Night Vision Navigation

Hi,

I was curious to know where the cut off point was for the installation and use of Radars by Regulation.

I have recently been told on here by a particular poster that I don't know **** about the boats you guys mostly run ( It wasn't NYCAP) I was curious to find out what the obligations were for recreational vessels in the US.

The question has been answered by Marmot - It was something I thought any number of the "Captains" you included on here would have been able to answer quicker than an shore based pen pusher

I thought you were just playing Devil's Advocate to help the less experienced boaters get the message. Didn't realize that you were going a step further to help educate some of the guys on bigger vessels. Good call. Marmot is definitely the one to go to for the regs. Glad you did it in open forum so some guys moving up will learn the regs, as well as proper procedure.
On small boats it's not regulated, just smart to use all your tools. But it could definitely have an impact on liability with smaller boats not affected by the regs in case of an accident.

Not sure if you could be fined, but doubt you would on an recreational craft. But again, if someone perished because it wasn't operational, that would not help liability. A case I read about (no citation) was about a vessel that grounded because the crew was using DR for 7 days after their GPS went down. A simple connection had come undone and nobody bothered to check. Bottom line to all, if you have radar, use it even in clear weather, even if you also have FLIR. It's a very good tool.
This brought up another thought about night vision. Can anybody give an opinion of how it affects perception, i.e. does the limited field of vision affect your ability to take and maintain an accurate bearing, say in a meeting situation, where you might normally put an EBL on the vessel or line him up with something on your boat?

Hey! I earned this desk.

I still get oil and grease under my fingernails and crawl around under the floor plates more than (unfortunately) many sailing engineers I deal with these days.

Knowing how to find the the regs is just a small part. Knowing how and why they apply - or not - is what counts.

46CFR28.120 Survival craft. You might find the tables interesting.

That famous GPS oops you recall might have been the Royal Majesty, off Nantucket in 1995.

http://www.ntsb.gov/publictn/1997/mar9701.pdf

http://ti.arc.nasa.gov/m/profile/adegani/Grounding%20of%20the%20Royal%20Majesty.pdf

It is another of those textbook case studies we use to teach enthusiastic young cadets and complacent old graybeards like some of us here.

I love how most of these threads usually descend into the muck...

After using the FLIR, I wouldn't replace the radar or substitute it for the radar. Seems like it would be useful in lots of situations.

As for who knows what and when - I don't trust anyone, licensed or not, regulations or no regulations.

How many boats have VHF installed either not turned on, not tuned to 16, or volume all the way down?

Same difference.

That would be the one.

I don't believe you'll be violating any regulation that I know of. You're required to use what you have but I don't think you can force an owner to spend money. Marmot would know better than I on that though. I would document my request that the owner fix the radar for liability reasons, and I certainly wouldn't travel at night or if inclement weather is forecast. I assume this is a floating condo as the owner doesn't want it maintained. Check the boat out thoroughly for your own safety, and get paid in advance. Make sure you're paid by the day not the job in case you have to drop the hook for a couple of days due to fog.

Hi,

I would tend to agree with ED, unless there is a specific regulatory requirement fir that vessel to have a radar fitted I don't think you can force the tightwads hand to fix it.

Don't travel at night or in foggy conditions.

Has it got or have you got a good chart plotter to use while underway?

Hi there,

I think your only way around it is checking if the boat insurer demands minimum "Functioning" navigation aids especially that it seems to be an owner/operator boat.

Stay safe!

Hi,

Rocdiver, When running using your own system try to see if you can get a heading and compare it to the boats compass.

Make a note of the cardinal points and a few intermediate ones and you will have a reasonable idea of the heading if you loose the plotter if there is no deviation card or it is way out of whack . Even better if you have a working depth sounder

Heading to the east over the gulf stream you will get a good deal of set, on the way back the same set will apply albeit 180deg different compared to your direction on the first voysge but at least the eastern seaoard is a big target to aim for.

Have a good trip and stay safe.

Or someone else you trust with good eyesight

I have never, and I mean ever, seen FOG between Ft. Lauderdale and Nassau. However, heavy rain is a good possibility depending on the time of year

Yeah, I missed it when I lived down there. Actually did see it one time and saw a video of a ground cloud rolling in once. Then there's the fog that surrounds the Flying Dutchman when she appears in the Triangle.

FYI, Atlantis has been a royal pain about letting people into their slips before 1pm. Sometimes they have let them in as early as 11am, but usually I am arriving late afternoon and there's no problem. But the last few times I've been there, they've made several people wait until all of the departing boats have left and then let the incoming boats in. I would call them and clear it with them before leaving, then you can mention it on the vhf if they try to give you a hard time.