boating at night

[glenn property of pam]

Re: boating at night

I found out that alligators will not dive if you put a spot light on them. That would make driving with car type lights a little bumpy and expensive on props

 

[V153]

Re: boating at night

So what is the story behind the photo?

That's what happens when you go too fast on a dark moonless night ... Totaled the boat'n damn near totaled myself. Fractured collarbone, ribs, concussion, multiple contusions & lacerations. It was not a particularly good night.

To answer your question: Marker 9 in Roberts Bay ran out in front of me ...

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: boating at night

That marker should have seen you coming and moved! Sadly, around here on most inlets you better follow your track and NOT the markers/buoys.

That's what happens when you go too fast on a dark moonless night ... Totaled the boat'n damn near totaled myself. Fractured collarbone, ribs, concussion, multiple contusions & lacerations. It was not a particularly good night.

To answer your question: Marker 9 in Roberts Bay ran out in front of me ...

 

[V153]

Re: boating at night

That marker should have seen you coming and moved!

That's what I keep tellin everybody!? I was barely on plane, runnin 25 or 30 mebbe. Knew it was there, somewhere. Looking for it. Yup, there it is. Wham!

Folks always ask if I'd had anything to drink and I always reply, "Well, no more than usual ..."

Not trying to rationalize or justify my stupidity. But every year several people in FL are seriously injured or killed in collisions with unlit channel markers. Crackers alongside snowbirds.

Though some markers are lit, many are not. Just seems to me it'd be purty easy'n inexpensive to illuminate these unlit markers. Hell I'll run down to china mart'n buy a buncha those .97 cent solar powered driveway/walkway light thingys. Screw em onto the pilings'n we be good to go ...?

Someone mentioned not going any speed faster than what yer willing to hit something at. Good analogy.

 

[tonyjh63]

Re: boating at night

Went to the fireworks show last on Lake Allatoona. It was great, but the trip back to the dock was a bit nerve-racking. Not so much the other boats, but the waves created by hundreds of boats! I made the mistake of staying out in the middle of the lake where seemingly all the wave action was going on - i probably should have stuck closer to shore...
Anyway, we had almost a full moon last night, albeit a bit overcast, so seeing where we were going wasn't much of a problem.
Overall a very fun night and experience!

 

[four winns 214]

Re: boating at night

For the river boaters out there that travel waters also used by towboats and barges, one needs to be EXTREMELY vigilant. Those behemoths are HARD to see at night. It's very easy to miss their lights in the background lights. I do boat at night, but only with extreme caution. A full or nearly full moon on a clear night does make it much easier.

 

[JoLin]

Re: boating at night

every year several people in FL are seriously injured or killed in collisions with unlit channel markers. Crackers alongside snowbirds.

Though some markers are lit, many are not. Just seems to me it'd be purty easy'n inexpensive to illuminate these unlit markers.

It's neither easy nor cheap to set up and maintain lighted markers, and they're prone to failure.

If somebody's going fast enough to be injured by an unlighted marker that's standing above the water, they'll be just as injured when they hit that unlighted floating log. That person is simply going too fast for the conditions. Night boating is engaging in a riskier than usual activity in an inhospitable environment. Period. That means you slow down.

My .02

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: boating at night

agreed. A lighted marker is to designate a turn in the channel. All the other unlit markers mark the straight course. So if you head from one light to the next, with a watchfull eye and appropriately safe speed, you will pass the unlit markers unscathed.

the unlit "day markers" have reflective paint that show up from a very brief flash from a flashlight held high so it doesn't reflect off the deck and reduce your night vision--if you are travelling at an appropriate safe speed.

More lights would make it confusing and hard to spot the turns.

 

[corby78]

Re: boating at night

I wish I had a sniper rifle for everytime I see dock lights going across the lake at night especially when it is crowded after a fireworks show. They blind everyone and show how retarded the boat captain is.

Had a very scary situation this last 4th on the Red River. After the fireworks everyone started motoring south to the docks and some yahoo decided to stop in the middle of the river. I don't have a lot of experience boating at night, and this was my first experience with the realization that its very hard to read a change in speed by just watching the little white stern light in front of you.

 

[V153]

Re: boating at night

agreed. A lighted marker is to designate a turn in the channel. All the other unlit markers mark the straight course. So if you head from one light to the next, with a watchfull eye and appropriately safe speed, you will pass the unlit markers unscathed.

the unlit "day markers" have reflective paint that show up from a very brief flash from a flashlight held high so it doesn't reflect off the deck and reduce your night vision--if you are travelling at an appropriate safe speed.

More lights would make it confusing and hard to spot the turns.

I beg to differ. Round these parts lighted markers are placed haphazardly, and definitely NOT necessarily at "turns" in the channel. As far as reflective paint goes, most markers are covered with bird poop. And the one's that aren't have Osprey nests built on top, further obscuring the view.

Forgive me but I fail to grasp how having more lit markers would confuse anyone? Well 'cept'n mebbe the Osprey. And god forbid that ... They might have to go build a nest in a tree instead, like they've done for centuries ...