Anchor (black ball) displayed for day use?

[Flip]

Does every one use one and if so what kind and how do you attach it?
Also do you also use a ball at you anchor? We have never seen either used.
Just read and article in Latitude where someone had not had one on and received a citation from Homeland Security with a fine of $6500.00. This was later reduced to $100.00.

[Matt Gurnsey]

If I remember correctly, you don't need to display the ball or an anchor light in designated anchorages. SO then the question becomes, is the area you are anchoring designated?

I've never seen a pleasuer boat with the daytime anchor signal on board, let alone deployed. A quik viewing of the west Marine catalog doesn't even show such a signal as being available....

I didn't know that Homeland Security could issue citations.

[JamesTXSD]

Here's the rule...

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Rule 30

Anchored Vessels and Vessels Aground

(a) A vessel at anchor shall exhibit where it can best be seen:

* (i) in the fore part, an all-round white light or one ball;
* (ii) at or near the stern and at a lower level than the light prescribed in subparagraph (i), an all-round white light.

(b) A vessel of less than 50 meters in length may exhibit an all-round white light where it can best be seen instead of the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) of this Rule.

(c) A vessel at anchor may, and a vessel of 100 meters and more in length shall, also use the available working or equivalent lights to illuminate her decks.

(d) A vessel aground shall exhibit the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Rule and in addition, where they can best be seen;

* (i) two all-round red lights in a vertical line;
* (ii) three balls in a vertical line.

(e) A vessel of less than 7 meters in length, when at anchor not in or near a narrow channel, fairway or where other vessels normally navigate, shall not be required to exhibit the shape prescribed in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Rule.

(f) A vessel of less than 12 meters in length, when aground, shall not be required to exhibit the lights or shapes prescribed in subparagraphs (d)(i) and (ii) of this Rule.

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So, it could be argued that a vessel of less than 50 meters does not have to display a ball shape when at anchor. Certainly, a vessel less than 7 meters (23 feet) is not required to display the shape. I'd say your 22 is fine.

In inland waters, I rarely see any boat of any size with a ball day shape when at anchor. We don't use one and have never had a problem.

Hope that helps.

Best wishes,
Jim B.

[colobear]

The navigation rules require that: "DURING THE DAY: All vessels at anchor must display, forward where it can be best seen, a black ball shape." However, there is an exception: ("EXCEPTIONS: If your vessel is less than 23 feet/7 meters in length, then it is not required to display an anchor light or shape unless it is anchored in or near a narrow channel, fairway or anchorage, or where other vessels normally navigate.") so except for 25's and Tomcats C-Dorys are exempt from either a light or ball. I have only seen one pleasure vessel actually displaying the black ball and it was about a 75 foot yacht. I display the anchor light because I think it makes sense to be more easily seen at night. Personally I don't intend to worry about displaying the black ball but it may depend upon where you are anchoring.

[flrockytop]

[starcrafttom]

Regard less of rules you should have a white light on at night. to many people running into anchorages late at night. Not all of them have spot lights like me.

[Matt Gurnsey]

I agree that the anchor light is prudent.

It would be interesting to know what kind of boat, where it was anchored and other details to know if it was a legitimate citation.

[thataway]

The boat we took to Europe (62 feet LOA) and the cal 46, we had a 24" diameter "ball"--one was an inflatable plastic ball, with attatchments at top and bottom and the other was two 24" plywood circles, which fit together at 90 degrees to form the appears of a "ball". We also had the appropiate cone shape for "motor sailing" aboard both vessels.

As for smaller boats, it is not practical, and rarely excercised to use the round shape for anchoring. On the other hand, where there is not a mooring field, or the boat is not tied to the bank, an anchor light is certainly an excellent precuation.

We always used a 360 degree mast head light on our sail boats--but with the mast head from 57 to 65 feet off the water, we usually left some other deck light on. With the 62 footer, there was a long bow sprit, so we put a light on the end of it, and a second deck light on the aft or mizzen boom. This defined the length of the boat.

For the C Dory we always use a LED light at a minum--there are some bright ones which have a built in solar panel. They may not be fully legal (visiable for 2 miles), but even when the boat is stern to the beach or in a mooring field it is nice to have a light to define where your boat is. If outside of a mooring field, the the 360 degree anchor light is deployed. On the Tom Cat we have replaced the bulb with a series of LED lights, which are brighter than the single original bulb.

[flrockytop]