Cruising at night

[Iain_S]

I love doing it at night!

 

 

 

 

Mike will be along soon to confirm how splendid it can be!

 

Too much information ...

[Iain_S]

On most canals, all you're required to have under CRT rules is a white headlight. However, most rivers want proper navigation lights.

 

At the moment, the majority of my skippering is at night on the trip boat. It's quite fun.

 

True.

 

However, please ensure that said tunnel light is angled so as not to dazzle oncoming boats.

I usually find to better to use navigation lights, and leave the tunnel light off, unless it's needed. It depends on lighting conditions, but most times there's plenty to see by.

[NigelMoore]

On most canals, all you're required to have under CRT rules is a white headlight. However, most rivers want proper navigation lights.

 

 

General Canal Byelaws, 10(2) “(2) A power-driven vessel, being a narrow canal boat, under way at night shall display in the forepart of the vessel, where it can best be seen and at a height above the deck or gunwhale or not less than one foot, a visible white light.”

 

 

General Canal Byelaws, 10(5) “On the Trent Navigation, the Weaver Navigation, the Aire and Calder Navigation, the New Junction Canal and the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation (below Doncaster) a power-driven vessel shall in addition to the lights prescribed in paragraphs (1), (2), (3) and (4) as the case may be of this Bye-law display:-

 

( a ) On the starboard side a visible green light so constructed as to show an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of ten points of the compass (112½°) so fixed as to show the light from right ahead to two points (22½°) abaft the beam on the starboard side.

 

( b ) On the port side a visible red light so constructed as to show an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of ten points of the compass (112½°) so fixed as to show the light from right ahead to two points (22½°) abaft the beam on the port side.”

[Tam & Di]

 

 

General Canal Byelaws, 10(2) “(2) A power-driven vessel, being a narrow canal boat, under way at night shall display in the forepart of the vessel, where it can best be seen and at a height above the deck or gunwhale or not less than one foot, a visible white light.”

 

 

General Canal Byelaws, 10(5) “On the Trent Navigation, the Weaver Navigation, the Aire and Calder Navigation, the New Junction Canal and the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation (below Doncaster) a power-driven vessel shall in addition to the lights prescribed in paragraphs (1), (2), (3) and (4) as the case may be of this Bye-law display:- ..........................

 

Narrow canal boats are seemingly regarded as the fastest craft as they require nothing at the stern.

For craft other than narrow canal boats:

( in addition to the above light, at her stern a visible white light so constructed as to show an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of twelve points of the compass (135°) so fixed as to show the light six points (67½°) from right astern on each side of the vessel.

[Athy]

 

 

 

However, please ensure that said tunnel light is angled so as not to dazzle oncoming boats.

.

[homer2911]

Cruising at night need be no less safe then cruising during daylight hours.

 

We often don't get a choice if we have a tidal window to meet.

Er, you do have a choice - get to where you need to be, during daylight hours, without waking folk up as you go past, and wait for the next tide. Simples.

[Iain_S]

If Naughty Cal's cruise includes a tidal lock, the next tide may well be outwith locking hours, so you would be talking about a delay of a full day.

[MtB]

If Naughty Cal's cruise includes a tidal lock, the next tide may well be outwith locking hours, so you would be talking about a delay of a full day.

 

 

Yeah but what's the hurry? Boating is supposed to be slow and relaxing. So what if there is a day's delay...?

 

 

[Jerra]

Er, you do have a choice - get to where you need to be, during daylight hours, without waking folk up as you go past, and wait for the next tide. Simples.

Surely both high tides may be in the hours of darkness. I have only cruised lumpy water in the Solway but for example there are places you can only get to an hour or so each side of high tide.

 

High Tide at Maryport today is 6:11 am and 6:47 pm.

 

Sunrise today 7:29 am sunset 4:20 pm (up here in Cumbria at least).

[Naughty Cal]

Er, you do have a choice - get to where you need to be, during daylight hours, without waking folk up as you go past, and wait for the next tide. Simples.

Erm. No.

 

That isn't how it works when you are boating around the tides.

[Naughty Cal]

 

 

Yeah but what's the hurry? Boating is supposed to be slow and relaxing. So what if there is a day's delay...?

 

 

A days delay on a weeks holiday is quite substantial, especially if you add that as a day either end to wait for daylight tides.

 

If we only ever cruised during daylight hours we wouldn't have been to most of the places we have visited during the last eight years.

 

At this time of year we wouldn't be going anywhere!

 

This Saturday, for example HW at Torksey is at 7.15am. For us to get out we would have to be there for about 9.15am at the latest. It is a 2 hour cruise away from our mooring. It is still dark at 7.15am. It will be dark when we arrive at our mooring on Friday evening.

 

If we use Homers down right daft theory of waiting for the next tide the lock isn't open for the next tide that day as they are working winter hours now which would mean heading out the next day. Just not workable.

 

And I'm sorry but I'm not missing out on this:

 

 

And this:

 

 

Or This:

 

 

On the off chance someone might get woken up.

 

Where do we draw the line? We don't. If we need to be somewhere by a given time we will be there.

 

By far the best experience was cruising from Grimsby to Wells next the Sea on flat calm seas, setting off from Grimsby at 3am. Starting in total darkness, watching the sun creep over the horizon and arriving in Wells 3 hours later in full sunshine.

[rusty69]

A days delay on a weeks holiday is quite substantial, especially if you add that as a day either end to wait for daylight tides.

 

If we only ever cruised during daylight hours we wouldn't have been to most of the places we have visited during the last eight years.

 

At this time of year we wouldn't be going anywhere!

 

This Saturday, for example HW at Torksey is at 7.15am. For us to get out we would have to be there for about 9.15am at the latest. It is a 2 hour cruise away from our mooring. It is still dark at 7.15am. It will be dark when we arrive at our mooring on Friday evening.

 

If we use Homers down right daft theory of waiting for the next tide the lock isn't open for the next tide that day as they are working winter hours now which would mean heading out the next day. Just not workable.

 

And I'm sorry but I'm not missing out on this:

 

 

And this:

 

 

Or This:

 

 

On the off chance someone might get woken up.

 

Where do we draw the line? We don't. If we need to be somewhere by a given time we will be there.

 

By far the best experience was cruising from Grimsby to Wells next the Sea on flat calm seas, setting off from Grimsby at 3am. Starting in total darkness, watching the sun creep over the horizon and arriving in Wells 3 hours later in full sunshine.

Its rarely a flat calm At Wells-Next-The-Sea, in my experience. A rare experience to be cherished!

[MtB]

A days delay on a weeks holiday is quite substantial, especially if you add that as a day either end to wait for daylight tides.

 

If we only ever cruised during daylight hours we wouldn't have been to most of the places we have visited during the last eight years.

 

At this time of year we wouldn't be going anywhere!

 

 

Errr I was being ironic, and trotting out the cliché usually leveled at anyone here mentioning needing to be somewhere by a given time!

[Naughty Cal]

Its rarely a flat calm At Wells-Next-The-Sea, in my experience. A rare experience to be cherished!

Yes. It was a stark contrast this July when we left Wells heading to Boston on our way home from the Broads.

 

Getting airbourne at 5 knots and crashing back down on the stern for an hour or so wasn't exactly pleasant. Probably shouldn't have gone but looking at the forecast it wasn't getting any better for the next few days so we made the call to go.

[rusty69]

Yes. It was a stark contrast this July when we left Wells heading to Boston on our way home from the Broads.

 

Getting airbourne at 5 knots and crashing back down on the stern for an hour or so wasn't exactly pleasant. Probably shouldn't have gone but looking at the forecast it wasn't getting any better for the next few days so we made the call to go.

A few days of Northerlies makes it a really bumpy place to be. We tend to stay in the harbour if its been blowing for a few days. Still , not a bad place to be stuck. Bob and staff are always helpful and friendly, and you can always kill a few hours on the Albatross.

[David Mack]

 

By far the best experience was cruising from Grimsby to Wells next the Sea on flat calm seas, setting off from Grimsby at 3am. Starting in total darkness, watching the sun creep over the horizon and arriving in Wells 3 hours later in full sunshine.

And I bet you disturbed loads of people asleep on their moored boats! ☺

[rusty69]

And I bet you disturbed loads of people asleep on their moored boats! ☺

Its usually the fishing boats that wake us up at Wells, not the "stink boats" as my dad used to call them.

Edited November 9, 2016 by rusty69

[ditchcrawler]

Its usually the fishing boats that wake us up at Wells, not the "stink boats" as my dad used to call them.

Same name here in Lowestoft

[Naughty Cal]

And I bet you disturbed loads of people asleep on their moored boats! ☺

As we were working around the tide there was plenty of other activity in the dock anyway.

Its usually the fishing boats that wake us up at Wells, not the "stink boats" as my dad used to call them.

Yes. They don't care what time of day or night it is. They work the tide and they don't slow for moored boats.

 

Part of the charm of the harbour.

 

No whinging about it either. Makes a refreshing change from the muddy ditches.

[rusty69]

Same name here in Lowestoft

 

"Tupperware boats" was another one.

[Naughty Cal]

Don't forget WAFI's

[rusty69]

Don't forget WAFI's

WTF

 

WAFI?

[Naughty Cal]

Yes. WAFI

[rusty69]

As we were working around the tide there was plenty of other activity in the dock anyway.

Yes. They don't care what time of day or night it is. They work the tide and they don't slow for moored boats.

 

Part of the charm of the harbour.

 

No whinging about it either. Makes a refreshing change from the muddy ditches.

Its certainly charming, unless your trying to get some kip that is!

[FadeToScarlet]

WTF

 

WAFI?

A derogatory term for those tupperware box sailors who are unable to afford enough diesel to go to sea and who rely instead on a stick and a teatowel to propel their craft. Edited November 10, 2016 by FadeToScarlet