Divers boats show the alpha flag by day.
But at night, lights are required. Only commercial dive boats are equipped to show these, but there is no recreational exemption. This is not a dive-specific light combination, but the standard "restricted ability to maneuver" (RAM) combination defined in COLREGS. It is combined with either running or anchor lights, as relevant.
Curiously, these are the same lights you should show (USCG) in some other unusual circumstances:
- Trailing a drogue.
- Hanging to a sea anchor.
- Running under bare poles in survival conditions. If you head up you may be rolled. You have little speed control.
- Laying ahull in survival conditions (not just drifting for rest--you must be restricted).
Some others are less clear:
- Hove to in severe weather. But you could probably manuver if you needed to.
- Singlehanding and napping. But there is NO COLREGS exemption for not keeping a watch.
Remotely piloted vessels also show RAM unless under close pilot control (USCG).
Without RAM lights, you are not allowed to show anything other than standard running lights. I would sure like to have something more obvious up there. The only other option is a distress light, which is not what I want.
It is not for conditions where your motions are unpredictable. "Not under command" may be more appropriate:
- No rudder and no drogue to give control.
- Powerboat with no engine.
Obviously, you could build these lights, but red all-around lights are big and expensive. Over $500, lots of amps, and heavy. Same with hoistable lights. You would think there would be some reasonable hoistable solution on the market for recreational divers, but I can't find it.
Ideas Welcome!
up-date. 1-14-2022
A so-called emergency anchor light is rigged at the end of the boom. Not very visible and fragile. The RAM lights are highly visible (for foul weather) and draw only 0.9 amps total. The RAM units can also be unplugged (it is modular) and used as cockpit and cabin lights (white or night vision-safe red. And they are physically rugged and waterproof.
You could hoist a string of these: https://www.lalizas.com/product/168-standard-navigation-light/2298-emergency-navigation-light
ReplyDeleteInteresting, but...
ReplyDelete* No way to hang.
* Only 9 hours (and that is typically exaggerated).
Use a masthead all-around white anchor light or steaming light. Sure, it might not be technically legal, but is likely to be the most visible in bad conditions at range. I have myself noted how I always see white lights at much greater range than running lights when offshore. Keep a spotlight handy to shine on the sails if anything comes close--that always gets their attention.
ReplyDelete... But it is wrong. If anchored and diving, other boats have no warning that you have swimmers in the water. They might dinghy over to say "hi." If you are pulling a drogue or drifting, others will assume you are on-watch and can maneuver, but you can't. Yes, in extremis, you should show what lights you have. Turn cabin lights and deck lights.
ReplyDeleteThe post was motivated by the development of an inexpensive DIY emergency anchor light that is dependable, compact, and very low-draw, something that is lacking in the marketpalce. I built a very rugged one with cheap truck LEDs, tested it to 1000 pounds in tension, and am now testing weather durability (3 months so far). If you use red LEDs it can serve as RAM and other markings. And it is brighter than my USCG anchor light or running lights.
Coming soon.