Since August is upon us, thankful moms, assorted retailers, plus large numbers of adolescents are beginning to note the preludes to fall. One of these signs of the season is earlier sunsets. Oncoming darkness may mean a lot to boaters. How's your boat lighting IQ?
Power and sail boats are required to display their lights 1/2 hour before sunset to 1/2 hour after sunrise. All power boats must show red (left-port) and green (right-starboard) running lights, and either a mast- head or stern light or all around white steaming light. Sailboats equipped with running lights only need a stern light when solely under sail. In rules of the road usage, the person seeing the other boat's green light usually has the right of way. Red, of course means stop, or yield. In real world terms however, always suspect that another boater has'nt the fogiest notion of priviledged and burdened considerations. Just be prepared to put a back up, avoidance move into play if needed!
Rowboats, canoes, kayaks and small sailboats underway in the dark are required to have a "flare-up" light such as a strong flashlight that they can display if traffic approaches. PWC's (jetskis/waverunners) aren't allowed to operate after dark.
Light fixtures and connections are easily corroded. They should be checked frequently to make sure that the bulbs are shining as required. In a number of boats the all around white light does as good a job of blinding the operator as it does telling other folks where you are. If you fall into this category -don't stand for it. Either lower your seat while piloting, or better yet - put a light deflector under the light fixture.
Too many boating accidents happen at night. In a large proportion of these collisions both operators swear the other guy's lights were out. In reality the lights are out in the operators' heads as one or more of the operators may have been drinking. Large dosages of any type of intoxicating beverages interfere with night vision. Most semi-stewed folks can not tell reds and greens from other colors and their field of vision becomes narrowed. In other words they cannot see boats approaching from the side. Additionally the number of eye fixations they make are greatly reduced and they tend to see only half of what they would when sober.
You might like to use this in counseling youngsters about drinking decisions. Also remember that a drunk probably can't see your car or boat trailer's brake or tail lights. And, if you have one of those strobing red jogging lights, an intoxicated driver would probably ignore it.
Shore lights at night easily mimic aids to navigation. Some marina entrances and other potential hazards to navigation on smaller as well as larger lakes may have been laid out during daylight, but don't really tell the tale after dark. Always remember that Murphy ( of the LAW) is an aquatic creature. When things go bad on the water they go bad fast! So insure you can get back to your dock or harbor under any potential conditions, including lack of visibility or poor lighting.
So, with the above firmly in mind...we'll be seeing you!
Dave Smith
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