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doc
Joined: 03 Jul 2005 Posts: 269 City/Region: Auke Bay
State or Province: AK
C-Dory Year: 2017
Vessel Name: Bella Rey
Photos: C-Alaska
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Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 2:58 am Post subject: Boat lighting |
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So I don't hi-jack the boating accident thread, I'll start a new one. So, Bob. Do you think our boats are adequately illuminated or should we be upgrading? I notice that many of the boats I see out after dark are difficult to see and even when I'm traveling at slow night time speeds, they can be pretty close by the time I spy them. _________________ Steve and Colleen Torrence
Juneau, Alaska |
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Captains Cat
Joined: 03 Nov 2003 Posts: 7313 City/Region: Cod Creek>Potomac River>Chesapeake Bay
State or Province: VA
C-Dory Year: 2005
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Captain's Choice II
Photos: Captain's Cat
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Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 8:16 am Post subject: |
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Steve, I'm not Bob, but what lighting are you talking about? Nav Lights? If not, any other lighting topside at night will only confuse other boaters. If your Nav lights are working properly, with the proper bulbs in there, that's all that should be necessary.
Charlie _________________ CHARLIE and PENNY CBRAT #100
Captain's Cat II 2005 22 Cruiser
Thataway (2006 TC255 - Sold Aug 2013)
Captain's Cat (2006 TC255 - Sold January 2012)
Captain's Kitten (1995 CD 16 Angler- Sold June 2010)
Captain's Choice (1994 CD 22 Cruiser- Sold Jun 2007)
Potomac River/Chesapeake Bay
K4KBA |
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20dauntless
Joined: 23 Jan 2008 Posts: 879 City/Region: Mercer Island and Decatur Island
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2008
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Retriever and Nordic Tug 37
Photos: Retriever
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Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 9:30 am Post subject: |
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In my experience many boats standard navigation lights are inadequate. This can be simply that they are not very bright or that owners have installed other things blocking the light. Over the summer I watched a neighbor come in on his Grady and the all around white light was not visible from in front of his boat because of the Radome location and speed he was running.
I do know that our lights meet USCG regulations, but I don't know how easy they are to see. My general policy at night is to monitor the radar closely and avoid everyone else.
I think the original poster is asking Bob if he thinks the lights that come on C-Dory's are bright enough since he mentioned in another post that he has replaced running lights that he didn't think were bright enough on previous boats. |
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SEA3PO
Joined: 02 Nov 2003 Posts: 1835 City/Region: Chester
State or Province: CA
C-Dory Year: 2003
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: SEA3PO
Photos: SEA3PO
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Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 2:22 pm Post subject: |
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Years ago on one of the Delta cruises I was told that my white light was not visable from behind as it was in front of the dome.....so I went to West Marine and bought a new light....with a longer shaft....probably about 4' long...... and now it is way high....and easily visable in 360 degrees..... easy cure...
Joel
SEA3PO |
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Chester
Joined: 04 Sep 2006 Posts: 1176 City/Region: home
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2005
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Sold to lovely couple
Photos: Chester
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Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 2:51 pm Post subject: |
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The C-Dorys I've seen running after dark have been easy to spot with their stock nav lights. |
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thataway
Joined: 02 Nov 2003 Posts: 20826 City/Region: Pensacola
State or Province: FL
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: thataway
Photos: Thataway
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Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 3:10 pm Post subject: |
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Generally speaking the C Dories have adquate navigation lights. Some of the problems which arise are: The all around white light being too low and obscured by radar or other objects. A few C Dories had separated aft light and foreward steaming light.
Another issue is the separation of red and green--again in the C Dory this seems to be fairly well addressed (you should only be able to see both when the boat is heading directly toward you. I have seen boats where the course was 20 degrees off the straight ahead line, and you could see both red and green.
Probably the best upgrade would be to be sure that the all around white light is the maximum wattage which the fixture will handle. The rules call for a 2 mile visability for the white light and one mile for the red and green sidelights. Going to the next size up gives 3 miles white and 2 miles red and green. My Tom Cat has the 15 watt 2 mile visability red and green.
My comment was aimed mostly at the very small deck or hull mounted lights, especially the bicolor side lights which often are not visiable at a mile, with any haze or fog. I did put a larger bulb in the all around white light in the Tom Cat, and a higher pole on the C Dory 25.
Another issue, is hazing of the lenses of these lights--often the UV will destroy the plastic and decrease the transparency of the lense.
As far as my larger boats; I went up to 25 watt side lights, and 50 watt white light. _________________ Bob Austin
Thataway
Thataway (Ex Seaweed) 2007 25 C Dory May 2018 to Oct. 2021
Thisaway 2006 22' CDory November 2011 to May 2018
Caracal 18 140 Suzuki 2007 to present
Thataway TomCat 255 150 Suzukis June 2006 thru August 2011
C Pelican; 1992, 22 Cruiser, 2002 thru 2006
Frequent Sea; 2003 C D 25, 2007 thru 2009
KA6PKB
Home port: Pensacola FL |
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dotnmarty
Joined: 03 Nov 2003 Posts: 4196 City/Region: Sammamish
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 1993
C-Dory Model: 16 Angler
Vessel Name: LIZZIE II
Photos: Lizzie
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Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 3:17 pm Post subject: |
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right on, as usual. I noticed that the newer16 footer has a raised red/green forward. On the 'older' boats (including my 2004) the single fixture is flush with the foredeck and probably easily blocked by the bow. Thanks for raising this issue. _________________ MartyP
"...we're all in the same boat..." |
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lloyds
Joined: 02 Aug 2005 Posts: 1724 City/Region: sublimity
State or Province: OR
C-Dory Year: 1996
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: undecided
Photos: 1996 22 Cruiser (Lloyds)
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Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 3:22 pm Post subject: |
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I think most stock manufactured lights are adequate. Especially on dark nights with minimal backlighting. In areas where there are a lot of other lights to clutter the visual image, none of them are all that great. Elliott Bay is a tough place on some nights with all the ships, boats, the waterfront lights. Greys Harbor is one of the worst I have experienced. As you cross the bar inbound there are a ton of lights to the east and most are very bright. Running lights on small boats will be virtually invisible. Navaid lights will be difficult to see until you are right on top of them. The background is at least as important as the lights themselves. The thing that never ceases to amaze me is the lights on fishing boats off in the distance on a dark night at sea. To me they always give the illusion of being distinctly downhill. |
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hardee
Joined: 30 Oct 2006 Posts: 12633 City/Region: Sequim
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2005
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Sleepy-C
Photos: SleepyC
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Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 2:13 am Post subject: Night running |
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Due to several things this last weekend, (heavy overcast, and probably poor planning on my part as well) I was out on the water, looking for the entry into a fairly circuitous channel entry after dark. Due to the rapid onset of the dark, our dusk light time was about 3 minutes that night, and then we were in the dark. I did have the all around light mounted before we left, expecting it to be dusk (not dark) prior to our arrival, and I did have a spot light onboard and plugged in. I was thankful for the radar and the time I had spent with it on prior to, but I was wishing for just a hint of light to light up the face buttons on the Raymarine display. They are not backlighted except for the soft buttons at the bottom. I did not know that before (we just don't run after dark). Anyone using something that works for helm station light for emergency night running. I do have a couple of the solar Starship LED lights, but even that, with 1 red LED was much to bright. I also had a small LED flashlight, cupped in my hand that worked, but it had white lite. Found the most comfortable for viewing was to stand and look out the open center window, with frequent checks on the radar/plotter screen.
ONE thing I would do different, even running at 3 - 4 knots was a bit spooky, (crab floats, logs, traffic etc), would be to shut one engine down and raise it up out of the water.
I did talk to a tug and tow about 1 mile off and he did report seeing me both on the radar and the lights.
Harvey
SleepyC _________________ Though in our sleep we are not conscious of our activity or surroundings, we should not, in our wakefulness, be unconscious of our sleep. |
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thataway
Joined: 02 Nov 2003 Posts: 20826 City/Region: Pensacola
State or Province: FL
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: thataway
Photos: Thataway
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Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 3:31 pm Post subject: |
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You can buy both neutral density filters or red filters for many sized lights. Colored plastic, (smoke/gray or red) and dim down the light that way. We have a light on a flexiable arm over the dash area, which has a red filter. We also have red LED's built into the overhead lights with switches where necessary. Another good reason to know the buttons by feel so you don't have to take the eyes off the water. Also I usually have my wife watch the chart plotter and radar and I keep my eyes on the "road". Also sometimes putting foam (like wrapping water pipes) over SS railings will decrease the flash back from running lights. |
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20dauntless
Joined: 23 Jan 2008 Posts: 879 City/Region: Mercer Island and Decatur Island
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2008
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Retriever and Nordic Tug 37
Photos: Retriever
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Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 3:50 pm Post subject: |
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SleepyC,
We run quite a bit at night between Anacortes and Decatur Island. Like Bob said, it helps to know where the buttons are on the plotter and radar. We keep a handheld spotlight ready to illuminate anything that we can't otherwise identify or to warn other boats of our presence if they do not respond on VHF 16 or don't appear to see us.
Regardless who has the right of way, I take evasive action to avoid collisions. Assume that the other boats don't see you. Keep a careful eye on the radar and also out the windows for floating debris that doesn't show up on radar.
We typically run at between 16 and 18 knots, but if anything appears out of the ordinary we slow down until we can figure out what is around us. Boating at night in the San Juans is, in my opinion, much easier than in more heavily populated areas because there are not many lights on shore to confuse things. A properly lit boat stands out and the radar does a tremendous job of showing boats far before you can see them with your eye. |
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jstates
Joined: 24 May 2006 Posts: 225 City/Region: SHELTON
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2000
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Endurance
Photos: Endurance
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Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 2:21 am Post subject: Navigation light replacement |
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Has anyone found a good replacement LED or complete light unit + LED for the Navigation lights on a CD22. My regular bulbs burn out several times per year- there is often condensation inside the plastic perko light cover.
Has anyone put a bicolor up front on the railing - [one meter below anchor light? If so what brand?
Are internal battery LED bicolors illegal for CD22 since we have an onboard power system?
Thanks
Jim |
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Robbi
Joined: 23 Mar 2004 Posts: 1193 City/Region: Chambers Bay
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2023
C-Dory Model: 23 Venture
Photos: C-Run
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Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 8:57 am Post subject: |
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Jim, I replaced my all around with a fold-down mount style. This is so I don't have to remove the light at high tide to get under the RR bridge.
I bought a Hella LED All Round/Anchor Light. Not cheap, but a very well built, long lasting and approved by USCC to 2 NM. Bulb should never need replaceing.
I bought it at Fisheries Supply, part number 959910621.
Fisheries Supply
Robbi _________________ 2023 C-Dory 23 Venture Sport
2003 C-Dory 19
sold 2019
2004 C-Dory 16 Cruiser
Sold 8/2015
2004 C-Dory 19 "C-Run"
Sold 8/2011
1989 C-Dory 16 Angler
Sold 2010 |
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cbull
Joined: 27 Aug 2007 Posts: 117 City/Region: charleston
State or Province: SC
C-Dory Year: 2004
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: knot yankee
Photos: Knot Yankee
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Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 9:19 am Post subject: |
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Sounds like some are running with the anchor lights on. Good way to get into a bad situation. And a ticket if the man is around. |
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marvin4239
Joined: 06 Feb 2007 Posts: 1165 City/Region: Jacksonville Florida/Wilmington NC
State or Province: FL
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: C-FLE II
Photos: C-FLE II
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Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 9:52 am Post subject: |
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Robbi those are some nice looking lights but I can't tell from the picture do they fit in the stock receptacle? _________________ marvin |
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