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Name:	copperline -	Reply
Subject:	Night cruising questions
Date:	6/11/2006 11:23:14 PM

Our weekend after-dark cruises on the pontoon boat have become less than relaxing... we've been seeing more boats & PWC underway without lights, boats passing too close, overtaking us & cutting across our bow, on-coming boats who don't give clear indications to which side they intend to pass, and just MORE TRAFFIC. I am thinking about putting larger lights for and aft, but was wondering about some other ideas. Would a white flashing beacon be a legal device? What are the rules for using my docking lights while underway? And finally, is there a universal maritime signal for "I can't believe you just did that"?

Ideas for increasing safety at night are welcome... anyone?

Name:	Osms -	Reply
Subject:	Night cruising questions
Date:	6/12/2006 7:47:40 AM

There have been many times that I wished I had a nice set of large air horns. Also wished for the hailer, a very loud microphone speaker available on some VHF radios.

Name:	roswellric -	Reply
Subject:	Universal sign
Date:	6/12/2006 8:41:30 AM

carefully fold the first, third and fourth fingers back while holding your arm very erect. That should do it....

Name:	noagenda -	Reply
Subject:	Universal sign
Date:	6/12/2006 9:18:25 AM

Using both hands works better!

Name:	greycove -	Reply
Subject:	Night cruising questions
Date:	6/12/2006 10:19:57 AM

Night cruising using docking lights is generally frowned upon. They tend to blind oncoming boaters.

Occassionally, I flash mine to make sure oncoming boaters see me and often get a response flash.

I would give the marine police a call about what else you can do to protect yourself.

Name:	rude evin -	Reply
Subject:	Night cruising questions
Date:	6/12/2006 1:33:27 PM

Copperline, if you are in the Blue Creek area you're a brave soul with the traffic I have seen come by here at night lately! I keep thinking about what speed, low visibility and other impairments can lead to on the water.

Having said that, I like a progressive approach to dealing with those who are prime candidates for natural de-selection.....assuming we have observed all the rules of the waterway as to right-of-way etc...... first use a air/fog horn just as you would in heavy weather or fog, if necessary then flash the docking lights and if that doesn't work scan the water( not the offending boat) with the old 1,000,000 watt hand light!!

This will probably cause the offending boat to want to approach you at which time you will likely be able to get a boat registration number for your conversation with the marine patrol. Nothing wrong with going from 1 to 3 if time doesn't permit for all of this.

Just an opinion.

Name:	Luvtohunt -	Reply
Subject:	Night cruising questions
Date:	6/12/2006 4:41:09 PM

I am not 100% sure, but i believe that riding with your Docking lights on is illegal. I'm not positive, but pretty sure. Also i have never heard of a small flashing light on top of the boat being illegal. It actaully sounds like a good idea.

Name:	Edge -	Reply
Subject:	Night cruising questions
Date:	6/12/2006 4:42:38 PM

Has anyone heard about a bad collision on Smith Lake sometime this weekend or today?

Name:	Luvtohunt -	Reply
Subject:	Night cruising questions
Date:	6/13/2006 8:31:52 AM

I didnt hear aboutthe one on Smith lake. But, I know a bass boat ran into a House/pontoon boat on Lake Jordan. The House boat didnt have any lights on. I am not sure how those people faired in that accident.

Name:	4Golf -	Reply
Subject:	Night cruising questions
Date:	6/13/2006 8:21:43 PM

A friend told us Sunday nite that a friend of his had just gotten T-boned on this lake. A cigarette boat (this is a detail only, NOT a judgement) hit him on his deck boat. Luckily, everyone was OK, and a nearby fisherman helped pull folks out of the water. And this past Saturday night on the way home from Niffers, a pontoon running withonly docking lights(no green or red lights)came from out of the dark, cut across our bow, nearly hitting us. They proceded to then nearly hit the blinking hazard marker near the Ridge. Even after we blew the horn and hurled a few well chosen words at them, they still didn't turn on any lights. Life Jackets, anyone?

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