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An anchoring danger & Pelican Lights

12K views 123 replies 26 participants last post by  sailingdog 
#1 ·
I honestly do not know what the lights are called, but I think it is Pelican Lights. They are lights that hang on the stanchions and light up at night. No doubt everyone will wonder why you would want something queer like that... and I will tell you I am not sure I want them, but there is a REAL danger for cruisers that is not spoken of enough.

Depending on how much time you spend on the anchor and where you anchor, you run a very serious risk of being struck at night. What is the percentage??? Low, I am sure. But I have read many instances where sailboats, even displaying their anchor light, were struck at night and many or all aboard died (as the boat sunk, could not get out in time). Some people have used this as an argument to keep from paining hulls blue (or dark) saying the white shows up better. If I am not mistaken, I think Tom Neale said that. However, I am not sure that would rally make any difference.

The worst anchorages are always just off the ICW - especially if you are not in a no wake zone. The boats FLY by. Many of these anchorages are VERY dark at night and it is easy (for the motorboaters) to get out of the channel and into the anchorage. Your masthead light (anchor light) easily dissapears into the stars. Thus, the not so vigilant mariner in his motor boat can be a serious hazard. Adding to the issues is that they may often be drunk that time of night, many have not had boaters safety course experience, they may be unfamiliar with the waters, weather problems, and as your age increases, your night vision decreases. Any number of these (with a little bad luck) are enough for a serious accident.

I often will leave an oil lamp (nautical, it is safe) running in the saloon to light up the saloon a bit to make the boat more visible. However, this is a very dim light and the windows are tinted (as most are), thus by the time the would be motorboater sees it, it would be too late. Since the mast light is difficult to see until you are on top of a boat (due to the stars) you are basically sitting there in the dark, blind.

What about stanchion (or are they called Pelican) lights? I have seen them advertised (more an more recently). I think West sells them, along with Landfall Navigation. They look dorky - like the SS version of the solar lights you stick in your lawn on a house.

Other thoughts?? What do some of the rest of you do? Just pray? Be honest.

- CD
 
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#2 ·
First of all, I try to find an out of the way spot to drop the hook. Some place with little or reduced traffic. This is not always possible, but probably your best protection against being hit.

Second, In addition to the anchor light I keep a deck light on all night. It is very bright and puts out a lot of light. The whole bow of the boat is lit. Its a big battery draw I know, but I feel safer with it on. I also am not sure about the legalities of leaving it on. Can you or somebody else fill me in?
 
#3 ·
TJK,

I cannot imagine it being illegal to use the deck light. I think that would be fine. IU have had people tell me in some anchorages they leave their running lights on (as those are eye level) but I am all but certain that is illegal.

You are right, in some anchoarges it is possible to anchor away from the traffic. In others, it just is not.
 
#4 ·
I don't see why a deck light would be illegal. Using the running lights strikes me as being far more dangerous than using a deck level light. Using the running lights might make someone think that you are under command, instead of at anchor... or think you're moving and will be out of their way and lead them to hit you.

I prefer anchorages that are have a low "idiot powerboater" quotient as much as possible.

I'd rather have the lower batteries and not have a big hole in my boat... :) I can always re-charge the batteries with my handy but expensive SolarStik... ;) It gets me 1000 amp-hours every day.
 
#7 ·
sailortjk1 said:
Dog,
Would you please care to explain. I didn't think that was possible. LOL
{sarcasm}Well, you see it has this thing called a MPPT charge controller which can increase the power output of my solar panels to 300% of their normal output... and I only have to change my panels three times a day for this to work properly. CJ, the millionaire, said so... {/sarcasm}:rolleyes:
 
#8 ·
#9 ·
Cruisingdad said:
Here is what I was talking about. It is called a Rail Light.

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product/10001/-1/10001/270646/10001/308/235/9

My only concern is whether my boat will start to look more like a mobile home...

- CD
I got one of those for $3.99 and the cost of a lashing. It lasted all season. Of course, I bought it at a supermarket...

I think maybe one of those Davis Mega Lights (or a one-third the price "civilian" version) would help here. Putting on my deck lights would not only eat amps but would frankly light up the boat a fair bit through the saloon hatches. If the ICW anchorages at night are that dangerous, you are helping me make two observations: 1) Don't drive the Ditch..."outside" is safer, and 2) Bring a rubber mallet to pound out the steel plate dents when these tools smack my vessel with their idiotic speedboats.

Alternatively, you could float a couple of spars as "torpedo booms" near your boat. Hole them before they hole you.
 
#10 ·
My wife always says were going to end up in a trailer park someday.

Not sure I like those Dad,
I might consider the rope lights as another alternative. (The ones that people decorate their house with at X-Mas time) They would certainly cause another boater to think about what it is he is looking at and they are a little more decorative with out being too gaudy.
But than again, you see them in trailer parks as well.
 
#11 ·
I need some of those, and the rope lights too... I want to be just this side of gaudy, just that side of trailerdom.

It might also have the added benefit of repelling unwanted potential overnight guests.

all kidding aside, I really think they're a good idea.
 
#12 ·
They do have new LED-based rope lights that would work pretty well, and wouldn't require as much electricity as the older traditional style rope lights.
 
#13 ·
CD-
A compromise might be to install the reflective stanchion wrappers on the base of your stanchions, or to just buy some ScotchLite tape and run that around the hull, either just below the deck or perhaps replacing the boot stripe as well.
The stuff is surprisingly visible even with "no" light.

SD-
If you don't mind looking like a mexican cantina...I suppose the "glow strips" electroluminescent wires are even more effective than strings of LED lights. Something about making anchorages look like the wrong side of town though. I think I'd just prefer to tuck into the most sheltered corner I could find, and then lay defensive mines.<G>
 
#14 ·
Now, the question is, do you warn the powerboaters about the mine or just let them start blowing up..... :D
 
#17 ·
Night Lights

I bought a Davis Mega Light last season and love it. Very low draw on the batteries, burns bright and you can hang it about anywhere. Use it to light up the cockpit at night for socializing or reading and leave it on all night. It has a solar switch so it turns on by itself if I am away from the boat and goes off at daybreak. Great light.
 
#18 ·
I'd second the Davis 'Mega Light' solution placed somewhere to show off some deck but not keep you awake. Having part of the cockpit lit up may be good for anchor checks any way. They give off a lot of light for a reasonable amount of amperage. Unfortunately I also second the price is absurd.
 
#19 ·
Well,

It looks like those nasty looking things are the smartest thing to do... not the best looking!!! I doubt they are nearly as bright as they advertise them to be (especially late at night). I would also be concerned about the getting caught up in a jib sheet. But I might give them a try. Just depends on how unsafe I feel that night.

For those of you that anchor in a designated anchorage (or always plan to) not a problem. For the rest who prefer it a little further away, I guarantee you that getting hit in the middle of the night will be on your mind... along with: the weather coming in, the anchor dragging, that strange scheeching noise you have not heard before, the bilge pump suddenly kicking on, that shrimp or fish tapping on the hull, the halyard rapping on the mast that you forgot to lash elsewhere, did you put water in the batts?, did you leave the beer on the dock?, are the kids too cold...... well, you get the pictrure. But no, really, you always get a good night sleep on the hook. Really.

Smile.

- CD
 
#20 ·
CD-

Getting a set of these might be cheaper overall and you'd get more lights. Figuring out how to mount them would take a bit of creativity, but hose clamps or cable ties and stanchions come to mind... :D

http://tinyurl.com/3yf9tb
 
#22 ·
Cruisingdad said:
Well,

It looks like those nasty looking things are the smartest thing to do... not the best looking!!! I doubt they are nearly as bright as they advertise them to be (especially late at night). I would also be concerned about the getting caught up in a jib sheet. But I might give them a try. Just depends on how unsafe I feel that night.

For those of you that anchor in a designated anchorage (or always plan to) not a problem. For the rest who prefer it a little further away, I guarantee you that getting hit in the middle of the night will be on your mind... along with: the weather coming in, the anchor dragging, that strange scheeching noise you have not heard before, the bilge pump suddenly kicking on, that shrimp or fish tapping on the hull, the halyard rapping on the mast that you forgot to lash elsewhere, did you put water in the batts?, did you leave the beer on the dock?, are the kids too cold...... well, you get the pictrure. But no, really, you always get a good night sleep on the hook. Really.

Smile.

- CD
Well........ although I consider them pretty bright, my wife burst into laughter and said - That's a Mega Light ???? :p :rolleyes:
 
#23 ·
I'm not sure any light would protect you from the 50knot power boat freaks. The only light that might be effective and this only with someone on watch, might be the laser light mounted under the barrel of my modified AR-15. However I have seen SOLAS reflective tape on stanchions and masts. With very low power deck lights the tape shows up so brightly that only a stoned cigarrete boat driver might not see it.
 
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