dhays
Guru
- Joined
- May 26, 2015
- Messages
- 9,045
- Location
- United States
- Vessel Name
- Kinship
- Vessel Make
- North Pacific 43
Saturday we came back into Gig Harbor in the evening. We arrived at the Gig Harbor entrance just after Sunset. The smoke from the BC fires made it a bit darker. The entrance to Gig Harbor is a very narrow opening with a fair amount of current on the ebb or flood.
We had turned on our running lights about 30 minutes prior as visibility had dropped a lot. Even though Sunset came at around 8:30, the sun had dropped below the surrounding cliffs and hills quite a bit earlier.
Entering the harbor there were a number of fishermen heading back home in their outboards. They were using their running lights. However, there was another 40 something cruising heading in that didn't have any lights on. There were two boats leaving the harbor. The first was an older 30 something cruiser whose only lights were the interior salon lights. Even worse, behind them was a Puget Sound Towing Service boat leaving the harbor with only their anchor light turned on.
I don't operate at night all that often, but in the winter it is hard to avoid since dusk comes so early. In the past I don't recall seeing so many boats who fail to use running lights. I hope this isn't a trend around here.
We had turned on our running lights about 30 minutes prior as visibility had dropped a lot. Even though Sunset came at around 8:30, the sun had dropped below the surrounding cliffs and hills quite a bit earlier.
Entering the harbor there were a number of fishermen heading back home in their outboards. They were using their running lights. However, there was another 40 something cruising heading in that didn't have any lights on. There were two boats leaving the harbor. The first was an older 30 something cruiser whose only lights were the interior salon lights. Even worse, behind them was a Puget Sound Towing Service boat leaving the harbor with only their anchor light turned on.
I don't operate at night all that often, but in the winter it is hard to avoid since dusk comes so early. In the past I don't recall seeing so many boats who fail to use running lights. I hope this isn't a trend around here.