Anchor Ball?

[Midnightsun]

Holy Cow, I must live under a rock. Never heard of this or seen one before but it seems like this device may be mandatory. Not that I am going to comply but wanted to get other peoples experiences regarding this elusive black ball. Have been inspected and boarded several times by coast guard and usually pass with flying colors. https://www.boatsnews.com/story/28786/i ... -mandatory

[km1125]

The actual rule says " that a vessel at anchor of less than 50 metres in length shall show, in the most visible place, a white light visible over the whole horizon or a ball."

Most folks don't use their anchor light in the daytime, but it's actually in the rules. -OR- you can display a black ball.

And there is -NO- requirement to have one on board "just in case" you might anchor.

[Midnightsun]

I think that was just poorly written and was meant to say anchor light at night and ball during the day other wise one could use a black anchor ball at night which does not make much sense at all.
https://eoceanic.com/sailing/tips/29/18 ... day_shape/

[Phrancus]

Rules ae the offspring of rules.... So there will always be more and more rules as none will cover every situation that may occur.

Which is why Windows and laws are always steps behind reality, there's no substitute for common sense and general education...

[Midnightsun]

Try to find one! Ebay has several but all from the other side of the pond!

[km1125]

Source of the post I think that was just poorly written and was meant to say anchor light at night and ball during the day other wise one could use a black anchor ball at night which does not make much sense at all.
https://eoceanic.com/sailing/tips/29/18 ... day_shape/

Nope. It's the actual rule, since 1972. No mention of "daytime" or "night"....

Rule 30 Anchored vessels and vessels aground
(a) A vessel at anchor shall exhibit where it can best be seen:
(i) in the fore part, an all-round white light or one ball;
(ii) at or near the stern and at a lower level than the light prescribed in sub-paragraph (i), an allround white light.
(b) A vessel of less than 50 metres in length may exhibit an all-round white light where it can best be
seen instead of the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) of this Rule.
(c) A vessel at anchor may, and a vessel of 100 metres and more in length shall, also use the available
working or equivalent lights to illuminate her decks.
(d) A vessel aground shall exhibit the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Rule and in addition,
where they can best be seen:
(i) two all-round red lights in a vertical line;
(ii) three balls in a vertical line.


Here's a link to the whole thing in text:
https://cil.nus.edu.sg/wp-content/uploa ... at-Sea.pdf

[pepmyster]

We use the anchor light at night for sure, and, we use our orange anchor ball to show where it is. Anchor light in the day time? Never did that, never been told to by the Coast Guard. Never seen the black ball on any sail boats in our area. Gonna keep a look out for this. Interesting.

[Midnightsun]

From what I understand, all boats over 7M (22.9'), Colreg states one must identify one is at anchor for safety reasons by hoisting a day time visual signal, a black ball, so that other boats know not to run into you and make required appropriate maneuvers to avoid you. Failing to show a blackball could lead to you being partially responsible for a collision.

Again, I have never seen a black ball on any boat in all my boating years. Not that I will use one either as nobody has a clue as to what it is. Just thought this was interesting as it is apparently a rule nobody adheres to or even knows about.

[pepmyster]

Agreed. If you did use the Black Ball, nobody in our boating area would understand the meaning at all.

[bud37]

I seem to remember some sail boats with them....Lake Ontario. Really there is nowhere to put one on most power boats with the exception of trawler styles.

I wonder if it mentions distance from shore and designated anchorages being exceptions to the rule.