Docking lights - from KDFWR - Surprise!!!

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON Jun-28-06 AT 11:42AM (EST)[/font][p][font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON Jun-28-06 AT 11:04*AM (EST)[/font]

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[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON Jun-28-06 AT 09:33*AM (EST)[/font]

A few years ago two of my friends were heading back to the dock after a night of fishing. They said they knew exactly where they were, until they they hit the bank. One was thrown out of the boat and broke his shoulder, the driver broke his femur (the big bone on the upper part of the leg). The one with the broken shoulder had to walk through the woods in the dark until he found a road and flaged down a car. The rescue squad had to go back after the other guy. My friend with the shoulder was in a cast for about two months. The friend with the broken leg had pins and plates in his leg to hold it together. Both of them were out of work without a pay check for several months. It took them both a long time to recover, both physically and financially.
I always run with some form of light. I will never shine my light on you. If you can't handle that I'm sorry. If I get a ticket I'll take it to court (Your honor, would YOU drive down the highway at 60 miles per hour with your lights off?).
And since we are quoting regulations heres one for you straight from the Kentucky boating guide :

301 kar 6:020: From sunset to sunrise in an area where other boats navigate, all vessels shall display a steady white light visible 360 degrees at all times.

How will my four dollar wal-mart flash light mess up your night vision from a hundred yards away any more than looking into a light visable for up to a mile? Oh, we turn it off? Maybe we should enforce all the laws?

Steve

Added: Go back and read the_dongers post "Two dead on Barkley". I'm sure they knew where they were too. Or the recent post where one boat crashed into the other in the dark, then left them there.


Added(again): Sorry about the rant. This one touched a nerve. These guys were good friends who suffered a lot just because they didn't use a light.

Steve,
I am against running with docking lights on. I am also against navigating solely by GPS (guys that were killed/injured on Barkley).

If you can't SAFELY navigate without docking lights or a GPS ... slow down to a speed where you can. If you still can't seem to manage even at very slow speed, maybe you shouldn't be on the water at night.

We restrict certain people from driving automobiles after dark all the time; maybe the same should be done with watercraft as well. JMO.

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON Jun-28-06 AT 10:49AM (EST)[/font][p]Double post, sorry.

which is more important, saving a life or temporarily having a light in your eyes? we meet cars all the time with lights directly in our eyes. if your eyes are adjusted to the dark, don't look directly at the docking lights. if you're driving your boat, the instrument panel lights will adjust your eyes so meeting another boat with docking lights won't blind you. i go fishing when i get a chance whether it's new moon or full. i've been fishing before when i couldn't see past the front of the boat. if i can't see safely in front of me, i'm turning on a light and i don't care who is offended. temporary blindness is better than permanent deadness.

So for your own safety you are willing to endanger everyone in your path? While you CAN see, you may be causing 10 others to be UNABLE to see. Now if you turn them off for approaching boats, that's not a problem. But if you insist on endangering others by leaving them on as you pass other boats, then that is inconsiderate and selfish to the extreme.

This arguement is never going to end! Ha ha ha !!!!

Here's my overall outlook on it:

If you want to run with docking lights on to feel comfortable on the water at night, do it! But when another boat is approaching, just like meeting a car on the highway, politely dim the lights for a few seconds, and once passed, go right back to what you were doing! Simple as that. :)