviously running for a few minutes and they were at single anchor. So I was thinking that perhaps they were getting ready to go somewhere, but I couldn't see any crew moving about and they never went anywhere. Possibly just charging their batteries or something.

By the way, my steaming light has been working sporadically. I looked at the regs and for a small sailboat it said is acceptable to use the anchor light in combination with running lights in lieu of a steaming light. Somebody else can quote the exact reg I'm sure ;-)

 

[jviss]

What are inland waters?

"Inland Waters means the navigable waters of the United States shoreward of the navigational emarcation lines dividing the high seas from harbors, rivers, and other inland waters of the United States and the waters of the Great Lakes on the United States side of the International Boundary; Inland Rules or Rules mean the Inland Navigational Rules and the annexes thereto, which govern the conduct of vessels and specify the lights, shapes, and sound signals that apply on inland waters. "

So, maybe I have never legally needed the anchor light! Would this include Newport Harbor, Tarpaulin Cove, outside of Edgartown harbor, Block Island's New Harbor?

 

[Mike B]

We don't use them

We don't use them nor have I seen anyone else do so. Even if I did it's doubtful anyone would know what they mean. A good majority of boaters haven't the slighest clue as to what the rules call for. If they don't know which side of a channel to be on or who's the stand on vessel when meeting or passing how in the world could I expect them to know what an anchor ball or steaming cone mean? I'm with Bob M on this one.
Mike

 

[kloudie1]

RULES 2

I am not pretending to be a "Sea Lawyer" here but the word "or" in 30 part a, coupled with part b at the end tends to say that only an all 'round white light is necessary.. A ball can be displayed if desired, but it is not necessary.. Just my interpretation..

 

[jviss]

answering my own question, partially...

I looked at the ColRegs inland waters def. and they use the ColRegs demarcation line on the charts - duh! What a concept!

So, the outer harbor at Edgartown is not inland, and also there's no special anchorage there.

 

[jviss]

day/night

ball/light : day/night

I interpreted it to mean "as appropriate," meaning, display the ball when the light can' tbe seen (day time), and vice versa.

 

[Ross]

I think that the purpose of these regs is just to

establish a better means of knowing what the other guy is doing. I anchor and motor so far away from the shipping channels that I would confuse the natives if I displayed the proper day shapes.

 

[BobM]

Let's just come out and say it...

...you could stream a 10 x 10 orange and black sign lettered with "At Anchor" in the day time or tow some of those movie spotlights behind you but some idiot in a powerboat drinking a beer with a blood alcohol level >>>>>0.10 will STILL run your butt over.

(by the way...loved the rosary beads comment Tony...first time I laughed out loud while reading this site)

 

[b361sail]

mast head light

I'd like to ask a question regarding a mast head anchor light. I see sailboats on moorings at mooring fields displaying the mast head anchor light. Is that required?, or just nervous boater jitters?

 

[Don12364]

Rule 25

From my copy of the COLREGS, Rule 25 subsection (e) reads:-

(e) A vessel proceeding under sail when also being propelled by machinery shall exhibit forward where it can best be seen a conical shape, apex downwards.

IT MAKES NO MENTION OF THE SAILING VESSEL BEING UNDER 39'

Sorry to shout.

 

[ITMaster]

With regard to motoring or motor sailing

I generally make a practice of display of my steaming lights to designate that I am under assist of power. I thought that was what they were for. If I am under sail strictly, with no power assist, then off goes the steaming light.

 

[sailortonyb Allied Mis]

Lights and cones.

Even though your sails are up when motor sailing, you are still considered a motor boat. Therefore you need the upside down cone during the day and your steaming light at night. So, for your homework assignment, I want everyone to sew an upside down cone. Don't cheat and sew it right-side up when we are not looking, then put it on your boat upside down. Somehow, we will know.

As for running an anchor light in a mooring field, I would think its a good idea if you are on the boat. Mainly for safety sake. Is it required? Probably YES, because very few mooring fields are marked on charts. I sometimes run a light hanging off of my boom also, because its easier to tell someone how far away they are. This is another common sense item in which I say, the heck with the rules. Make yourself easily seen when in a high traffic area like a crowded anchorage.
When looking for a good "spot", most people are looking outward not upward.

I took this picture today with a 10X zoom, of a passing sailboat about 1/4 mile away. Wished I was with him.
This pic was taken from about 130 ft. up on the rig approx. 30 miles south of the mouth of the Mississippi River.

Tony B

 

[Rick D]

Anchor Balls

The funny thing is, I actually looked for black anchor ball day shapes in the commercial harbor I sail in. I quit looking, since it's nearly impossible to pick the darn thing out of all the deck clutter and shapes, even when almost on top of the anchored ship. I suspect it is an obsolete thing that will eventually be replaced with some kind of daytime strobe, or maybe AIS will just take care of the whole thing. I have never seen anyone motorsailing with an inverted cone in 50 years of sailing in SoCal. In fact, of the people I know. most are aware of the requirement but no one has the day shape. It also isn't in the USCG Aux check lists I have seen nor is the ball. Nothing here should be considered an endorsement of not using them rather just an observation of usual practice.
Rick D.

 

[kloudie1]

RULES 3

OK..
I whole heartedly agree with the common sense approach.. In fact, I’ve put white reflective tape on boom end, and under the rub rail on the hull to make a dotted line.. Almost invisible in the daylight but really stands out at night (if swept by a light).. *box

I am having trouble keeping the cone inverted on the sewing machine ! The little bugger wants to turn sideways so he looks like a respectable and possibly more useful burgee!..

I dunno.. We had a case a few years back of a guy and his friend anchored outside the channels north and west of the entrance to Mobile Bay. (twenty eight foot boat, if I recall correctly) He was experienced and most likely did have an anchor light on. They disappeared for a couple of years because (it is assumed) a tow cut across the entrance and ran over them, sticking the boat in the bottom.. They were discovered when a shrimper snagged the wreck. The tow has never been identified.

Donalex, in my original post, I had “cut and pasted” the latest inland rules from the Coast Guard website. http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/mwv/navrules/navrules.htm.. The rules may be a bit different out a little east of me, where you are.

 

[jviss]

Rule 25

Donalex,

(e) A vessel proceeding under sail when also being propelled by machinery shall exhibit forward where it can best be seen a conical shape, apex downwards.
Vessel proceeding under sail when also being propelled by
machinery. Same for Inland except that a vessel of less than
12 meters in length is not required to exhibit the dayshape.

(e) A vessel proceeding under sail when also being propelled by machinery shall exhibit forward where it can best be seen a conical shape, apex downward. A vessel of less than 12 meters in length is not required to exhibit this shape, but may do so.

Here are two versions of Rule 25 section (e).

Exemption for vessels under 12m is clear. (12m is 39.36').