Towing at Night...

ApS · 09-19-2009, 06:07 PM

At this very moment, I am watching an orange boat (TowBoat?) towing an unlighted inboard across a dark windy stretch towards the Broads. At its present headway speed, it is eight miles to the nearest marina, perhaps still an hour or more away. The towed boat has eight people on board.

It's 7:07-PM. At this late hour, does its flashing yellow light count towards protection of the towed boat? (Being towed about 70' behind).

Dave R · 09-20-2009, 06:33 AM

The towed boat should also display lights, but there is a provision in the law for the possibility that the towed boat cannot display lights.

"When from any sufficient cause it is impracticable for a vessel or object being towed to exhibit the lights or shapes prescribed in paragraph (e) or (g) of this Rule, all possible measures shall be taken to light the vessel or object being towed or at least indicate the presence of such vessel or object."

Kamper · 09-20-2009, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acres per Second

... It's 7:07-PM. At this late hour, does its flashing yellow light count towards protection of the towed boat? ...

If I saw a flashing yellow light I would wonder what kind of submarine it was! lol.

If it's all you have then according to Dave R's research it's OK. This is a good example of why you carry at least one flashlight on a boat.

Another precaution they could have taken was to broadcast a "Security" advisory on ch16. Perhaps they thought it was not neccessary at this time of year since night traffic is very light. I'm sure many folks would be tempted to just "wing it" under these conditions.

Misty Blue · 09-21-2009, 10:25 AM

The towed boat had no battery, hence no lights, hence no starter, hence needed a tow.

They were lucky that they had the captain that they had. A US Navy officer who is a Mass Maritime grad.

The amber light is an interesting thing. Nav rules requires a towing vessel to display a flashing red and amber light. Red-Amber...Red-Amber...

The boat was equiped in that manner. One day a Meredith town police offecer came up and stated that the light was illegal. Only emergency vehicles can use a red light. He wasn't bright enough to see the difference between a red light and a red and amber light.

The next day the NHMP demanded that the red light be removed. Same mind set, I guess. Any way the red lense was removed and the boat now has a red and white towing light. Great for finding bouys in the dark!

BTW: Submarines do have amber lights, but they flash in series of three flashes.

Misty Blue.

caloway · 09-21-2009, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamper

If I saw a flashing yellow light I would wonder what kind of submarine it was! lol.

If it's all you have then according to Dave R's research it's OK. This is a good example of why you carry at least one flashlight on a boat.

Another precaution they could have taken was to broadcast a "Security" advisory on ch16. Perhaps they thought it was not neccessary at this time of year since night traffic is very light. I'm sure many folks would be tempted to just "wing it" under these conditions.

Does anybody here actually use their UHF radio? Mine's never made it out of the glove box.

Dave R · 09-21-2009, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caloway

Does anybody here actually use their UHF radio? Mine's never made it out of the glove box.

If you mean VHF, yes I do. I usually have it on just to listen to channel 16 too.

Phantom · 09-22-2009, 06:48 AM

My VHF is on anytime I'm in the boat, including while anchored at a sandbar.

We monitor (scan) between ch 16 as well as another channel that we have designated as our "talk" channel. There has been numerous times that valuable information (typically weather related) has come across 16 -- even if it's a local boater reporting -- very simply and not tieing up the channel- a squall or rain report from a particular section of the lake. Other times it's been fog banks, etc.

On at least couple of occasions I have rendered assistance for a tow or "minor" aid -- as well as legitimate information being requested (not a radio check

).

Continuing off topic here -- I also noticed that this year Ch 16 seemed "quieter" to us -- without the horsing around on the channel as in years past -- the way it is supposed to be.

ApS · 09-23-2009, 02:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Misty Blue

"...The towed boat had no battery, hence no lights, hence no starter, hence needed a tow..."

I would have thought that the tow-boat have a flashlight battery-powered stern light "loaner" aboard their boat. (Heck, I coulda loaned them mine from my boat!)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave R

"..."...all possible measures shall be taken to light the vessel or object being towed or at least indicate the presence of such vessel or object..."

I saw no sign of "all possible measures" as the time of two hours after sunset approached!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamper

"...If it's all you have then according to Dave R's research it's OK..."

That didn't work out so well a few years ago for a boat being towed that picked up another stalled boat after dark. A large powerboat went between the two boats he could see, and took out the boat in between.

We haven't addressed ALL the benefits of New Hampshire's "Unsafe Passage" rule here, but this is certainly one of them!

Kamper · 09-23-2009, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acres per Second

... That didn't work out so well a few years ago ...

Yes, another example of why you should carry a strong flashlight. Although nothing can completely protect you from Captain Bonehead when they want to be stupid.

One night by the Bear Island Mail dock, I encounterred a boat that was having electrical difficulties and they asked me to escort them across to the marina by Long Island Bridge. I gave the skipper an "electric flare" to wave. For a variety of reasons, we decided he should lead off and I was about 150 feet behind and we were moving about 10mph.

A large (or at least loud) speed boat came at us from port and looked like he was going to pass just in front of me. I started to speed up to "cover" the other boat but Captain Bonehead hit the throttles some more and I didn't want to 'push' him into the dark boat (who was waving the electric torch like crazy) so I dropped back to open the distance. I was also shining my small spot-light at the other boat, I don't know if that made any difference but C/B cleared my bow by just about 50 feet.

If I have to do this again I'll prep my flare-launcher. I'm not promising which direction to point it buy I'm hopeful C/B will wake up to that!

09-19-2009, 06:07 PM	#1
ApS Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Florida (Sebring & Keys), Wolfeboro Posts: 5,788 Thanks: 2,085 Thanked 742 Times in 532 Posts	Towing at Night... At this very moment, I am watching an orange boat (TowBoat?) towing an unlighted inboard across a dark windy stretch towards the Broads. At its present headway speed, it is eight miles to the nearest marina, perhaps still an hour or more away. The towed boat has eight people on board. It's 7:07-PM. At this late hour, does its flashing yellow light count towards protection of the towed boat? (Being towed about 70' behind). __________________ Every MP who enters Winter Harbor will pass by my porch of 67 years...

09-21-2009, 10:25 AM	#4
Misty Blue Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 658 Thanks: 121 Thanked 283 Times in 98 Posts	Tow Boat The towed boat had no battery, hence no lights, hence no starter, hence needed a tow. They were lucky that they had the captain that they had. A US Navy officer who is a Mass Maritime grad. The amber light is an interesting thing. Nav rules requires a towing vessel to display a flashing red and amber light. Red-Amber...Red-Amber... The boat was equiped in that manner. One day a Meredith town police offecer came up and stated that the light was illegal. Only emergency vehicles can use a red light. He wasn't bright enough to see the difference between a red light and a red and amber light. The next day the NHMP demanded that the red light be removed. Same mind set, I guess. Any way the red lense was removed and the boat now has a red and white towing light. Great for finding bouys in the dark! BTW: Submarines do have amber lights, but they flash in series of three flashes. Misty Blue.

09-22-2009, 06:48 AM	#7
Phantom Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Berlin, Ma / Gilford Posts: 1,931 Thanks: 445 Thanked 604 Times in 340 Posts	My VHF is on anytime I'm in the boat, including while anchored at a sandbar. We monitor (scan) between ch 16 as well as another channel that we have designated as our "talk" channel. There has been numerous times that valuable information (typically weather related) has come across 16 -- even if it's a local boater reporting -- very simply and not tieing up the channel- a squall or rain report from a particular section of the lake. Other times it's been fog banks, etc. On at least couple of occasions I have rendered assistance for a tow or "minor" aid -- as well as legitimate information being requested (not a radio check ). Continuing off topic here -- I also noticed that this year Ch 16 seemed "quieter" to us -- without the horsing around on the channel as in years past -- the way it is supposed to be. __________________ *A bad day on the Big Lake (although I've never had one) - Still beats a day at the office!!*

09-20-2009, 06:33 AM	#2
Dave R Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 2,974 Thanks: 246 Thanked 736 Times in 438 Posts	The towed boat should also display lights, but there is a provision in the law for the possibility that the towed boat cannot display lights. "When from any sufficient cause it is impracticable for a vessel or object being towed to exhibit the lights or shapes prescribed in paragraph (e) or (g) of this Rule, all possible measures shall be taken to light the vessel or object being towed or at least indicate the presence of such vessel or object."