Navigating after sunset

Butch":2zqtmzo6 said:
PS... I hope Charlie (Captain's Choice) chimes in, he's at the mid to lower Bay... I value his opinion and I am certain we can learn from it.
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Thanks for the vote of confidence Butch but I don't have a lot to add to what has already been said. Actually am at our place in Downeast Maine at the moment, got up here yesterday for a three week stay. Putting this place on the market, so this may be one of the last trips!

Anyway, what everyone else said. Go slowly unless you know EXACTLY where you are and where everyone else is. AND if you're sure the water is free of obstructions (read "LOGS, ETC.) Radar is a must for finding out where things are, GPS is good for finding out where fixed stuff is SUPPOSED to be, but locations aren't guaranteed!

Night vision, as most have mentioned is very important. Red or green instrument lights are fine but if they're too bright, they can be hazardous. We found out in navigating at night on Navy Air Cushion Vehicles (LCACS) that red instrumentation won't work with Night Vision Stuff! Don't know how that one got by the design team but it did, had to switch to green.

Anyway, that's my 2c's worth... Nice here in Maine, clear and cool!

Charlie
 
OH Gosh, Bill, I stepped right into that..... I should have said: " 1- drape a manly, wool blanket over the instrument panel in a tight situation"

wel, that's not that good either, so... "1- cover instuments with blanket or clothing in the event of minimalized visual-optic performance."

My military roots coming out there..... John
 
Yup, I remember the reference to colors of instrument lights vis-a-vis' night vision instruments. Last time around on this discussion was 1-1/2 or two years ago, I think.
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The problem is that the night vision instruments work at low frequencies which are mostly red and infared wavelengths, and they are blinded by the red instrument lights used to preserve out natural night vision.

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I'll look it up and post the link here.

ON EDIT: I looked through 17 pages of 822 threads and didn't find it from the titles! Shows just how important it is to have the subject correctly included in the thread title, and also how hard it is to find something with the search engine, since there are so many matches.

The other problem is that we keep cycling through the same topics, and it's hard to be sure each time through is a complete discussion w/o leaving something out. Makes it harder when you can't find the previous ones because of the problems above.

Joe.
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If I had a flybridge I would definitely be up there, no matter what the weather. I used to stand up on the stern of my sailboats and hold on tight to the backstay or tether so I could get up away from any lights and engine noise. It just takes a few feet of separation to totally change your environment. Up there sometimes you can see those crab pots or logs or containers. There is an amazing amount of junk out on the open water. Once saw a refrigerator come swirling up near Deception Pass.
 
lloyds":pp9t8y6w said:
If I had a flybridge I would definitely be up there, no matter what the weather. I used to stand up on the stern of my sailboats and hold on tight to the backstay or tether so I could get up away from any lights and engine noise. It just takes a few feet of separation to totally change your environment. Up there sometimes you can see those crab pots or logs or containers. There is an amazing amount of junk out on the open water. Once saw a refrigerator come swirling up near Deception Pass.
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Lloyds-

I think the old sailor in us makes us think alike. Will be interesting what Bob Austin, Dusty, and all the other "old salt" sailors think!!!

P.S.: Don't forget to dodge that awash and barely floating shipping container painted black!

Joe.
 
Definately a flying bridge is better--less glare from instruments--I would rather follow a single dim compass than loose my night vision due to other lights/plotters etc.

I have gen II night vision system--and am not all that impressed for boating use. The green light is enough that it compromises my night vision (I haven't tried it since I had catarrac surgery--it may work better).
The problem is that you have to have the general picture--boats, shore line etc---plus be able to see debris in the water--and the debris may just be a different or disturbed reflection. I find it best for looking for dark boats as I come into an anchorage--but underway there are too many lights which wash it out--plus the resolution is not ideal.

I have no problem with open water at night--what I don't like is closed harbors--or croweded water ways. We "had" to find a TV Station somewhere on the ICW to watch the Super Bowl in 1984--so we ran until our antenna picked up an ABC station--Marie was on the top of the pilot house, with a spotlight--and I had the auto pilot remote, with my face stuck in the Radar, using the joy stick like a video game to keep the boat right in the center of the ICW.

This multiple death accident in Miami last weekend is a result of running too fast (the 35 foot Intrepid), the two boats being towed not having any lights, background lights, and possiably alcohol. It was a set up for diseaster. The only time I go out into crowds during night is 4th of July--and I stay at anchor for half an hour after all have left. One year, as I was dropping friends off at their dock, a pontoon boat pulled up and if he continued up the Bayou (which at that point was a dead end) would he find the Navy Point Marina. I hated to tell him that he was 3 miles up a bayou, which was 5 miles from where he wanted to be! And-he didn't have a compass or depth finder. The moral, is know exactly where you are going--and your location at any one instant.
 
I've been boating on the Mississippi river for 50 years and I still don't feel comfortable at night. For one thing there isn't usually anyone out there to help you out if something would happen. Sometimes we have 5 to 8 mph current to deal with( 3 all the time) not to mention the logs, bouy's and old concrete nav. hazards, boat cowboys, and barges. The only time I feel halfway comfortable is on a full moon. For some reason I like the open boats for floating. The darn cabin gets in my way of looking for problems. ....... Talk about rails blinding you --I forgot to take my bow flag down one night and I hit it with my spotlight and I couldn't see a thing for longer than I felt comfortable with. :shock: My rails gave me trouble also so I put black electrical on the inside of them and that helped a lot. I haven't had anybody notice the tape so I don't think it takes away from the looks of the boat.
 
I saw "Dusty" mentioned in a download, so gotta quit rockin' and start mouthing off. Oh my goodness, don't like to talk much about boating at night. Charlie said it very well - don't unless you know what's out there. Much of my boat driving has been at night - 1/2 of the years since 1933 on a bridge is way too much night time. Travelling through the Russian "fishing" fleet at 30+ knots ain't for the faint of heart - nor is night boating above idle speed in our log-jammed NW waters. At least, with the big ships you usually destroy the evidence. :wink:

Sure agree with Bob. Sailing at night, counting the stars, enjoying the night sounds, is emotional experience beyond description. And sometimes we do take the C-Dory out at night (idle, man, idle) and just drift. Have a sundowner, feed the ducks and snow geese. watch the seals come alongside to check us out, try to remember all of the various navigation stars (now that's a mind-awakener). Great way to go.

If, like Joe, I boated on Lake Shasta I'd go out in a heartbeat. The EQ gang is down there right now, and you can bet they boat at night. In unfamiliar waters go only if it's an emergency unless you are a professional or are proficient in all of your electronic toys, and professionals only go when required.

Open bridge is best for me in any limited visibility situation.

Dusty
 
Dusty reminded me of one of the most magical nights of Marie and my lives. We were anchored on the West Side of Admiralty Island, AK, on our way to Pack Creek behind an islet in Gambier bay. We could hear the whales breaching in Stephens Passage, so about 1 AM we hopped in the RIB and slowly worked out way into the passage. We turned off the engine, and drifted for about two hours, slowly sipping our wine and listening to the whale's sounds and occasionally seeing one breaching near us. The night is truely magical at sea. I always enjoyed my night watches--but virtaully no traffic--slow pace in a sailboat.
 
Dusty and all-

Actually, Lake Shasta, except for the marinas and the I-5 bridge, is totally black at night and therefore without any reference points at all unless the Moon's out.

You can still telll directions by the stars, of course, and the compass and radar give direction as well, but you can't really see anything to speak of, and the long, fairly narrow arms of the lake with their hundreds of coves, change shape as the water falls and rises with the seasons.

Islands pop up and sink again with the changing water levels.

Plus, there's just not much to go looking for at night, either!

But I have spent some nights at the lake where a moonlight canoe/kayack ride is pretty magical!

Also, it's fun to turn the boat's light's on and fish and swim at night, and if beached, a campfire lights up the night as well as folks' spirits.

For the most part, I drop the hook and stay put until the Sun returns to light the landscape.

Joe.
 
And that's what pleasure boating is all about, Bob. :rainbow Wish I could share each of those magic moments with every C-Brat. I certainly don't want to sound like an old grump saying, "Don't go out at night." Go, go, go - just know your limitations and do your homework. :!: :!:

Dusty
 
One of the eeriest, but beautiful sights is a totally calm, moonless night, where the sky and the ground/water look exactly alike. Easier to see all the falling stars, and you get a double bang in the reflection. John
 
drjohn71a-

We were on Howard Prarie Lake near Ashland, Oregon in 1999 on a windless night with the moon rising over the eastern mountains, when the reflection of the moon in the absolutly flat lake formed a laser-like flat beam accross the water from shore to shore, instead of a single, round reflection. I've only seen that the one time. At least at that level of beauty and uniqueness.

Joe.
 
My experience with night cruising was on Lake Chelan last year. There was a full moon just coming up over the northeast horizon and it was just getting dusk. Water was flat so I thought I would see how far up the lake I could get. Everything went well until I was about 10 miles beyond 25 Mile Creek. No more lights on the shore beyond 25 Mile Creek and the lake turned into a northerly direction. The mountains on the shore of the lake were high enough to block the moon light and a strong southerly wind was blowing. It was hard to tell the size of the waves, but I had a face full of water from them because I kept putting my head out the window trying to see anything. My GPS showed a campground with docks a few miles ahead of us but I did not want to fight the wind, waves and not being able to see so we turned around and found a campground and docks across from 25 Mile Creek.

One of the first things I did to my boat was add dimmer knobs to all my dash instruments so I can adjust the brightness to them or turn the light off completely.
 
A couple of us USCG Auxiliarists on Lake St. Clair (north of Detroit) have found night patrols to be especially exciting . . . it's a beautiful time to be on the water and, at the same time (as most of the other postings have suggested) a time to take extra care.
As we began night patroling, I looked around for something to cut the light intensity of my LORAN GPS DISPLAY (which is just about indispensable in the dark to find the channel markers, etc.); the lowest setting is still way too bright for the night. I finally found (at TOYS-R-US in the infant section) sun screen sheets that can be cut and used as display dimmers (it's low-tech dimmers); over the main chart display and depth finder, I still have to use two layers of screening. (I've gone from two-sided tape to velcro to keep the display screen in place.)
therevdr on Driftwood Drei
 
On edit by Da Nag

Leaving spammer post, since it's so friendly. Still killed the spammer, though - sorry. :mrgreen:

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drjohn71a":y0yegolw said:
For those in less treacherous (logwise) waters... I have always enjoyed slowly motoring upwind until to the end of the lake, then drifting, watching the falling stars, etc., back to my starting point. Use a drift sock abeam, or forward if the wind is up. The biggest hazards are drinking sailors, partying belowdecks, on autopilot, who feel it is the world's obligation to get out of their way. John
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Hi , I am a new member of forum. Would a newcomer be warmly welcome here? Good day you guys!!!
 
jezzicaz789":2prh8jxs said:
drjohn71a":2prh8jxs said:
For those in less treacherous (logwise) waters... I have always enjoyed slowly motoring upwind until to the end of the lake, then drifting, watching the falling stars, etc., back to my starting point. Use a drift sock abeam, or forward if the wind is up. The biggest hazards are drinking sailors, partying belowdecks, on autopilot, who feel it is the world's obligation to get out of their way. John
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Hi , I am a new member of forum. Would a newcomer be warmly welcome here? Good day you guys!!!
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Most all newcomers are welcomed warmly here, but this is a very strange first post with comment that makes no sense in reference to the quote from drjohn on a thread last commented on three years ago. That in combination with no profile and an obvious link to another web site rings the spammer-scammer alarm bell to me.
 
jezzicaz789":3rzbxg8o said:
Hi , I am a new member of forum. Would a newcomer be warmly welcome here? Good day you guys!!!
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We love newcomers! We warmly welcome you - long time!

Sheesh...spammers are dumb. Buh bye!
 
Have recently seen an ad for a "handheld" FLIR device. $$$$$ I am sure, ($2500 roughly). Anyone here have any experience with FLIR (Forward Looking InfraRed) I believe. I had a chance to observe a demo at the Seattle Boat Show (SBS) and was very impressed. However, the price and installation requirements were, shall we say, extensive. Handheld seems to have some appeal, if the price is right.

Keeping in mind that running after dark is not done without considerable thought and preparation. In four years, two times. Running very slowly and with one engine up.

Harvey
SleepyC
 
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