Twice, during dinner parties aboard Bandersnatch with seasoned boaters aboard,
we jotted down for an hour the number of boats that went by with and without
proper lights. In St Augustine FL, 32% had bad lights, in Gloucester MA it
was 52%.
Almost all were bad steaming lights on sailboats or all around whites on
motorboats. Many motorboats had their all-around white missing or obscured in
some aspects by deck structures or people. The sailboats simply appeared to
forget to turn on the steaming light after dropping the sails.
Perhaps Ron is referring to an incident I had southbound in Long Island Sound a
couple of years ago wherein an tanker approaching on my port bow had his green
light mounted in an odd place and completely washed out by many bright deck and
accommodation lights and could not be seen. I had my radar on and saw that we
would have a close CPA. I called him on 16 (or 13) and he agreed about the CPA
an suggested I turn to the east. Even though he was required to stay out of my
way I complied turning left mmediately. Even as he went by a hundred yards
away the green light was very hard to see. I say a hundred yards; I could see
bright fluorescent fixtures inside the deckhouse through an open door.
I have seen many ships at sea and most have easily seen lights. The ships I
served on were very careful about just this situation. They had dim shielded
deck lights and all forward portholes were blacked out. To this day I believe
the seamen I shipped out with were more professional and conscientious that
those today. This one was one of the worst. The person on the other end of
the radio contact had an American accent so he might have been a Pilot.
Norm
S/V Bandersnatch
Lying Julington Creek
30 07.695N 081 38.484W
----- Original Message -----
From: Ron Rogers
To: [email protected]
Sent: 10/13/2008 9:09:47 PM
Subject: Re: [Liveaboard] led masthead lights..
As Norm knows, commercial vessels at anchor and underway have myriad
accommodation and walkway lights on. At anchor they are easy to see. Underway,
it is very difficult for this skipper to make out their navigation lights. Is
this why their steaming light is displayed on a forward mast?
Ron Rogers
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