Night sailing

Hi,

I was thinking of trying my hand at sailing at night/low light. I'm pretty familiar with the lake and the boat in daylight conditions and I thought this might be a fun thing to try.

In regards to lights, what do most people do for their sailboat to be legal at night? I haven't been able to locate any mast head lights that would work on a 16.

Anything else that I should know?

Thanks.

Never sailed at night quite all legal (I didn't say that). I have two 'D' cell battery powered port/starboard lights that were made in the early 80's, don't know if anything similar is available now and the trouble with them is attaching to bridle or front crossbar takes ingenuity.

Most people take a powerful flashlight to shine up the main in crossing situations.

The biggest fear is the drunk powerboater going 35 mph and another to watch out for is big monohulls with their lights off you can't hear them coming.

IMO, moonless nights are best... but I didn't say that.

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hobiejohn at earthlink dot net
Fleet 297

You don't need mast head lights unless you are anchored or steaming (neither of those are very common on Hobies). you can get teh port/starboard battery powered lights at West Marine for about $25. They even have a suction cup to attach with.

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Nick

Current Boat
In the market
Previous boats owned
'74 Pearson 30
'84 H16
'82 H18 Magnum
St. Louis, MO

I assumed lights were not needed unless you are motored. Am I incorrect? Not that I'm advocating running "stealth", but I'd be lieing if I said I hadn't done my fair share of running lightless after dark, and I'd hate to break the law.

Been searching the west marine online catalog and can't find these lights. Does anyone happen to have a link?

cyalume glow sticks, and a couple of zip ties. Just mount them on the shrouds. Lasts 12 hours give or take. Should be able to get them for about a dollar a piece from axeman, or a military surplus store. Red and green are easy colours to come by as well.

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hobiejohn at earthlink dot net
Fleet 297

From my understandings of the law.. on inner coastal waters, you just need a light to shine on your mast if you are not powered.

Like.. if you go out in a canoe, you just need a flashlight, I believe...

I have kayaked and sailed at night in two separate locations on the east coast north shore of Boston and the Chesapeake bay. I tried in both places on both boats to go without lights. In all instances either the Coasties or the harbor master stopped me and scolded me. For the kayaks, as long as there is some easily seen light on the boat (like a head lamp) you are fine. As for the sailboat, there is no technical difference between a Hobie and a larger mono. They need running lights weather they are sailing or steaming. If you have a motor and are using it you need to have a steaming light as well as the nav lights.

This will, of course, depend on the situation and the mood of the officer who you may have a talk with.

Rules aside; find a way to illuminate your boat. Especially near busier areas as there a lots of "encumbered" power boaters out there that have a hard time avoiding you during the day let alone at night. It is just a really good idea to be seen before the situation requires it.

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Nick

Current Boat
In the market
Previous boats owned
'74 Pearson 30
'84 H16
'82 H18 Magnum
St. Louis, MO

One of our fleet members loves to sail at night, uses a gps and bright lanter type of light. I just might go out on my boat this weekend with the full moon and all.

Correct and not only on inner coastal waters.

On this size of boats you just need a light that lights white with a 360 degree angle and can be seen from any direction (mast top optimum).

Chriss

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1994 HC16

Wal-Mart here had flashlights with red/green lenses, and white. I used a piece of 1" pvc with slits cut in the ends to hang on the bridle and screwed the red/green to it. The white light I just tie to the end of the boom and let it hang there.

We used to take a couple mini mags and duct tape them to the shrouds pointed up at the main. This make the boat very visible on either tack.

Mag lights are waterproof too and cause a nice effect when they are shining in the water when you capsize -not that I would know

I recommend that you ALSO carry a small spot light to shine right in the face of the occasional drunken speed boater who can't see 27 feet of lighted main towering over the water, right in front of him. Not that that would ever happen either....

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The fact that this windy world is largely covered in water obviously means that man was meant to sail.

Mag lights are a lotta fun underwater. Back in my younger days we would affix one to a spear...well a stick with a BBQ fork duck-taped to the end...and snorkel around the rivers. Lotta marine animals gave their lives for our drunken amusement during that time. Point being, the lights were never worse for the wear after a day of drying.

Speaking of which, boats and legality that is, please don't tell me I not supposed to drink beer when I sail either. I've also been under the assumption I can do that (and sail with no lights).

Once you use a Surefire Flashlight you'll never pick up a Mag-lite again.