Boat capsizes on Lake Winnisquam following crash

[persistence]

Originally Posted by 8gv

I am wondering about the all-around light as well.

A boat is underway needs it. A boat at anchor needs it. A boat adrift?
Common sense tells me yes, of course. Does the law state that?

A boat adrift is not anchored or secured to a dock, so it is underway. You should have the same lighting. Not sure why you would turn it off at all unless in a safe anchorage.

[Dave R]

Originally Posted by persistence

A boat adrift is not anchored or secured to a dock, so it is underway. You should have the same lighting. Not sure why you would turn it off at all unless in a safe anchorage.

You have to display the all-around white light at anchor too.

[SAMIAM]

It's so easy to get caught up in the moment when you're having fun on the lake. The sound of the water and kids laughing, wind and sun in your face makes for a relaxing and almost dreamy setting. But tragedy can strike in an instant. I often think about some of the accidents that have happened on the lakes and it makes me even more vigilant.

[persistence]

Originally Posted by Dave R

You have to display the all-around white light at anchor too.

yes, the top white all around is the anchor light. if you are at anchor, you are not underway. while underway, the white all around white light is actually serving as forward masthead AND the sternlight. on larger boats, these lights will be separated for visibility and dont count as an anchor light, the masthead (225 degrees) mounted high and typically midship and the sternlight (135 degrees) typically mounted on the transom of inboard boats. the arcs of these two add up to a 360 all around. and then you will have your red and green 'sidelights' 112.5 degrees each matching the 225). The idea is from any angle, the boat should be lit. ex. if you cant see the red / green, you are overtaking. over 50 meters, you have 2 mastheads, the forward one lower than the aft, the two are line and also form a range to help determine the heading that vessel. you would also have 2 anchor lights, the fwd one being mounted higher than the aft.

I am a little confused on the licensing though. I do have USCG 100 ton near coastal. I am covered on the lake, correct? And, I was recently told to get a license to say, drive the Mount, one would need an over 40' license. which basically consists of bringing a 40'vessel to a testing place (marine patrol?) and showing you can dock it. Then, one would be licensed for the Mount. Is this true?

sorry a bit overkill, but its good to refresh

thanks

[Descant]

Originally Posted by persistence

I am a little confused on the licensing though. I do have USCG 100 ton near coastal. I am covered on the lake, correct? And, I was recently told to get a license to say, drive the Mount, one would need an over 40' license. which basically consists of bringing a 40'vessel to a testing place (marine patrol?) and showing you can dock it. Then, one would be licensed for the Mount. Is this true?
thanks

When I got my commercial license (It actually says "Captain, Master, Pilot, Engineer") many years ago, MP came to our home port to do the water test. That included an oral review as well as the written exam. In those days, the license was for a certain size boat and horsepower. I think my first one said 30' and 400 hp. Later, I had another job offer and I upgraded (new water test) to 40 feet and 700 hp. I'd expect if you were going to work for the Mount it might say "unlimited" but still restrict you to inland waters, and leave oceaN to the USCG.

[persistence]

Yea, I took exam with USCG and they have inland, near coastal, ocean and then different tonnages. oceans unlimted being the big boy. sounds like the lake doesnt use CG req's?