Rules of the Road...

[JamesTXSD]

Great photos, Larry!

Last night was an incredibly bright moon... looking out at the water, the white decks of boats were clearly visible, two hours after sunset. What are the Rules regarding nav lights in this situation?

 

[Alyssa Jean]

Last night was an incredibly bright moon... looking out at the water, the white decks of boats were clearly visible, two hours after sunset. What are the Rules regarding nav lights in this situation?

Rule 20
Light rules shall be complied with from sunrise to sunset and at all other times of restricted visibility. They may be displayed at other times if necessary.

Question: If you see a black conical shape pointy end down, what does it signify and where will you see it carried?

 

[JamesTXSD]

Last night was an incredibly bright moon... looking out at the water, the white decks of boats were clearly visible, two hours after sunset. What are the Rules regarding nav lights in this situation?

Rule 20
Light rules shall be complied with from sunrise to sunset and at all other times of restricted visibility. They may be displayed at other times if necessary.

Question: If you see a black conical shape pointy end down, what does it signify and where will you see it carried?

Signifies a sailboat that is also motoring. It is to be carried "forward and where it can best be seen"; most often it will be flown from one of the spreaders.

Seeing how most of the sailboats we see in the PNW were motoring or motorsailing, the great majority are not following that rule. What is the size of vessel that is required to display that shape?

 

[Alyssa Jean]

What is the size of vessel that is required to display that shape?

A vessel of 12 Meters or less (39.5 ft) is not required to display that shape.

 

[JamesTXSD]

It's been a while since we've played; here's a shot I took today of a nav aid...



What's that little yellow triangle at the top of the red mean?

 

[SGIDave]

Red Buoy with yellow triangle -- marks right side of channel when traveling the intracoastal waterway (south), and right side of channel when coming in from sea.

When looking at your nav chart you observe the red and green markers have letters/numbers next to them....one of the markers is labelled G "1" Fl G 4sec.
How do you read these characters and what do they tell you?

/david

 

[JamesTXSD]

When looking at your nav chart you observe the red and green markers have letters/numbers next to them....one of the markers is labelled G "1" Fl G 4sec.
How do you read these characters and what do they tell you?

/david

Green marker, has the number 1 on it, light flashes green once every 4 seconds.

What is the saying, "Even nuns get embarrassed" a memory jog for?

 

[Alyssa Jean]

What is the saying, "Even nuns get embarrassed" a memory jog for?

Nun buoys are red and have even numbers.

Time for dinner, I'll have to come back with a question.

 

[JamesTXSD]

There was some discussion a while back about small boats showing the right shapes or lights for their condition... it isn't just the big guys. Here's a boat about the size of our C-Dory we saw while out today...



What do the shapes on top of this boat tell us?

 

[eNORMous]

Rule 27 of Inland & International Navigation Rules
Vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver—making way; vessel
less than 50 meters in length.

 

[Captains Cat]

They also tell us that it's air conditioned.... :shock: :roll: :lol:

Charlie

 

[CC Rider]

This was such an informative and entertaining thread back in 2009, I thought I would bring it to the top again.

I am trying to learn the COLREGS and their associated rule numbers, and in looking for ways to remember them I try to learn mnemonics or sayings. "Red right return" for example when referring to starboard hand buoys or day markers.

So what gems of sayings does the vast knowledge of C-Bratters have? I'll start it off with this:

When all three lights you see ahead,
Turn to starboard and show your red.
Green to green or red to red,
Perfectly safe, go right ahead.

But if to starboard red appear,
It is your duty to keep clear,
To act as caution says is proper,
Ease her, turn her, back her, stop her.

And if upon your port is seen,
A steamer's starboard light of green,
Hold your course and watch to see,
That green to port keeps clear of thee.

Both in safety and in doubt
Always keep a good look out.
In danger, with no room to turn,
Ease her, stop her, go astern.

Chris

 

[Gulfcoast John]

By failing memory;

No vessel may tie off to a daymark (or lighted aid or any other ATON for that matter).

A sea plane is lowest in the COLREGS priority list (that doesn’t mean a C-Dory can’t or shouldn’t communicate with one heading your way toward the same area).

Here’s my contribution:
Nighttime navigation can be confusing, which is one of many reasons we tend to avoid it. For the most part, if your vessel spots a blinking red, green or white light, it’s a NAV AID. But if it’s a steady light, it’s another vessel.

Name five exceptions (not including emergency response vessels) where vessels display blinking rather than steady lights.

We had COLREGS Quiz time after dinners at anchor on the David B adventure…it’s more interesting discussions with wine.

John

 

[CC Rider]

A sea plane is lowest in the COLREGS priority list (that doesn’t mean a C-Dory can’t or shouldn’t communicate with one heading your way toward the same area).

Here's one for priorities:

Our New Rods Catch Fish So Purchase Some

Pecking Order:

Overtaken, Not Under Command, Restricted Ability to Manuever, Constrained by Draft, Engaged in Fishing, Sailing, Power, Sea Plane

 

[Robert H. Wilkinson]

Here is a trick question for transiting a Canadian canal.

If you are transiting the Trent Severn from Orillia to Port Severn through one of the many speed restricted sections and another Cdory the same as yours is coming towards you - which is the "stand on" vessel and which is the "give way" vessel? And why?

There are no other boats, obstructions, nav aids, etc. just you, the other boat and the canal.

Good luck

Rob

 

[-Waypoint-]

The "stand on" vessel would be the vessel that is going "with the current" (down stream) and would have first choice on passing arrangements. The give way vessel going against the current, has better maneuverability, which is the "give way" vessel. Port to port is always preferred, in this case, the vessel going with the current may have to make a wider turn in a bend. So the upbound vessel could take the inside bend of the turn, giving the down bound vessel more room to maneuver. This rule can apply with flooding and ebbing tidal currents in inlets in salt water too.

 

[Gulfcoast John]

My guess is that the TS falls under COLREGS Inland Rivers (Great Lakes, Western Rivers and Canada) rather than International Rules (Rule 1).

Therefore, the downbound vessel is the stand-on vessel and “should propose the manner of passage via sound signals or VHF radio.” (Exception to Rule 14 for Great Lakes and Inland Rivers).

I don't see any limitation to 'speed restricted areas' though.

In Canada, don’t forget to change your VHF radio frequency set from USA to CAN. That menu item is often buried deep enough that you won’t find it without the radio manual/instructions.

Those rare vessels displaying flashing rather than steady lights:

Barge on hip tow (yellow flashing) Rule 24f

Seine purser with fouled gear (two vertical flashing yellow alternating) annex II.

Hovercraft not in displacement mode (yellow flashing) Rule 23b.

Wing in water Ground Effect craft (red strobe)

Multiple Vessels/Objects towed alongside (yellow flashing) Rule 24f.

Happy Navigating! Hope to see you on the T-S this summer!

John

 

[Robert H. Wilkinson]

The "stand on" vessel would be the vessel that is going "with the current" (down stream)

We have a bingo! In this example since the key to the riddle was - "From Orilia to Port Severn" - you would be the "Stand on vessel" and the other Cdory would give way as Balsom Lake is the "Summit" and you would then be going downstream to Port Severn. Some sections of the canal can have a good current - especially in the spring and around the bottom of larger locks like Swift Rapids just after they have emptied.

Thanks for playing - hope you waved at the other Cdory when you passed!

Rob

 

[colbysmith]

One of my memory tricks, one to the right, two to the left. Passing or over taking. If you are passing on the right (port to port), or over taking on the right (your port to their starboard), one short blast of the horn. If passing on the left (your starboard to their starboard) or overtaking on the left (your starboard to their port), two short blasts. One to the right, two to the left. Position your boat is going relative to the other boat.

 

[thataway]

I have no knowledge of details of specific Canadian Navigation laws,(See below) but occasionally United States mariners ascribe stand on / give way in rivers, inlets or other areas of current to Rule 14 (d) of US Navigation Rules; inland.

Ref. Stand on and give way vessels in situations where there is flow or current; United States Inland Rule 14d:

(d) Notwithstanding Rule 14(a), a power-driven vessel operating on the Great Lakes, Western Rivers, or waters specified by the Secretary, and proceeding downbound with a following current shall have the right-of-way over an upbound vessel, shall propose the manner of passage, and shall initiate the maneuvering signals prescribed by Rule 34(a)(i), as appropriate.

Note this only applies to "Western Rivers" of the United States.

Western Rivers means the Mississippi River, its tributaries, South Pass, and Southwest Pass, to the navigational-demarcation lines dividing the high seas from harbors, rivers, and other inland waters of the United States, and the Port Allen-Morgan City Alternative Route, and that part of the Atchafalaya River above its junction with the Port Allen-Morgan City Alternative Route including the Old River and the Red River and those waters specified by §§ 89.25 and 89.27 of this chapter, and such other, similar waters as are designated by the COTP.

Note this is one of the very few rules where the term "right of way" is used. "Stand on" and "Give way" are used in most situations. Where collision occurs, there will be assignment of guilt, it is rare that a single vessel is totally wrong. (Stand an adequate watch, be situationally aware, communicate with the other vessel (VHF Radio or whistle signals) and take action to avoid a collision is also essential.).

Due to my ignorance of Canadian rules, I looked up:
Collision Regulations C.R.C., c. 1416. CANADA SHIPPING ACT, 2001

Canadian rules 9 (k)

Notwithstanding paragraph (a) and Rule 14(a), in the Canadian waters of a narrow channel or fairway where there is a current or tidal stream and two power-driven vessels are meeting each other from opposite directions so as to involve risk of collision,
(i) the vessel proceeding with the current or tidal stream shall be the stand-on vessel and shall propose the place of passage and shall indicate the side on which she intends to pass by sounding the appropriate signal prescribed in Rule 34(a) or (g),

(ii) the vessel proceeding against the current or tidal stream shall keep out of the way of the vessel proceeding with the current or tidal stream and shall hold as necessary to permit safe passing,

(iii) the vessel proceeding against the current or tidal stream shall promptly reply to the signal referred to in subparagraph (i) with the same signal, if she is in agreement, and with the sound signal prescribed in Rule 34(d), if she is in doubt.