What's the best way to light your way around the boat (deck and cockpit) when getting on and off the mooring, anchoring, and sailing on a really dark night?
Sailing at night
- Thread starter Quoddy
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As little flashlight as you can because you eyes need to adjust to the darkness to function in the current light conditions
If your finished we use a mast light to tie up the boat BUT other wise that would hurt your night vision for sailing
If your finished we use a mast light to tie up the boat BUT other wise that would hurt your night vision for sailing
When sailing, there should be enough ambient light once your eyes have adjusted. Of course you will be using you nav lights. If you see or hear other boats approaching do not shine them with a light but rather shine your light on your sails to show them where you are.
For mooring and getting on and off the boat, I use a Princeton Tech headlamp. The EOS Tactical has colored filters for using at night.
For mooring and getting on and off the boat, I use a Princeton Tech headlamp. The EOS Tactical has colored filters for using at night.
A red headlamp or flashlight is a key piece of equipment to have aboard and won't ruin your nightvision, even if it catches you directly in the eyes. Generally, it takes at least 45 minutes for your eyes to get dark adapted properly, and even a tiny exposure to white light can ruin that off for hours.
I have a LED headlamp that I use for all kinds of things, it has a red setting which helps keep your night vision as sailingdog stated, it also has 2 white light settings. I felt like a dork when I first started using it, but now it's my flashlight of choice, having two hands free and always pointing where you are facing. This is also essential for when I have to work on anything in dark places like the engine compartment etc.
Spotlights are good for spotting crabpots/buoys and markers etc., if you use the spotlight make sure you are holding it behind something reflective like stainless steel tubing or a dodger window because you will likely ruin you nightvision and your eyes will have to adjust again. Most times if you identify something like a channel marker with the spot and your eyes are adjusted, you will be able to see it with the little ambient light there is because you know where it is.
Spotlights are good for spotting crabpots/buoys and markers etc., if you use the spotlight make sure you are holding it behind something reflective like stainless steel tubing or a dodger window because you will likely ruin you nightvision and your eyes will have to adjust again. Most times if you identify something like a channel marker with the spot and your eyes are adjusted, you will be able to see it with the little ambient light there is because you know where it is.
Several things to consider here .
It doesn't get dark all at once. Your eyes will adapt to the dark as twilight progresses.
An oil lamp turned way down makes a soft light that allows you to see what you are doing without dazzling.
Don't turn on any more lights than you absolutely need.
It doesn't get dark all at once. Your eyes will adapt to the dark as twilight progresses.
An oil lamp turned way down makes a soft light that allows you to see what you are doing without dazzling.
Don't turn on any more lights than you absolutely need.
That depends on what lattitude you live on, where I am at 49 degrees it takes hours to get completely dark, yet when I was in Key West many years back it got dark in all of five minutes, very startling if you are not accustomed to it.
I have never been a big fan of night sailing nor do I ever plan to be, I mostly day sail with a few 5-7 day excursions in the summer (July). The days are long and give me plenty of time to get moored before dusk especially with the long twilight. I remember one night on a small ferry I was coming back on after dark and I noticed a couple sailboats out there with nav lights on, you could just make out the sails that had a dim light on them. It was black out and I wondered how they could see any hazards, especially since I was leaned over the railing about 20' above the water and could just barely make out the dark shape of these big logs being shunted aside by the ferry. No way anyone on a sailboat close to the surface could see those in that chop, they would surely hit one. I suppose circumstances neccessitate night sailing on occasion but I personall don't see a need for it and feel that the risks outweigh the romantic sense it may impart on some, but each to their own, I don't ever see myself with any desire to be out there in the pitch black. Just my take on it.
You're far better off with red cabin lighting for night navigation use. I have a dual color LED fixture over the nav station for just this reason.
Quoddy, Most of the time we don't use lighting to get off a mooring or a dock, but on occasion we do need it to pick one up. We have a foredeck light that is mounted on the front of the mast and concentrates on the foredeck for whomever is working there. When the light is on it is bright, but it has never interfered with the helmsmans vision so we use it when needed. It is only on as long as needed. An ordinary flash light will work fine as long as it is not shined directly at anyone. We have used our portable sptlight on many occasions picking through an anchorage and again, as long as it is not pointed directly at anyone it is not a problem. Just try it at night some time with the boat at a mooring or dock. When under way you only want your running lights on and if you need lights down below, used red bulbs. Chuck
Kermie, I've been forced to nightsail before-
for safety!
I was sailing for 3 weeks in totally unfamiliar waters, bringing a boat back for a friend. 2 times I was within 100 yards off getting run over in the middle of the night, even though I was anchored far from the channel. After the second time, I sailed at night, figuring I could assure my own safety. I anchored and slept during the day, figuring it was alot easier to be seen in sunlight.
When anything got close, I'd turn on the steaming light, lighting up the sails and foredeck. The bulb was behind the mast from the wheel, so the light wasn't too bad.
The instruments were lit, so I rarely had to turn on any other lights. Never tried the red bulbs, but I'm grateful for the opportunity to go but another toy! And the admiral olways gives the okay for safety...
cup
for safety!
I was sailing for 3 weeks in totally unfamiliar waters, bringing a boat back for a friend. 2 times I was within 100 yards off getting run over in the middle of the night, even though I was anchored far from the channel. After the second time, I sailed at night, figuring I could assure my own safety. I anchored and slept during the day, figuring it was alot easier to be seen in sunlight.
When anything got close, I'd turn on the steaming light, lighting up the sails and foredeck. The bulb was behind the mast from the wheel, so the light wasn't too bad.
The instruments were lit, so I rarely had to turn on any other lights. Never tried the red bulbs, but I'm grateful for the opportunity to go but another toy! And the admiral olways gives the okay for safety...
cup
I sail a lot at night on long passages, etc.
I offer the following tips:
1. Use VERY dark sunglasses especially in the late afternooon to early evening--- seems to help with night vision later on.
2. When 'any' lights are on, 'save' one eye by tightly closing the lid to prevent any light from entering. That way youll have one eye 'light blinded' and the other (closed) eye ready for 'night vision'.
3. Use 'lights' only as absolutely needed .... the longer you can operate WITHOUT light the better you night vision will become.
4. At night, dont look 'directly' at the object that you want to 'see' ... instead look a few degrees away from the object as this will increase the use of your retinal receptors that are better suited for 'night vision'.
5. Keep ALL lights off, you'll get used to it - if you want good 'night vision'. Even on the darkest of dark nights there is usually enough ambient light (even at sea) to be able to easily 'see' - if you dont screw up your 'night vision' by exposing your eyes to stray white light.
I offer the following tips:
1. Use VERY dark sunglasses especially in the late afternooon to early evening--- seems to help with night vision later on.
2. When 'any' lights are on, 'save' one eye by tightly closing the lid to prevent any light from entering. That way youll have one eye 'light blinded' and the other (closed) eye ready for 'night vision'.
3. Use 'lights' only as absolutely needed .... the longer you can operate WITHOUT light the better you night vision will become.
4. At night, dont look 'directly' at the object that you want to 'see' ... instead look a few degrees away from the object as this will increase the use of your retinal receptors that are better suited for 'night vision'.
5. Keep ALL lights off, you'll get used to it - if you want good 'night vision'. Even on the darkest of dark nights there is usually enough ambient light (even at sea) to be able to easily 'see' - if you dont screw up your 'night vision' by exposing your eyes to stray white light.
I've done a lot of night sailing. I mounted some small lights on the underside of my instrument pod to shine down onto the deck of the cockpit, and into lockers, and also have a light with a rail clamp I made up out of a courtesy light and put a cigarette lighter plug on the end. Small lights below your sight level will allow some night vision retention. A headlamp works well, and for anchoring/docking in the dark, I have bright spreader lights. a 500k spotlight works well to spot markers, bouys, even rocks.
The following table show twilight at key west fla. may 30 and ,may 31
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Twi A: 5:11am[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Twi N: 5:43am[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Twi: 6:13am[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Sunrise: 6:38am[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Sunset: 8:10pm[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Twi: 8:36pm[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Twi N: 9:06pm[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Twi A: 9:37pm[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Moonrise: 1:00pm[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Moonset: 1:09am[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]First Qtr: 10:23pm[/FONT]
31
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Twi A: 5:11am[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Twi N: 5:42am[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Twi: 6:13am[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Sunrise: 6:38am[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Sunset: 8:11pm[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Twi: 8:36pm[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Twi N: 9:06pm[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Twi A: 9:38pm[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Moonrise: 1:59pm[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Moonset: 1:45am[/FONT]
Plenty of time for the eyes to adapt. C, N, A, refer to civil twilight, nautical twilight,(when you can get good celestial fixes,) and astronomical twilight when you can see the lowest magnitude stars.
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Twi A: 5:11am[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Twi N: 5:43am[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Twi: 6:13am[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Sunrise: 6:38am[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Sunset: 8:10pm[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Twi: 8:36pm[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Twi N: 9:06pm[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Twi A: 9:37pm[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Moonrise: 1:00pm[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Moonset: 1:09am[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]First Qtr: 10:23pm[/FONT]
31
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Twi A: 5:11am[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Twi N: 5:42am[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Twi: 6:13am[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Sunrise: 6:38am[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Sunset: 8:11pm[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Twi: 8:36pm[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Twi N: 9:06pm[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Twi A: 9:38pm[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Moonrise: 1:59pm[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Moonset: 1:45am[/FONT]
Plenty of time for the eyes to adapt. C, N, A, refer to civil twilight, nautical twilight,(when you can get good celestial fixes,) and astronomical twilight when you can see the lowest magnitude stars.
Who should check the lunar tables for what purpose?
Have you ever studied the details associated with the phases of the moon?
I'm told that one can find longitude by lunar distance, but I don't suppose you were suggesting that
.I just sailed an overnighter across the Sea of Cortez to San Carlos on a nearly moonless night. The phosphorescence was amazing and the sky was clear.
In good weather even on a moonless night I don't usually find there is any problem seeing to work the boat. I use an LED headlamp (as many others apparently do, too) and it is wonderful (though not a fashion do). My tri-color lamp usually illuminates the windex but for sail changes or big changes in trim I turn on the foredeck light. For log entries I have a pen with an led in it or I use my headlamp. I try to turn off or cover all the light emitters I'm not using (I put the cover on the RADAR when I'm not looking at it and if I'm using electronic charts on the computer I set the screen to blank very quickly and fold the top down when I'm not looking at the screen. Night comes with differing amounts of darkness. A frontal passage with heavy rain at night is amazingly dark but a clear night with a full moon will allow you to see color and shadows... My sailing instruments have three levels of lighting and I find that I use them -- bright for bright nights and dark for dark nights (actually I've worn out the red lights but they heave green that works well still). I have occasionally made a strange port in the night but I typically wait for light. For familiar ports I usually find that that going from the ocean to the relatively bright lights of a town or harbor makes the world seem bright to my night adjusted eyes and I don't need extra lights for picking up mooring or docks... YMMV, of course. I have spotlight but never use it.
--Tom.
The other aspect, of course, is to reduce the number of things you need to see.
Simplify rigging. Perhaps some things are not needed at night.
Straighten up just before dusk. Everything in its place.
Learn to do every routine on-deck task without sight. Most are simple with very little light. If the rigging is not simple, make it so.
Keep one hand on a rail or jack line. You are wearing a harness, right?
Once you have memorized the deck, darkness is less troublesome.
There is also a HUGE difference between a starlit night, where there are reflections on every wave, and a black overcast night. Think twice about rainy, moonless nights.
If you will trip on it, move it or learn where it is.
Simplify rigging. Perhaps some things are not needed at night.
Straighten up just before dusk. Everything in its place.
Learn to do every routine on-deck task without sight. Most are simple with very little light. If the rigging is not simple, make it so.
Keep one hand on a rail or jack line. You are wearing a harness, right?
Once you have memorized the deck, darkness is less troublesome.
There is also a HUGE difference between a starlit night, where there are reflections on every wave, and a black overcast night. Think twice about rainy, moonless nights.
Re: The other aspect, of course, is to reduce the number of things you need to see.
I often move about my house at night without turning on any lights. I never turn on any cabin lights after we have gone to bed for the night. I often have to get up at night and sometimes go on deck just to see what the night is doing and if I don't expect the details that I see in daylight i can see very well the features that are important.
I often move about my house at night without turning on any lights. I never turn on any cabin lights after we have gone to bed for the night. I often have to get up at night and sometimes go on deck just to see what the night is doing and if I don't expect the details that I see in daylight i can see very well the features that are important.
RichH's post is well-said.
Some very well-funded and substantiated US Air Force research has debunked the whole red light concept. Very dimmed white light is now used in military combat and navigation stations.
Auspicious now has variable white LEDs at the nav station and dim LED head lamps topside. It works well, just as the USAF says.
On the other hand, a nice spotlight does come in handy from time to time.
sail fast, dave
Some very well-funded and substantiated US Air Force research has debunked the whole red light concept. Very dimmed white light is now used in military combat and navigation stations.
Auspicious now has variable white LEDs at the nav station and dim LED head lamps topside. It works well, just as the USAF says.
On the other hand, a nice spotlight does come in handy from time to time.
sail fast, dave
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