One of the things you may be most enthusiastic about as a new boat owner is the possibility of boating at night. To enjoy it, you must first understand how to operate your watercraft securely and legally at night. To help you out, here are tips that will ensure that you are safe when boating at night:
1. Understand your navigation tools
You can easily get lost or even be in life-threatening situations at night. To minimize the chances of this happening, you need to arm yourself with the right navigation tools.
Some of the devices that you should have include:
a. GPS
Marine GPS (Global Positioning System) makes it possible for accurate navigation at all times, particularly at night. It gives you real-time position data, course information, and waypoints to help you travel confidently.
b. Nautical charts
These charts have been developed specifically for the area you’ll be navigating. They illustrate depth contours, buoys, dangers, and other vital information you need to traverse waters safely. When you get the charts, mark your position and progress using a chart plotter or navigation software.
c. Radar systems
Radar systems are beneficial for navigation at night. They aid in detecting other vessels, buoys, landmasses, and possible hazards, even in low-visibility situations.
d. AIS (Automatic Identification System) transponders
Transmit and receive vessel data such as position, speed, and course. They improve situational awareness and collision avoidance by allowing you to identify nearby vessels and comprehend their intentions.
Before you go boating, you should take time to understand the tools and how to use them properly.
2. Don’t exceed the boat’s maximum speed
While there are no speed limits on the ocean, the US Coast Guard (USCG) has established an operating standard that the maximum speed is the greatest speed at which you can operate your vessel safely. Because boats do not travel in predetermined paths as cars do on highways, there is always the possibility of encountering another vessel heading in any imaginable direction.
If a collision occurs at high speeds, it might be disastrous.
Because darkness lowers vision, it is more challenging to notice hazards, other vessels, or nautical marks. Keeping the speed low gives you more time to respond to unanticipated situations and avoid potential crashes.
High speeds produce more noise and vibrations, hindering your ability to hear and recognize possible hazards.
By operating at a slower speed, you can reduce noise levels and improve your ability to hear vital sounds, such as other boats’ engines or distress signals. This helps you to be more aware of what is going on around you, which comes in handy at keeping you safe.
Lowering your boat’s speed significantly increases its stability and agility, which is crucial when sailing in unknown or difficult conditions. It enables you to control and respond to changing conditions more efficiently.
To stay safe, follow local restrictions and posted speed limits, which may differ depending on the waterway and individual conditions.
If the waterways don’t have a speed limit, don’t exceed your vessel’s maximum speed.
3. Make proper use of navigation lights
Boats do not have the same type of navigational lights as cars. They don’t have headlights since the reflecting nature of water renders them ineffective. If they come into contact with another boater, they can impair the operator’s night vision for a long time. This can make it hard for you to avoid crashes and other hazards.
The US Coast Guard has established rules for navigation lights on boats that operate at night.
Not only can these lights aid in identifying other vessels on the water, but understanding the light needs can also assist you in determining what type of vessel it is, what it may be doing, and a rough direction of travel. Knowing what vessels are out there, where they’re going, and what activities they’re up to can protect you and your passengers and keep your entire vessel safe from potentially disastrous harm.
You should always ensure that you have navigation lights before you go out boating at night.
Different boats have different lighting setups depending on the size, mobility, and whether they are underway or at anchor. To announce your presence and intentions to other vessels, use the proper combination of lights for your boat’s kind.
For peace of mind that you are using the right lights, get them from Boat Outfitters or any other reputable store.
Inspect your navigation lights regularly to verify they are working correctly. You should always replace any damaged or burned-out lights or fixtures. Before leaving, test all lights to ensure they are working correctly.
Check that your navigation lights are correctly attached and positioned so that you have a clear 360-degree vision. The lights should also be steady and not flicker or operate intermittently. You also should set the lights’ horizontal and vertical angles in accordance with the laid down regulations. This ensures they are visible at the appropriate distances and angles, lowering the possibility of confusion or misinterpretation by other boaters.
Consider employing additional illumination to improve visibility when visibility is low, such as in severe fog or rain. When using these additional lights, ensure they don’t interfere with or confuse the conventional navigation lights.
4. Use a night vision device
One of the most visible and difficult aspects of nighttime boating is the inability to rely on visual identification of vessels, places, and so on. When you boat at night, your vision adapts to operate in low-light situations, and your night vision becomes more useful. The problem is that looking at any light source, even the smallest LED or digital display, can impair your night vision for several minutes. This can be fatal when you need to rely on your vision, such as in an emergency or being close to shore or another vessel.
Investing in a reliable light amplification monocular can be a game changer, especially if you struggle to regain your night vision even after brief exposures to low-light conditions.
At night, these gadgets will gather light from surrounding lighting or employ various light amplification technologies to give you a black-and-white or black-and-green night vision image.
5. Have a dedicated lookout
This is critical for any boat transporting more than one person. During the day, you (the captain or operator) of the vessel have enough light and environmental safety to manage both the ship’s safe operation and monitoring and the necessary safety lookout tasks.
The increased visibility distance allows you to glance away from the screen, which helps you to multitask more effectively. When boating at night, you should ensure that you have a full-time dedicated lookout to help with safe nighttime navigation. This reduces the possibility of missing something or failing to pay attention to the gauges or chart plotter. As you can tell, when you have full concentration, you have lower chances of causing accidents.
When your lookout raises a concern, you are in a better position to take immediate action, which saves your life. If you are trying to be both a lookout and a captain at night, there is a good likelihood that things will go wrong. So if you are going out at night or are sure you will be late coming back, don’t go alone – have a friend or family member come with you.
Keep your ambient lights low. Your night vision will be critical to your success and safety during night boating. You get greater night vision after a period with no illumination powerful enough to cause pupil constriction. The pupils dilate wide in the dark to absorb as much light as possible, and too much ambient light can drastically impair your night vision.
For an easier time, ensure that all ambient lights, screens, indicators, and so on are turned off. Even if your VHF radio has a backlight, turn it almost down so that if a random signal comes in, it doesn’t light up the entire cabin and damage your night vision for the next few minutes.
Bring a towel to drape over devices and lights that you will require regular and electrical tape for lights you will not need and cannot turn off.
6. Arm yourself with the right safety gear
As with any other nautical excursion, you must ensure that you have all of the legally essential safety equipment and any extra goods that may be beneficial during nocturnal crises. Your vessel’s length determines the need for items like PFDs, extinguishers, etc. A certain quantity of personal floatation devices, such as lifejackets or seat cushions, is also necessary.
Unless your vessel is relatively small and has a permanent suppression system, you must have a minimum number of fire extinguishers. Depending on the waters, you may need emergency signaling equipment such as the nighttime SOS signaling light and night-use flares or pyrotechnic devices.
Parting shot
Remember that when navigating a boat at night, safety should always come first. To guarantee a safe and seamless voyage, it is critical to observe local legislation, utilize proper navigation equipment, and remain watchful at all times. Don’t take chances!
