Boating at night

[Mani]

I was hoping some of you experienced guys could give me a few pointers on safety tips and requirements for night boating. My biggest concern is hitting something due to poor visibility.

I've been researching it here and online, but there's not much advice other than "GO SLOW".

What kind of lighting would you guys recommend other than the red/green nav lights and the stern light? What kind of extra precautions do ya'll take when out after dark, and what extra supplies would be needed. There's just been a few times I didn't want to pack up and leave by 8 PM. I wouldn't want to camp all night, but stay a few hours after dark.

[Supra-in-steamboat]

Agree with the 3 million candle- Wal mart has them for 20bucks. Also agree about the trailer lights submerged- pretty cool to run it over. I found these battery powered glow sticks that mount on the trailer guides, kinda like docking guide lights- also help as backing guides. Bug spray, maybe a head lamp is about all i can add.

[foxriverat]

I boated last night for the first time with this boat. A little off subject. But I noticed that 1 speedo gauge light. And oil pressure gauge light were out. Can the lights be replaced? Or do they have to be replaced?

[foxriverat]

Guess I should have looked in the service and repair section. Theres a new thread on gauge bulbs. So I guess they can be replaced.

[Mani]

Thanks for the info guys. Its exactly what I what I was looking for.

[87SunSportMikeyD]

As far as I know the law says no wake zone everywhere at night. Many people ignore this. Many fisherman also like to turn out their lights at night and turn them back on if anyone drives close to them. IMO these are the biggest risks. It's a great time. I spend most if it floating or anchored.

[KG's Supra24]

Know the lake before you go out. I know the area pretty well that we go to during the night. Tools are always a good idea. I spent the night on the boat with my wife when she was pregnant. It wasn't the greatest experience and i still hear about it. :)

Spotlight is cheap and easy. They are really good to keep and eye on shorelines. As for driving across the lake, just use the nav lights. If the moon is out it should be enough light to drive.

DONT USE YOUR DOCKING LIGHTS. 1. it is illegal and 2. it is annoying. It doesnt help you see any better and its bothersome to others.

[SupraTamu]

KG is correct with his comments. I also use a spot light and flash it every 20 seconds just to make sure. I know my lake really well and have never had any issues. You just need to worry about the other boats if there lights are working. Just take it slow and keep your eye out and listen for other boats. I keep my stereo off so I can here other boats.

[jet]

I boat at night time almost every month, several times out boarding till dark and then other times we try and hit the water every full moon weekend. YOU HAVE TO DO THIS!! Its so much fun. We go out and board till the sun goes down then we switch over to surfing and a little drinking. We will stay out till 12-1 or 2:am. You only do this on lakes you are familiar with and you stay in the deeper parts so if you make a mistake you dont hit a dock or something. I like surfing with tower lights off and red and greens on. That way you can enjoy the full moon shimmering off the water. After a while we just anchor up and swim listen to music and have fun. Its great. Jet

p.s. Mani, I would buy or diy you a light bar with forward and rear facing lights and put some leds in the tower for downlighting..its way cool.

anybody find any cheaper speaker rings yet??

[techsledder]

I do a lot of duck hunting and the waters we hunt can be down right treacherous. You really should know the water and the lay of the land/shore line and underwater surprises before you head out. Especially if you are planning to motor up on plane. The shore line comes up real quick if you don't know what you're doing. I like to travel a body of water several times in the day light before I head out at o'dark hundred. Get a GPS and mark your channels and major obstacles. Sometimes while hunting some of the best conditions for duck hunting is out in the fog. It's a requirement for me to have my GPS then. Best to be traveling off plane then...

When traveling at night the spot light is a requirement to me. As the driver I'll have my own in hand and one responsible user along with me aiding me with their own sometimes. Helps having an extra set of eyes with a light to point things out.

I was told the landing lights on in the bow of some boats are to be only turned on only when your landing the boat. Never under way. I don't know if it's true as I've never seen it spelled out in the rules.

Best to try it out on a body of water you know like the back of your hand first. See if you can handle it. Also, some of the lakes around by my home in SW WI are slow no wake lakes b/t Dusk and Dawn so going fast in those lake is a non issue.... But up in the UP of Michigan and where I boat in Upper-Lower Michigan you can go full speed ahead.

[Mani]

Jet, we go to the same lake, and judging by prior conversations, we hit the same area of the lake. I hardly ever leave Stewart's cove by Pier 121. I find no reason to go out to the big part of the lake. Too many speed boats and cruisers. I know Stewart's cove like the back of my hand. I just want to do what you're talking about, Jet. Hang out and have a good time at night.

Looks like I'm getting some lighting equipment when I come back from vacation next week. I don't drink, ever, while I'm on the lake. I don't trust any of my friends to drive and dock my boat yet, so I just stay DD. Been tossed by the game warden once, and those guys are not forgiving. Luckily I wasn't drinking then either.

One last thing, my nav lights boil down to just one red/green light on the bow, and a stern rod-light. This sound about right for an 86 SS?

[KG's Supra24]

That sounds about right all the way from a 86ss to a 2011 24gg. The lights you mentioned are the required on any vessel.

techsledder, yes the landing lights (docking lights) are illegal to use while underway. They are likely illegal bc they hurt others view and they do not help yours, they only allow you to see better right in front of the boat.

[jet]

Yep..we have been using our car gps since July of last year when we went to a new lake and werent familiar with the lay out. It works great and you can follow your blue line back if Its at night. Yeah, mani Im always the designator driver to. Im not getting a DUI on the way home or wrecking my boat. :D

[iwakeboard]

Lots of solid advice here, the key word is caution though. I had an experience in my old boat at night, admittedly I was distracted by the current lady-occupant at the time while running down the lake. I noticed at the last moment that a navigation buoy was in front of me. I turned at the last minute but it still swiped my starboard bow rub rail, tearing up some fiberglass but moreso scaring us to death. I jumped immediately in the water to make sure there wasn't any hull breach below the waterline and there wasn't, it was relegated to the rubrail area thankfully. We idled back slow and ever since then I'm extremely cautious at night (and allow less distractions ;) ).

I replaced the factory light on top of my tower with this directl LED replacement, it looks awesome and is extremely bright:

http://www.innovativelight.com/all-round-led-ski-light_p_1473_11562_4.cfm

The spotlight is a good idea, though I rarely use it I do have one that plugs right into the cigarette lighter power, just in case. I have 20/18 vision so barring some distraction I can see pretty well at night. I also keep a flashlight in the drawer under the driverseat. You may want to keep a jump-start kit incase you somehow kill your battery at night, it's alot harder to wave down someone at night to help you out than it is during the day. On my old boat I had fishermen say on more than one occasion, "I would help but we're in a big hurry." Helpful.

edit: Didn't see the second page, but another comment:

My iPhone has helped me more than once at night on Norris, which I'm not 100% familiar with. A GPS is a valuable tool to have on a lake you're unfamiliar with, solid investment.

[techsledder]

One last thing, my nav lights boil down to just one red/green light on the bow, and a stern rod-light. This sound about right for an 86 SS?

My 1990 SS has the front Nav (Red/Green) light, a mid-ship pole clear light mounted just in front of the window and a stern/transom clear light. see attached.

[KG's Supra24]

Does the stern light come on when the nav lights are on? I'm pretty sure my stern light comes on when the accesory lights are on. I could be wrong, though.

To be legal you need the red/green on the front and a white light which is supposed to be at the highest point on the boat, or the most visible place.

Im going to have to check out that LED for the top. Is there a specific type of light that attracts less bugs, and would still be legal (white)? That would be nice.

[techsledder]

On mine, yes the Stern light is supposed to be on when the "Nav" switch is on. When the "Anc" switch is on only the Pole light is supposed to turn on, reserved for when your on anchor in the water way.

[dshaff24]

Been out at night a lot and my best advise is to follow the moonlight and how it cast on the lake! Never had had a problem!

[jet]

Yes Obie one..use the moonlight to your advantage. :)

[jzelt]

I also stand and look over the windshield/bow. My eyes are always scanning the water surface for anything that is bobbing or unnatural on the surface. Most nights the water is glass which helps logs/etc stand out. The city lights of driving at night in Pittsburgh light up the water very nice.

I caution the use of the spotlight as little as possible as it does kill your night vision. On lakes, we have used it when driving by points/signs to verify where we were. Typically, I run the middle of the river. Or as far off shore on a lake as possible to make out the profile of the shoreline better.

I love riding at night better than the day. The water is glass. The stars are beautiful. Lots less traffic. Enjoy it and be safe.

As far as docking lights, I see why they aren't legal for driving. They don't really help you see but in front of the boat. (we use them for putting on the trailer). Watching the boat come in, you have white light, green/red, white light. We are trained that white is the back of the boat. So it would be extremely confusing approaching from the front as to what side you need to go on.

If you are putting it on a trailer at night, it is important to have the trailer straight behind the tow vehicle. I leave the lights on the tow vehicle and turn the bed light on in the middle of the truck. This gives the wife an aiming point for putting the bow.

[iwakeboard]

I don't recall ever going to a ramp in East Tenn that didn't have lighting that would necessitate docking lights or a spotlight while loading, so I just don't mess with it.