Yes. I have two of them. but they are out in the store room and I don't want to go out there- it's drizzling
Light
- Thread starter Meriachee
- Start date
The pub is either on Nothing Like The or Sailavie, and we can pretty much throw a line, as it were, between them. No need for nav aids.
We’ve discussed it at our wrap up meeting in Sylvia’s lounge last night, and decided a couple of things;
1. There’s a couple of $1.47 bastardized solar lights from the dollar store in the immediate future.
2. Buddy down the way who thinks he owns the lake will not be appeased by it.
3. We like everybody else and resolve to not be bothered by one knob. (There’s always one)
It’s unfortunate that we couldn’t round up a couple of hundred boats to come and visit one weekend. That would make a point.
We’ve discussed it at our wrap up meeting in Sylvia’s lounge last night, and decided a couple of things;
1. There’s a couple of $1.47 bastardized solar lights from the dollar store in the immediate future.
2. Buddy down the way who thinks he owns the lake will not be appeased by it.
3. We like everybody else and resolve to not be bothered by one knob. (There’s always one)
It’s unfortunate that we couldn’t round up a couple of hundred boats to come and visit one weekend. That would make a point.
Jssailem- It's a Dietz kero lantern- still available-Mine looks about like the far left pic
https://www.google.com/search?q=deitz+lantern&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-b-1
https://www.google.com/search?q=deitz+lantern&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-b-1
Charlie, that's a neat looking lantern. I have a couple like that, the grey one on the left is a Dietz Comet, the red one on the right is a Big Wheel Brand. I've had the Big Wheel for years and it works fairly well, I've had a couple of these ones over the years. I picked up the Dietz at a thrift store but the fuel cap was missing so it is decorative only for now. I'm pretty sure someone painted it grey, I don't think they were ever sold that colour. Maybe I should convert it to LED as @jssailem mentioned. I did convert an incandescent lantern to LED but it's not very bright so I'd want to do better if it's going to be an anchor light.
On the topic of whether an all around white light (anchor light) is required in a mooring field. We have been told by the local SC Department of Natural Resources (DNR) the PO-PO that since the mooring field at our yacht club is "permitted for mooring" (it is immediately adjacent to the ICW in Beaufort SC) but not marked as a "designated anchorage" on any chart all boats on the mooring must display an all around white light in accordance with COLREGS.
From a purely practical standpoint I can see his point, except that our field was permitted by the Coast Guard (a specific number of moorings not to exceed a certain distance into the river). His point is that "suppose someone puts down a mooring, does that make it now a designated anchorage and subject to the exclusion for a light? What about 5 mooring balls?" His point is that if there is no marking on the chart as an designated anchorage so any one transiting may or may not know that there are boats moored there and that is no different than a boat anchoring where it wants to as long as its not restricting safe passage. I can see his point. I have always kept a USCG approved LED all around white light (dusk to dawn sensor on it) on my boat when on the mooring at our club, particularly since I am the furthest boat out into the river - as much for being able to say to the insurance company "I was properly lighted."
I'd be interested in some of the old salt (experienced) sailors perspectives on why a boat on a mooring is any different than a boat on an anchor when neither is in a place marked on the charts. If you can cite chapter and verse of the regulation that allows a boat on a mooring not in a designated anchorage to not have to display an all around white light I'd really appreciate it as we are having this discussion with the PO-PO about this subject. The Coast Guard district Charleston is of no help in resolving this. We could not find "mooring fields" mentioned in the COLREGS with regard to lights and shapes. We are putting in (not sure who is doing this and who he is submitting the request to) to have our mooring field shown on the charts as a "designated anchorage."
From a purely practical standpoint I can see his point, except that our field was permitted by the Coast Guard (a specific number of moorings not to exceed a certain distance into the river). His point is that "suppose someone puts down a mooring, does that make it now a designated anchorage and subject to the exclusion for a light? What about 5 mooring balls?" His point is that if there is no marking on the chart as an designated anchorage so any one transiting may or may not know that there are boats moored there and that is no different than a boat anchoring where it wants to as long as its not restricting safe passage. I can see his point. I have always kept a USCG approved LED all around white light (dusk to dawn sensor on it) on my boat when on the mooring at our club, particularly since I am the furthest boat out into the river - as much for being able to say to the insurance company "I was properly lighted."
I'd be interested in some of the old salt (experienced) sailors perspectives on why a boat on a mooring is any different than a boat on an anchor when neither is in a place marked on the charts. If you can cite chapter and verse of the regulation that allows a boat on a mooring not in a designated anchorage to not have to display an all around white light I'd really appreciate it as we are having this discussion with the PO-PO about this subject. The Coast Guard district Charleston is of no help in resolving this. We could not find "mooring fields" mentioned in the COLREGS with regard to lights and shapes. We are putting in (not sure who is doing this and who he is submitting the request to) to have our mooring field shown on the charts as a "designated anchorage."
Jackdaw - how do the "little white dots" get placed on the chart? It looks like some of the boats there (outside the cluster of boats together, may in fact be anchored not on mooring balls. Should they be displaying an all around white light?
There are many sailboats out there that do not have an all-round white light at the masthead. An all-round light in the foretriangle is then generally used as mentioned above in an earlier post. I used the one below for several years on my P-30 but eventually had one installed at the masthead.
Actually, there is no such thing, apparently, as a "Designated" anchorage. Only "Special" anchorages as shown on charts of inland bays or other "inland" waters shoreward of the ColRegs demarcation line. The boundaries of these are described in Coast Pilot of the area and are drawn on the chart. In those special anchorages one is not required to display the all round light. Mooring fields can be inside of special anchorages--so, you would not have to show the light there. These are very common in Newport Harbor (CA). However, mooring fields can also be outside of special anchorages if they lie outside of the inland waters, for example. Such as the mooring fields that abound in the anchorage areas of Santa Catalina Island. Thus, if you are on a mooring inside of Newport Harbor that is also inside a special anchorage--you are not required to show the light. However, if in a mooring field governed by International ColRegs, such as at Catalina Island, you would. The little anchor symbol that we sometimes see on a chart does NOT indicate "designated" anchorage as there is no such thing. Only, that the site is likely suitable for anchoring.
Actually, there is no such thing, apparently, as a "Designated" anchorage. Only "Special" anchorages as shown on charts of inland bays or other "inland" waters shoreward of the ColRegs demarcation line. The boundaries of these are described in Coast Pilot of the area and are drawn on the chart. In those special anchorages one is not required to display the all round light. Mooring fields can be inside of special anchorages--so, you would not have to show the light there. These are very common in Newport Harbor (CA). However, mooring fields can also be outside of special anchorages if they lie outside of the inland waters, for example. Such as the mooring fields that abound in the anchorage areas of Santa Catalina Island. Thus, if you are on a mooring inside of Newport Harbor that is also inside a special anchorage--you are not required to show the light. However, if in a mooring field governed by International ColRegs, such as at Catalina Island, you would. The little anchor symbol that we sometimes see on a chart does NOT indicate "designated" anchorage as there is no such thing. Only, that the site is likely suitable for anchoring.
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Thanks, I think I have it for mooring fields in a "Special Anchorage" inside of the COLREG Demarcation line. No light required.
My question is this (which I didn't see answered above):
What is the lighting/day shape requirement for a mooring field that is inside of the COLREGS Demarcation line (inland) that is NOT in a "special anchorage".
A black ball. However, I never see these, anywhere. And I only occasionally see boats in a mooring field not within the boundaries of a Special Anchorage with anchor lights on at night. Apparently it is widely believed they are not needed or required. True, they may not be needed there. But as I read the ColRegs, they are required. It's conceivable that one could come upon a mooring field where the there are but few, to perhaps only one vessel moored; perhaps on the edge of it. You'd want to see him.
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And I assume an "all around white light" at night then.
So our local DNR rep is correct since the mooring field at our yacht club is not in a "Special Anchorage" as designated on charts.
Please note that I am not in a discussion as to what is an acceptable light (walmart or Davis) or where it is to be displayed. Just is it required by COLREGS in the situation described. Also note that I do and will display a USCG approved all around white light from the masthead and, based on good advice here about how high that is and ability to pick this out from the stars with a tall mast another all around white light somewhere lower as Capta and others have suggested. Thanks
In most mooring fields in Europe they are totally required... moor most places in the UK without one and the harbormaster will be on your case. Often with a fine.
COLREGS says that you must display an all-around white light where BEST VISIBLE. So as a boat owner you have a lot of latitude as to where that is. Unless someone hits you. Then they'll 2nd guess any choice other than the mast-top.
@smokey73 , sorry just saw this. A nav app (Skipper) I have on the iPad does that; superimposes imagery over charts. Only in on-line mode but its cool for reviewing new areas and the like.
If you're moored or anchored in fog at night in a place where the all-round light is required, then lower, nearer the deck, might be the location where it is "Best Visible." Shinning an anchor light at the mast top in fog where it might not be visible to an oncoming vessel would not get a pass if you are hit b/c that just happens to be where your fixture is. It's therefore prudent to carry another light that can be hoisted in the foretriangle in such special circumstances. Let 'em "second guess!"
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I appreciate all the discussion about location and best visibility of the light but that is not the question. It comes down to this:
Is a boat on a swing mooring (mooring buoy) in inland waters that is not in a "special anchorage" designated on the NOAA charts considered "at anchor" for purposes of the COLREGS requirement to display a 360 degree white light? I understand that in a "special anchorage" a white light and black ball day shape is not required but the question is what if not in a special anchorage.
Is a boat on a swing mooring (mooring buoy) in inland waters that is not in a "special anchorage" designated on the NOAA charts considered "at anchor" for purposes of the COLREGS requirement to display a 360 degree white light? I understand that in a "special anchorage" a white light and black ball day shape is not required but the question is what if not in a special anchorage.
There was a question asked of a maritime attorney in a SoCal publication many years ago. It had to do with a mooring field in Catalina Island which is NOT marked (or was not) as a designated anchorage/mooring field. He concluded that a boat hit while on a mooring that was not displaying a day shape or light at night would be contributory negligent. There was a vast outcry from boaters since no one ever was lit or displayed a day shape in this large mooring field.