MacGregorSailors.com

"Personal watercraft cannot under any circumstances be operated from sunset to sunrise."

http://outdoornebraska.ne.gov/boating/g ... Grules.asp

It appears boating regs in my state were written by someones mother? Or grandmother?

Am I reading this correct?

For you coastal sailors, does the ocean also close at sunset?

I believe Personal Watercraft means "jet skiis" They have no lights - - - and their operators often possess only a fraction more in brains

Rick

Personal watercraft:



Motorboat:



You're fine. Stop worrying.

I did a search on Google to see what the lighting requirements were to operate a boat at night in Nebraska.

On the official web site for our state on boating, the only requirement I see is the one I mentioned, which turns out to be Jet Skis. No mention of lighting except what color lights the boat police use.

Our state lawmakers are right up there with several scenes in the movie Deliverance.

I want to pick up some LED self contained marker lights for night boating. Can someone offer a suggestion on Amazon, or other Internet merchant? I could also drop in a local Walmart.

Glad that was cleared up about the "PERSONAL WATERCRAFT" how funny!

I would like to keep the lighting to the bare minimum as the lights would be distracting and attract flying insects. If I need no lights, I am OK with that, just do not want to get in trouble not having the correct lights. On board, we keep several powerful flashlights if we need them.

Executive summary of lights from colregs....
When sailing
Red green lights marking port starboard
White light on stern

When motoring
Above, plus turn on white light on mast

These lights all come with the boat of course.

Personal watercraft:

Thats just those irresponsible inland PWC operators, here on the coast they make sure their head is clear of the water to prevent drowning



Speaking of laws, Doesn't apply to you Gary, But here in VA like many states PWC need to complete a certificate class. Written into that law is any boat operator under 30 with greater than a 10hp next July needs the same requirement, following year its under 40 and the following year under 50 will need a certificate for a mac over 10hp.

http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/boating/ed ... rement.asp

West Marine sells self-contained LED units (side lights and all-around white), but I'm not sure they're actually legal for a boat that size, and they're not the most robust lights for marine use.

If it were me, and if the boat was missing the lights it probably came with, I'd install permanent lights. Standard nav lights can be bought cheaply, and even the cheap ones will last a long time, depending on use - the nav lights on my are all original (and cheapest available at the time, I'm sure), and a little tired looking but perfectly functional, but it's a freshwater boat and always has been, best I can tell. Salt water use would probably take them out sooner.

A small boat like yours can have a single side light (red/green 225 degree) unit with a single bulb mounted on the bow, plus a white stern light (135 degree), plus a white masthead (steaming) light (225 degree) that is switched separately from the nav lights for use when under power (sails up or not - powering means masthead light is required in addition to the nav lights). I also believe the white lights need to be 2 mile intensity, and the side lights 1 mile, for boats that size (requirements go up as the boats get bigger, but ours are far below that threshold). The masthead light has to be 1 meter or more higher than the side lights.

West Marine has an online video, along with diagrams in the catalog on page 442.

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/st ... ight-Rules

http://catalogs.westmarine.com/WebProje ... elabel=442

Seapup wrote:Thats just those irresponsible inland PWC operators, here on the coast they make sure their head is clear of the water to prevent drowning

Either way, they should all be lined up and shot.

My Mac 25 has lights but not a working battery. Replacing the battery is no problem, but keeping it charged is. The slip I hope to obtain next spring has no electricity. I could see maybe a solar panel, but battery, old wiring, old lights, solar panel violates the k.I.s.s. Rules I have set for myself. I will ask the local marina what I should do. Thanks everyone for the information and the video link.

One charge of the battery gets me through the season with my LED running and interior lights. I charge at the beginning and end of the season and a refresh mid winter. Our running lights go on an hour before dusk and off an hour after sunrise. Mast light goes on for motoring and mooring out for sleepovers. Mast light keeps the bugs high and out of the cabin. I am all for keep it simple. I love sailing at night, so my lights are a priority.

My buddy says that wives of people with PWCs have fake boobs and wives of sailors have natural boobs. That's why he hangs with sailors. Just throwing that out there...

tomchitecture wrote:
My buddy says that wives of people with PWCs have fake boobs and wives of sailors have natural boobs. That's why he hangs with sailors. Just throwing that out there...

As a photographer I like to focus on firm body parts. A pastor was once asked (true story) what he thought of women bringing in the use of jewelry and makeup into their old fashioned traditional modest church. The pastor paused a moment and answered : "If the barn needs painting, paint it".

Well, maybe you could use a motorcycle battery, or other small battery, to power your lights. Take it home to charge, and bring it with you when you think you might do some night boating. Or just take it home to charge a couple of times a year.

I fully appreciate the KISS objective, but I also want to be seen out there. I'd take the extra steps to have decent permanent lighting, even if that means compromising on the battery (by taking it home to charge). With LEDs, you probably could run all season on a single charge, and/or use a tiny 12V battery that's easy to take home. Or a tiny 12V motorcycle battery (like 15Ah) and a tiny solar charger (like 5W or so).

I'm guessing those are your only choices - 'portable' lights running on batteries, which may or may not meet the Colregs, or fixed lights with a simple battery/charger or just battery system.

tkanzler wrote:Well, maybe you could use a motorcycle battery, or other small battery, to power your lights. Take it home to charge, and bring it with you when you think you might do some night boating. Or just take it home to charge a couple of times a year.

I fully appreciate the KISS objective, but I also want to be seen out there. I'd take the extra steps to have decent permanent lighting, even if that means compromising on the battery (by taking it home to charge). With LEDs, you probably could run all season on a single charge, and/or use a tiny 12V battery that's easy to take home. Or a tiny 12V motorcycle battery (like 15Ah) and a tiny solar charger (like 5W or so).

I'm guessing those are your only choices - 'portable' lights running on batteries, which may or may not meet the Colregs, or fixed lights with a simple battery/charger or just battery system.

I like the portable battery idea. I have a battery booster/ jump starter I almost never use. A small one, with a built in charger. I think that would be perfect. It has what amounts to a large motorcycle battery, sealed. With LED lights, that would be fine I should think.

Gary - if you are lake sailing, you could just carry a strong reliable flashlight and light your sails if anyone comes near, as a KISS solution.

I do like the idea of a small sealed battery you could carry on/off though.

I used a "rescue" pack to run my old M25's light all night long one sail. I even had enough reserve to help a stranded powerboater who's car battery was dead at the launch ramp. Having fun and helping people, that's what sailing is all about............ that, and getting blown offshore.