Displaying anchor day shape

That is a rare thing among recreational boaters. Here's a professional displaying in a designated "general" anchorage:



We don't frequently anchor, but last time (July 2015) we displayed the anchor ball forward (replacing the burgee) as prescribed at anchor and not underway:



Some might hoist the ball from their mast, but that's not "forward" nor is it very visible. Note boat to the right. (I suppose something is better than nothing.)



Regardless, it is difficult to believe these boats weren't obviously anchored.

There was a thread on anchor balls (anchor day shape) last year. Not seen very often on recreational boats in North America. Frequently seen among sailboats and trawlers in the Eastern Caribbean. May be the European influence.

markpierce said:

Some might hoist the ball from their mast, but that's not "forward" nor is it very visible. Note boat to the right. (I suppose something is better than nothing.)

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Geesh, Mark!! That's not an anchor ball on my boat you've called out! That's my Magma grill. I NEVER anchor without it!

Anchor balls in delta anchorages are as rare as hen's teeth. How many recreational anglers do you see displaying anchor balls in the rivers and bays? I bet the answer is none.

If some idiot on a jet ski runs into me while I'm anchored, I don't want there to be any failure on my part that he could claim "contributed" to the accident.

FlyWright said:

Geesh, Mark!! That's not an anchor ball on my boat you've called out! That's my Magma grill. I NEVER anchor without it!
...

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Al, that grill would make a great day shape when anchored if moved to the bow.

markpierce said:

Al, that grill would make a great day shape when anchored if moved to the bow.

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Sorry. That ain't gonna happen!!

On my boat, there are enough rod holder brackets across the cockpit rails that I can almost always get out of the wind when grilling at anchor. No need for rod holders on the bow yet. I catch enough off the windless ass end of my boat.

Hmmm now there's an idea, a black Webber charcoal grill as an anchor ball on your bow sprit. Imagine what people would think seeing your anchor ball smoking with dinner in it.

Ted

Cottontop said:

If some idiot on a jet ski runs into me while I'm anchored, I don't want there to be any failure on my part that he could claim "contributed" to the accident.

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And the jury may very well take note of the fact that you failed to display the warning, required by law, that would have told the poor innocent child that your boat was anchored and he had to avoid it.

It is very interesting how many regulations are unknown and/or not followed by recreational boaters. Perhaps it's because no training or education is required to operate a boat?

That said, I need to plead guilty. I have a mooring day shape neatly tucked away in my laz and have never used it......

I do think there are a number of regulations that are becoming archaic and irrelevant as time goes by. Day shapes, though still useful, are much less so with AIS, ARPA, and VHF. Sounds signals are another one. They are useful, but almost no recreational boaters use them, and they are often hard to hear over the sound of your engine. I doubt, for example, that I would hear another boat's fog horn when underway. But I still ran mine yesterday when in fog for a few hours.

http://www.trawlerforum.com/forums/s3/anchor-ball-poll-19945.html
Here's the thread mentioned earlier.

You think if I had a anchor ball displayed at Manderville

You think the boat club would have been more respectful on the forth and not sat on me if I had a properly displayed anchor ball?

Scary said:

You think the boat club would have been more respectful on the forth and not sat on me if I had a properly displayed anchor ball?

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No way!! They wouldn't know what it was!!

BTW, Whitney and friends just left our raftup near Walnut Grove!! It was great seeing her. They're out there tearing up the water as I type.

I went through something similar with my sailboat. Sailboats under power with any sail set are required to show a day shape (pop quiz; what is it?) if over 39 feet inshore or of any size beyond the Colregs line. I've only seen them on educational sailing vessels and thought it would be cool to be the only one in Maine using one properly.

I had to stop because of all the boaters coming too close to ask, "What is that thing hanging in your rigging?"

Roger Long said:

I went through something similar with my sailboat. Sailboats under power with any sail set are required to show a day shape (pop quiz; what is it?) if over 39 feet inshore or of any size beyond the Colregs line. I've only seen them on educational sailing vessels and thought it would be cool to be the only one in Maine using one properly.

I had to stop because of all the boaters coming too close to ask, "What is that thing hanging in your rigging?"

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Inverted black cone of course, everyone know that.....

Marty.....................