Night driving

Night driving is great, you just need to install these on your boat.

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Seriously though, I love driving at night, much more peaceful. Like was said, start with a full moon, keep all the lights on the boat dim, get used to your RADAR during the daytime. Another thing to consider is getting back into your slip. Is it lit well enough to see?

I tend to go slower at night, but if the water is flat I'll get on plane now and then.

Hey Mike, speaking of getting frisky, I didn't interrupt anything by getting on the PA that day did I? :huh:
 
yes... I was "napping".

I was going to dinghy by at 5am for a wakeup call but I couldn't find the remote to my lift in the dark.
 
This is my 2nd year of boating. I fell comfortable with the Radar and The GPS and I have started to come back later and later.
I am also on the South Shore and its all sand so I am not worried about hitting anything hard below the surface. You can't typically see that Sand bar in the Day or Night and your going to be going slower so its easier to stop.
 
I've come back in the dark a few times, but it wasn't fun. It's fine once you're in the canal, but it's way too dark out on the bay at night. It's hard enough to stay in the narrow channels during the day, way too much of a chance of wandering outside and winding up in a foot of water at night. Plus, I've come across a couple of boats that had non-operating running lights for whatever reason running around at night.
The guy in front of my slip runs back and forth to Fire Island at night. He's a real nice guy, single, and he likes to party over there. I noticed a nice sized gash in the side of his boat a few weeks ago. He hit an unlit buoy one night.
 
JVM225 said:
I've come back in the dark a few times, but it wasn't fun. It's fine once you're in the canal, but it's way too dark out on the bay at night. It's hard enough to stay in the narrow channels during the day, way too much of a chance of wandering outside and winding up in a foot of water at night. Plus, I've come across a couple of boats that had non-operating running lights for whatever reason running around at night.
The guy in front of my slip runs back and forth to Fire Island at night. He's a real nice guy, single, and he likes to party over there. I noticed a nice sized gash in the side of his boat a few weeks ago. He hit an unlit buoy one night.
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I CANT AGREE MORE ABOUT THE WATER AT THE S.S.:thumbsup:

HARD ENOUGH TO STAY IN THE CHANNEL DURING THE DAY..:smt009.
IM WITH YOU 100%
 
I use my radar during the day to become familiar with it. You get to learn pretty fast how big of a blip a sailboat is.... When I cruise at night, I use only my radar and chartplotter. Works really good. All at reduced speed of course.
 
Everyone has to develop their own comfort level with this and that will vary by captain. But to me it boils down to this.
  • We drive cars at night
  • We fly airplanes at night
  • Why would you not pilot a boat at night?
Like any situation, using the right equipment, procedures and training and/or practice can make for an enjoyable and safe experience.

There is nothing on earth as serene and peaceful as the calm of the moon lit sea at night aboard your own boat.
 
I don't have radar, never used a spotlight...but I enjoy night boating. Only do it a few times each year, but those trips have always been the best. In the late afternoon, just before sunset, the wind usually subsides and the water gets very calm. I've been lucky enough on most trips to have a bright moon to help guide the way.

Most of the markers on the river here are lit and I check the map and the light blink sequencing to find them and understand which is which...even though I have a GPS to guide my way home. The only thing I worry about are pound nets with no markings on them. And they can take up a large piece of real estate on the water. Following the path you took to get out there is best.

When we are cruising at sunset or after dark, I tell everyone to keep their eyes open for anything on the water and let me know about it, especially green, red and white lights. The kids seem to enjoy the challenge, and I'm sure they have better eyesight than I do.

I've come across boats with no running lights (small skiffs, etc.) but they are usually well clear; it's amazing how well you can actually find them after sunset when you let your eyes adjust.

All in all, my best cruises have been around sunset.
 
This forum covers a broad range of waters, each with its own unique beauties and challenges. We boat on the Ohio River at night, but only "enjoy" it in familiar waters with the radar running. Even then, I keep it under 10 kts. just in case we hit debris we couldn't see. Without running at night, we'd miss many a fireworks display or dinner out, so the risks, if managed, are worth it.

I like the suggestions to try a progressive approach. Don't head out for the first time at midnight on a moonless, rainy night.
 
Boating at night can be a very rewarding experience...
Moon_Over_Cable_Bridge_1.jpg


but it can also be a very dangerous one....
P7170054_2_.JPG



We really enjoy night boating but I've changed a few things since the accident that resulted in the above mess. ( I was hit by another boat about 10p.m. while I was drifting. )

I keep a hand held spotlight on the helm at night whenever I'm moving and when I'm anchored at night. I'm also much more attentive to sounds of other boats. We have a few GFBL's around here who think it's fun to run without lights at night. Fortunately they're loud enough that we can hear them before they get close so we light 'em up with the spotlight.

I pay close attention to the chart plotter and radar and have as many eyes as possible on the flybridge to watch for other boats. We never run on plane at night because I feel the risk is just too great.

If you don't go out at night you're missing a great part of boating. The sights and sounds are different, noises seem to carry much further at night, and it's soooooooooo peaceful.

If you don't boat at night you're missing a while different boating experience.
 
We went to watch the fireworks on the Beaufort River one night in a 19 footer. We came down the broad river, cut through a channel connecting the Beaufort and then on to the fireworks display across from Paris Island. All went well and after the fireworks we were going home the same way we came. As we were running about 15 mph through the channel I see the spot lights of a sport fisher coming on fast behind me.

I kicked the boat open and just made it out of the channel as this 30 foot sport fisher passes me at WOT. Never even looked back. That jerk would have run over me if he was minutes earlier leaving the fireworks.

From now on I only night cruise in open water on the lakes. No tide or sand bars to contend with either.
 
Before I made the move to Lake Michigan I owned a couple 18-20 ft bowriders. We probably did 80% of our boating at night on a very crowded river. I agree that night boating is a whole different experience and is fantastic! Most people on the river respected the darkness and kept it slow. My biggest thing personally is to check, double check, and recheck all your lights! And if you are impaired, wether it be visually, or drinking a little much, STAY PUT! Last fourth of july there was an incident on our river where someone was cruising to their dock at 40 mph, (dumb) and ran right over top of a pontoon with no lights just idling down the river. a broken back was the worst injury because thankfully the boat went airborne and flew right over top the pontoon, knocking the motor clean off. Be safe, Have lights, and use your better judgement!!
 
As a novice, I limit night riding and always stay relatively close to the marina when I venture out. Two weekends ago, I was returning to the marina from a nearby restaurant around 9 PM running about 8 MPH, the maximum speed I am comfortable after dark. Being a little paranoid, I scan with a spotlight often while monitoring GPS, even in known areas.

On one of my spotlight scans, I suddenly picked up someone on a kayak right in front of me, sitting still, no lights or reflectors. This guy is sitting on the right side of the marked channel. I had enough room to safely turn to port and go around; however, had I been going any faster, who knows. Scared the hell out of me.

On this area of the river, I often see people running 25-35 MPH after dark. Many of the boats are smaller and I'm sure they do not have radar. This could have been a disaster had one of these guys come through instead of me.

Besides unlit boats (or kayak in this case), my biggest fear is debris, and there tends to be a lot in my area. I cannot imagine hitting some of the floating junk I see during the day at 35 MPH. Be careful out there.
 
coming back from the fireworks is amature night boat here in NJ... Where we are it is the most danerous boating night of the year... I stay out that night and leave in the morning... Night boating is best when there aren't many boats out, and it is a full moon... Be careful, go slow, and don't drink too much...
 
Gofirstclass said:
Boating at night can be a very rewarding experience...
Moon_Over_Cable_Bridge_1.jpg


but it can also be a very dangerous one....
P7170054_2_.JPG



We really enjoy night boating but I've changed a few things since the accident that resulted in the above mess. ( I was hit by another boat about 10p.m. while I was drifting. )

I keep a hand held spotlight on the helm at night whenever I'm moving and when I'm anchored at night. I'm also much more attentive to sounds of other boats. We have a few GFBL's around here who think it's fun to run without lights at night. Fortunately they're loud enough that we can hear them before they get close so we light 'em up with the spotlight.

I pay close attention to the chart plotter and radar and have as many eyes as possible on the flybridge to watch for other boats. We never run on plane at night because I feel the risk is just too great.

If you don't go out at night you're missing a great part of boating. The sights and sounds are different, noises seem to carry much further at night, and it's soooooooooo peaceful.

If you don't boat at night you're missing a while different boating experience.
Click to expand...

That must have been an interesting settlement. What it the usual limit of liability coverage? Probably not enough in this case. Must have maxed out. I hope nobody was hurt.
 
JVII, I don't want to hijack this topic so I'll keep it short. I had a "stated value" policy so there was no question about what I was going to get paid for the boat. I may start another thread because there was a LOT of stuff that I got paid for that most people don't think about when they're dealing with the other guy's insurance company. The total of my "other stuff" was well over $20K above and beyond the settlement on the boat.
 
I thought of this post while out last night. We originally headed up the river to check out the fall foliage, then turned around and went south for a bit...

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