Boat light comments invited

[Arminius]

I proposed a fixed bracket holding two independently switched 4000 lumen LED arrays, one spot and the other flood. The switch also allows both to be used simultaneously with a total draw of less than 5 amps. Frankly, it is hard to imagine too much light though.
I never heard about a 25 mph night limit although I would be planing at least.
As to the card with all those Federali rules, a clarification of 9/6/22 seems to establish that the lakeside communities will continue to enforce their own laws and keep the fines. The gloss reads: "Removes incorrect regulatory language. This removal provides regulatory clarity to State and local governments to enforce their own regulations."

 

[RichieRitz]

yea, really, why?

 

[Bill Curtis]

I proposed a fixed bracket holding two independently switched 4000 lumen LED arrays, one spot and the other flood. The switch also allows both to be used simultaneously with a total draw of less than 5 amps. Frankly, it is hard to imagine too much light though.
I never heard about a 25 mph night limit although I would be planing at least.
As to the card with all those Federali rules, a clarification of 9/6/22 seems to establish that the lakeside communities will continue to enforce their own laws and keep the fines. The gloss reads: "Removes incorrect regulatory language. This removal provides regulatory clarity to State and local governments to enforce their own regulations."

Unless you are the other guy being blinded / losing night vision due to someone's lights.
Guess it's the same a big light bars on pickups that never go off roading. Not a "I can see better" situation, but a "hey, look at me and my cool lights that are absolutely blinding".

For some odd reason, I think we are being trolled on this one, so this will be my last comment on this.

 

[Arminius]

As to the law, there was a "conflicts" problem that was resolved by a Justice Dept directive. I did not delve into this but generally USCG jurisdiction has been limited to navigable waters. Then, there's the EPA claiming jurisdiction over manure ponds and the USSC about to rule. And the issue was "primary" jurisdiction, take it for what it is on a practical level.https://www.federalregister.gov/doc.../state-enforcement-of-inland-navigation-rules

So, as to the lights, I appreciate the concern. I'll put the arrays on separate relays feeding off the big wire to the electric anchor sourced at a large accessible CB in the very back of the gunnel recess above the battery switch. The flood relay will be controlled from the unused button position on the electronics/fuse box under the dash. Spot relay will short to this same lead through an additional switch marked or illuminated so I don't accidentally turn on the spot. Wiring pathways were established when I put in the anchor. Incidentally I put in a new navigation light not obscured by the "Deckhand" at that time

 

[Stee6043]

Unless you are the other guy being blinded / losing night vision due to someone's lights.
Guess it's the same a big light bars on pickups that never go off roading. Not a "I can see better" situation, but a "hey, look at me and my cool lights that are absolutely blinding".

For some odd reason, I think we are being trolled on this one, so this will be my last comment on this.

Stick around. This guy only gets better as we go through winter!

 

[Wanderer 290]

Has any thought been given to a more scientific product?

 

[Skybolt]

@Arminius you are the person we all read about in a small boat that knows he is right no matter what he does. The one that will cause incidents and possibly get someone or themselves injured and possibly killed. If you don't understand what is being said here it's because you don't have the experience to know any better. The confusion that is caused by those kind of lights on the water can't be explained unless you have experienced it. And in most cases it won't be you that has the issue it the others around you.

You have a 20' boat, get a handheld spotlight and be done with it. That's why they make them. For everyone's sake around you, be a safe boater.

 

[Lazy Daze]

I'm not going to dive into the intricacies of the law. Honestly, I could care less if there is some type of nuance in some locales. Typically, though, USCG is the "base" and then locales can add more, if they want to. I'm not aware of locales backing off on the USCG stuff.

HOWEVER, it still doesn't matter. We know what the RIGHT thing to do is. And that is to not blind or CONFUSE other boaters. Confusion can happen from quite a distance away... and now that light is causing the other boater distress.

Now... have I ever used a spotlight at night? Sure. Late night boating, trying to get back home, trying to navigate through a myriad of lobster buoys on a cloudy night... Sure. But I'm not trying to be so impatient as to still be able to do it like it's daytime and run 25MPH. Slow down and enjoy the nighttime ride. If I see another boater ANWHERE in the vicinity, I'll cut the light and just putter along till he's well behind me or travelling abeam away. And, I'm lucky enough to be in a very unpopulated area.

And... I will try to avoid using a light as long as possible to avoid losing night vision once it's turned off.

Generally speaking, for pleasure boating, if you can't go out at night WITHOUT the aid of a light... then don't go out.

 

[Creekwood]

@Arminius. In case you think you are being picked on, you aren't. It is absolutely stupid to run at night on plane with "driving lights", and against boating rules/regulations.

But practically, here are the main reasons why you don't.
1. Lights off, you will see far into the distance and will see buoys and other boats running with their nav lights. And your night vision will be OK to see all around you. With head lights, you will see nothing other than what is directly in front of you and you will not be able to see what is not in the beam because your night vision will be gone because of the bright light.
2. Running on plane at night is risky, because unlike roads where its clear where safe passage is, at night, you may not be exactly where you think you are. And looking at a GPS, rather than all around you is not safe.
3. Main navigation buoys are generally lighted with flashing sequence helping identify them. Their lights are not bright, because they are designed to be seen at distance in the dark. Running with lights on kills your night vision and you won't be able to see them unless they are right in your beam.
4. If/when you hit something or somebody, you will be considered at fault and will be sued and/or face jail time because it is very commonly known what the rules are and what is considered safe boating. It will be easy for the prosecutor or plaintiff's counsel to find expert testimony that you were negligent in running on plane at night with spotlights on.

 

[ZZ13]

Does anyone have a better suggestion? I want area lighting while docking in the marina and a well aimed laser while planing at night. No fussing with directional controls of low candle power crap please. Yes, I also have a handheld for backing.

As to legality, I have not heard an analysis of that S. Carolina litigation whose origin was teens (who'd been drinking) trying to navigate under a bridge using a handheld who hit a submerged piling with injury or death resulting. National news assumed negligence. The culprit was a lawyer who faked his own death and it was very complex.

Boating is dangerous and we all must do our best to look out for ourselves.

That accident happened just a few miles from where I live. It’s even more complex. The teenager driving the boat and his mother were murdered. The father/husband is in jail for multiple fraud charges in his legal practice as well as for the murder of his son and wife. He claims he has an alibi for the murders. Just google “Alex Murdaugh” for all you ever want to know about it.

 

[Steve S]

That accident happened just a few miles from where I live. It’s even more complex. The teenager driving the boat and his mother were murdered. The father/husband is in jail for multiple fraud charges in his legal practice as well as for the murder of his son and wife. He claims he has an alibi for the murders. Just google “Alex Murdaugh” for all you ever want to know about it.

That’s one wacky story.

 

[Stee6043]

That’s one wacky story.

It's a trending Netflix show...

 

[Chris-380]

I kept reading thinking, what does this have to do with the boat crash described above…. Damn that’s a crazy story

That accident happened just a few miles from where I live. It’s even more complex. The teenager driving the boat and his mother were murdered. The father/husband is in jail for multiple fraud charges in his legal practice as well as for the murder of his son and wife. He claims he has an alibi for the murders. Just google “Alex Murdaugh” for all you ever want to know about it.

 

[GypsmJim]

Following the law, using common sense and being considerate of other people are all traits that have been lost. So using these as examples seems to be falling on deaf ears.

The real issue here is that shining a light forward actually hinders your forward view. The reflection kills the whole idea.

But beyond that, only a moron runs at plane after dark. In my river the most serious accidents that resulted in a loss of life have been from collisions at night.

 

[Arminius]

I kept reading thinking, what does this have to do with the boat crash described above…. Damn that’s a crazy story

The kids driving the boat were using a handheld to pass under a bridge at night and hit a submerged piling. The account I read implied obvious negligence for using a handheld. I think the insurance proceeds were the start of the bizarre chain of events.

 

[Arminius]

Glare at night is the first symptom of cataracts. I had my eyeball lenses replaced over a decade ago with adaptive lenses. They have been great and I started shooting again after I got rid of the impossible bifocals. I recommend seeing an eye doctor if you are bothered by the lights of other boats and pay extra for the high end implants. People complain of seasickness if you don't put the boat on the plane but you don't need to firewall it. You do need good lights and these LEDs may work out.

 

[Woody]

Glare at night is the first symptom of cataracts. I had my eyeball lenses replaced over a decade ago with adaptive lenses. They have been great and I started shooting again after I got rid of the impossible bifocals. I recommend seeing an eye doctor if you are bothered by the lights of other boats and pay extra for the high end implants. People complain of seasickness if you don't put the boat on the plane but you don't need to firewall it. You do need good lights and these LEDs may work out.

For best results you should have something designed for marine use. You'll need a good base to attach to, maybe you can fabricate one from plywood...

 

[Creekwood]

Glare at night is the first symptom of cataracts. I had my eyeball lenses replaced over a decade ago with adaptive lenses. They have been great and I started shooting again after I got rid of the impossible bifocals. I recommend seeing an eye doctor if you are bothered by the lights of other boats and pay extra for the high end implants. People complain of seasickness if you don't put the boat on the plane but you don't need to firewall it. You do need good lights and these LEDs may work out.

You are missing the whole point of not running with lights on at night. Its not about bad eyesight. (its maybe mental deficiency of the boater with the lights on though). You never seem to listen to good advice you get from people vastly more experienced and knowledgeable.

 

[Lazy Daze]

You are missing the whole point of not running with lights on at night.

I just thought that warranted being said a second time.

Arminius, you may have good eyesight but you need to open them up to see.

 

[techmitch]

You are missing the whole point of not running with lights on at night. Its not about bad eyesight. (its maybe mental deficiency of the boater with the lights on though). You never seem to listen to good advice you get from people vastly more experienced and knowledgeable.

I just thought that warranted being said a second time.

Arminius, you may have good eyesight but you need to open them up to see.

You guys just aren't telling him what he want's to hear.