You may be a good boater or seaman by day, but nighttime excursions on the water are a whole new ball game. Low light conditions and drastically reduced visibility increases risks of boat accidents. It’s important to be fully trained and prepared and follow basic safety rules when you hit the water for some nighttime navigation. The following tips will start you in the right direction.
Go Slow
Abide by the nautical saying, “Be a pro. Go slow.” First and foremost, to reduce your risk of a wreck, slow your pace on the water after dusk. At night you will need extra time to spot hazards and obstacles and react accordingly.
Some common obstacles one might unexpectedly encounter.
- Buoys
- Unlit boats
- Floating lumber
How fast you should go depends up on the conditions and the moonlight. Use your best judgment, and if in doubt, reduce your speed and proceed cautiously.
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(855) 529-0269Know the Lights
Learn the U.S. Coast Guard’s light display standards for nighttime navigation. If you’re familiar with the light patterns, you’ll be able to identify the types of vessels you see at night, and what they are doing.
The powerboat magazine Boating elaborates: “For example, you see two vessels in the distance and they’re a few hundred yards apart. So to save time, you think about cutting between the two. However, if one of the vessels is displaying three-stacked white lights on the masthead, going between them could be fatal, because the vessel is a tug towing a barge (the second vessel) with a massive hawser.”
Focus on the Task at Hand
Nighttime boating can be a fun and adventurous experience, but it’s important to really focus all your attention on navigation to avoid mishaps. A keen eye is the best tool for avoiding an accident.
Eliminate any distractions that you can, including the following.
- Bright cockpit lights and other onboard illumination (most lights, boat instruments, and electronics have dimmers)
- Alcohol (never captain a boat while drinking)
- Loud music (it can distract you and overpower horns of other boats)
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(855) 529-0269Gear Up
Make sure you have the proper gear for your nighttime navigation. Below are some of the items to bring.
- A GPS/chart plotter with detailed electronic cartography
- A good radar
- A compass
- Light-amplification scopes and binoculars
- Spotlights (but use sparingly)
- Thermal imaging
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