NO to Strobe anchor lights (please!)

[sailorboy1]

Mellow out. If all you have to complain and worry about are strobe anchor lights just think close you must be to being happy. Let it go and achieve the happiness you are denying yourself over a useless thing.

[double u]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

Mellow out. If all you have to complain and worry about are strobe anchor lights just think close you must be to being happy. Let it go and achieve the happiness you are denying yourself over a useless thing.

Words of wisdom...!
(when we started cruising in 81 there was hardly ever a boat with an anchorlight to be seen, even in any of the "bluewater crossroads".)

[Lodesman]

Originally Posted by thinwater

A strobe is NOT a COLREGS distress signal. That is ONLY US inland waters. Not even coastal waters.

It's a distress signal in Canadian waters too. Note they acknowledge the confusion with N Cardinal buoy - probably the reason they're not an international distress signal. That said, a lot of lifesaving equipment (epirbs, sarts, life-jackets, diver signals) uses white strobe lights. Common sense would suggest it shouldn't be used as an anchor light.

Distress Signals — Canadian Modifications
4 In Canadian waters or fishing zones, in addition to the signals described in section 1, the following signals may be used or exhibited either together or separately to indicate distress and need of assistance:

(a) a square shape or anything resembling a square shape; and
(b) a high intensity white light flashing at regular intervals of 50 to 70 times per minute.
5 Notwithstanding section 2 and paragraph 4(b), a North Cardinal Buoy may use a quick flashing white light flashing at regular intervals of 60 times per minute.

[CaptJimFrei]

Anchor lights are not required in designated anchoring areas, and by that I see no need for an anchor light in a mooring field.

[rslifkin]

Originally Posted by CaptJimFrei

Anchor lights are not required in designated anchoring areas, and by that I see no need for an anchor light in a mooring field.

Anchor lights are only not required in the US in a designated special anchorage. There are only a handful of those around the country, most anchorages (even marked or charted ones) are not special anchorages and do require use of the light. In my mind, even in a special anchorage or a mooring field, it's downright stupid not to display an anchor light unless there's some reason that you truly can't.

[Lodesman]

Originally Posted by CaptJimFrei

Anchor lights are not required in designated anchoring areas, and by that I see no need for an anchor light in a mooring field.

As rslifkin said, most anchorages are not "special designated." The US does have an interpretive rule about lighting on a mooring:

INTERPRETATIVE RULE (33 CFR 90.5|82.5) Lights for moored vessels
For the purposes of Rule 30 of the 72 COLREGS,> a “vessel at anchor” includes a <barge><<vessel>> made fast to one or more mooring buoys or other similar device attached to the <sea or river> <<ocean>> floor. Such <barge><<vessel>> may be lighted as a vessel at anchor in accordance with Rule 30, or may be lighted on the corners in accordance with Rule 30(h)-(l).

Presumably you'd require a ball on a mooring too.

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

Mellow out. If all you have to complain and worry about are strobe anchor lights just think close you must be to being happy. Let it go and achieve the happiness you are denying yourself over a useless thing.

Does this mellowness apply to banging halyards as well?

Jim

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

Does this mellowness apply to banging halyards as well?

Jim

ask again in a couple of weeks as I expect to be done here

[thinwater]

Originally Posted by CaptJimFrei

Anchor lights are not required in designated anchoring areas, and by that I see no need for an anchor light in a mooring field.

Oh dear. My daughter knew better at 8 when she took her safety class.

Maybe captain does not belong in your screen name.

[boatpoker]

Originally Posted by CaptJimFrei

Anchor lights are not required in designated anchoring areas, and by that I see no need for an anchor light in a mooring field.

Suggest you look up what qualifies as a designated special anchorage.

[Shanachie]

In addition to being generally rude, strobe lights can prompt seizures in people with certain types of epilepsy, even when they are on medication. Not cool.

[GordMay]

Bash posted this citation [Special anchorage areas], back in 2013:
➥ https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...ml#post1142299

33 CFR § 109.10 - Special anchorage areas
➥ https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/33/109.10

PART 110—ANCHORAGE REGULATIONS
The areas described in subpart A of this part are designated as special anchorage areas for the purposes of rule 30 (33 CFR 83.30) and rule 35 (33 CFR 83.35) of the Inland Navigation Rules, 33 CFR Chapter I, Subchapter E. Vessels of less than 20 meters in length; and barges, canal boats, scows, or other nondescript craft, are not required to sound signals required by rule 35 of the Inland Navigation Rules. Vessels of less than 20 meters are not required to exhibit anchor lights or shapes required by rule 30 of the Inland Navigation Rules.
➥ https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-3...ter-I/part-110

Follows, an example of a USCG ruling*, on a specific* Special Anchorage”.
*Amending the shape and reducing the size of the special anchorage area in Marina del Rey Harbor, Marina del Rey, California.
➥ https://www.federalregister.gov/docu...ina-del-rey-ca

[gs41escapade]

Originally Posted by Don C L

Not that I know of but I’d be in favor of amending COLREGS!

Nope. Only minimum lumens are specified.

[Shrew]

Originally Posted by CaptJimFrei

Anchor lights are not required in designated anchoring areas, and by that I see no need for an anchor light in a mooring field.

I've heard this bantered around quite a bit. In New England, US, it is common to see boats in popular anchorages without an anchor light.

I turn mine on. In fact, I typically just turn it on and leave it on. I've left it on for a couple weeks at a time (LED). I don't bother trying to remember to turn it off every morning.

[Fuss]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

Mellow out. If all you have to complain and worry about are strobe anchor lights just think close you must be to being happy. Let it go and achieve the happiness you are denying yourself over a useless thing.

I knew it Sailorboy1, I knew it… you’re the strobe light guy, well you’ve been finally caught out, please turn it off in future, it is not needed.