i have been what i consider a very cautious boater since i purchased my first boat in April of 08. I have been a defensive driver since day one. I need to know the answer to two questioons because the rules absolutley make no sense to someone like me who is involved in safety regulations every day of their life.
#1 how the heck can a barge the size of heinz field travel the rivers with two baseball sized lights on in the evening? They should be lit up like nothing else across the front of the craft. its just common sense. when they pass the islands on the ohio they almost are invisible.
#2 tonight at 9:30 pm I passed someone skulling(sculling) or however you spell it. this person was 2 ft off the water in a rowing machine in the middle of the river. he was dodging the clipper fleet, me and others. all he had was a light bulb on the craft and he wore a blinking light on his head as he faced the opposite direction. I took the safety course and nowhere in it did it say this was leagal.
Assuming the barges lights are on there should be a red and green at the head of the barge, port and starboard, and a blinking yellow light in the middle. The towboat should have a red and green, but no white masthead light. They also should show two yellow lights in a vertical line on the stern. If you check the coast guard COLREGS you will find that this is the legal lighting pattern for any boat pushing a barge ahead on a Western River above the Huey P. Long bridge on the Mississippi River. The Allegheny is considered a Western RIver.
As far as the IDIOT rowing, he is legal, but really STUPID.
Those rowboats are out on fireworks nights too, it's crazy but I have seen them almost every fireworks night I was out on. Some of them did not have lights on, thanfully they were down around the city where it's lit up pretty good.
Chuck
Originally Posted by bkpursuit
Assuming the barges lights are on there should be a red and green at the head of the barge, port and starboard, and a blinking yellow light in the middle. The towboat should have a red and green, but no white masthead light. They also should show two yellow lights in a vertical line on the stern. If you check the coast guard COLREGS you will find that this is the legal lighting pattern for any boat pushing a barge ahead on a Western River above the Huey P. Long bridge on the Mississippi River. The Allegheny is considered a Western RIver.
As far as the IDIOT rowing, he is legal, but really STUPID.
I saw a few small craft not lit up at all last night when I was getting towed home. I was only able to see them because we were only going about 3mph, and since I didn't have to drive, I could look around. They were well off to the side of the river, but still, no lights at all. That could end badly.
bkpursuit is right on the lighting of the tug and two. Additionally, you should know that thsi lighting scheme is how we are taught to identify what is out there. It is illegal for them to have more lighting than what is required because, although you may notice it faster and easier, you would not immediately be able to identify it. Get a book from WestMarine which will guide you through the the COLREGS Rules of the road. It will help you to better understand what's going on out there.
2 concerns from a 2nd yr boater
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by bkpursuit
