Head Lights on Boats

[gizzard shad]

Some thoughts.
First, do you know where every piece of debris or floating logs are on any given lake? Are you real sure the wind isn't going to move them around since you last saw them in the light?

Second, given nobody on boats can use lights, why then don't the tugboat guys get whacked with tickets? That's really part of my point. If it makes sense for the "big-boats with radar", why not the litle boats that don't have radar?

I do totally agree with you, leave the red/green/and all round lit. I also agree headlights don't have to be aimed to shine the hole way across the lake, they ought to be like car lights aimed say 200 feet in front of the boat only.

Last, I do agree with you, its the law and we have to live with it right now.

Where in the boating regulation book does it say it is illegal to operate a boat with a spot light?

[adam7456]

Back in April I was on Lake Cumberland at night doing some striper fishing. It was a clear night and I could see pretty well with no lights at all. I got up to move to a new spot and was enjoying the ride until a boat with headlights comes flying around a bend on the lake and blinded me. He kept on trucking and didn't care. I had to stop the boat and wait 3 to 4 minutes to let my eye readjust to the darkness.

To that guy I would like to say "Thanks a lot buddy, you messed up my fishing trip and put me in danger."

I see several people here with the attitude here of "Screw everyone else, this is my lake and I'm going to do whatever I feel like". It wouldn't surpise me if those are the same people complaining about other boats running at night and creating waves for them.

The lake is a shared resource by everyone. Everyone should behave in a manner that least disturbs everyone else on the lake. I have no use for you guys who think you own the lake and don't care if you blind everyone else.

[fisherman0625]

Everyone at some point in there life has done something with there boat to ---- someone off. I have the lights on my boat and No1 can tell me that without them in early spring and early summer that I will not risk my boat being destroyed without them. They have saved me a many of a trip. I just run fast enough to keep my boat on plane. The lights are fine and anyone looking to get them dont be chased away by all the negative comments. My advice though is to not run the all the time. Just turn them on every now and then.

[Les Young]

I too will turn mine off when I see another boat coming. I without a doubt wouldn't be here today either if it wasn't for my Stan Sloan light as one of those big Scarab boats came from out of nowhere without any kind of light on what so ever & almost cut me into in Fishing creek coming from the restaurant that sales alcohol to boaters so that they can get back in there boats & go back to the marina after they offer you a drink to calm you down after they almost hit you because of being drunk while driving their huge & very fast boat. I then saw another come out of little Clifty with no lights on what so ever & after flashing mine quickly they stopped in the middle of the lake & hooked up a spotlight & turned the navigational light on. Thank Goodness. Fine or not I will run it if I need it, but will definitley turn it off when there are oncoming boats or stop completely in floaters & idle through. I'd say this will get deleted too like a previous post did, but oh well. lol

[crazyfishinnut]

some times it is easy to navagate waters without a light, beautiful actually,just like the few jet skis that dont follow the rules and run between you and the bank while fishing(I am sure they have a good excuse too, the skiier that keeps going in circles behind you. well actually head lighters are just as bad risking everyone elses saftey because to thier selves they can justify it. dont complain bout the jets no more

[creeker]

Hey guys, I've drank a beer or two and then drove my car. I'm sure there's been a time or two where I might have had just a little bit too many and shouldn't have driven. But I got away with it. So screw you guys and your families. I'm going to keep doing it so that I don't have to pay a taxi or leave my car at some bar. There's no telling how many ugly women I would have spent the night with if it wasn't for my drunk driving.

Isn't that what you guys are saying?

[the_donger]

Great analogy creeker. I doubt it will get through to many people though.

[bassmaster]

Hey guys, I've drank a beer or two and then drove my car. I'm sure there's been a time or two where I might have had just a little bit too many and shouldn't have driven. But I got away with it. So screw you guys and your families. I'm going to keep doing it so that I don't have to pay a taxi or leave my car at some bar. There's no telling how many ugly women I would have spent the night with if it wasn't for my drunk driving.

Isn't that what you guys are saying?

You can't be serious? Comparing driving your boat at night with spotlights and headlights to drinking and driving? I'm sure most would agree, how many drunken drivers kill or injure innocent lives each year? How many boating accidents are directly attributed to spotlights or headlights? NO comparison. Not that this is the place or time to argue drunks but you brought it up. I don't shine my spotlight on another boat just as many on here have stated. I have no problems with someone even "shining" me as long as it only for a second to find their way safely. If someone shines a light on you, then shutdown and get out of the way, for your "families safety". I do what I can to keep my family safe in those situations and I'm not gonna count on the other guy to be sober, or not, or to operate his boat safe or not. My point is these two issues are not related (analogy or not) in anyway shape or form. I have had experiences in the past with both of these issues, a mom who was killed by a drunk driver and a near tragic boat accident by boaters (almost ran over us if not for a large stickup) who were both drunk and not using a light to run on Herrington. My partner and I hauled these folks in as there boat sank from a large tear down the side from a stickup which is very common on Herrington. Let's all keep it safe.
Good discussion but poor analogy,
Tim Lane
bassmaster

[creeker]

I only drive drunk a little bit and you only use your lights a little bit. Either way we're both breaking the law, right? Are you vindicated because the law you broke is "less" of a law? And while you might say it a little more eloquently, you really are saying "screw you guys, I don't care about you, its only about me and my stuff". Isn't that pretty much what a drunk driver is saying too?

[the_donger]

I do not think the analogy is comparing which one is worse. The way I understood it, is all laws are equal and should be obeyed. People driving with headlights on on their boat are still endangering lives. Period. Where do you draw the line when breaking laws?

Like I said, it wil not get through to many people.

[bassmaster]

I do not think the analogy is comparing which one is worse. The way I understood it, is all laws are equal and should be obeyed. People driving with headlights on on their boat are still endangering lives. Period. Where do you draw the line when breaking laws?

Like I said, it wil not get through to many people.

Huh? I didn't say that it was comparing which is worse. Someone innocent getting killed by either is not any better or worse than the other. Comparing drinking and driving deaths and injuries to blinded boaters injuries or deaths...I would like to see the stats? I agree all laws should be obeyed. Stealing worse than murder? Endangering lives with headlights? Then let's take 'em off cars. Your argument makes no sense, tell me how headlights or spotlights endanger lives, if you can then we must take them off of our trucks and cars. How many times have you met someone who didn't dim their lights? I bet you flashed 'em back. Show me the law that says spotlights are illegal, headlights I'm not sure about, but spotlights? So let's all run with no spotlights or headlights and this is safer how? You are right about one thing Donger, I don't get the argument that spolights and headlights endanger peoples lives. However, if it's against the law to use them, you are correct in the fact that it's no better than one being drunk and having poor reaction time. I read the statistics the other day about the thousands of innocent lives lost or affected by running our spotlights and the many lives affected by drunken drivers who blinded their victims with headlights (this is sarcasm). If I have offended or blinded anyone in this post or on the lake at night, I apologize and it won't happen again. I'll point my light down only a few yards in front of my boat, like usual, to keep from hitting logs or maybe even boats who don't have on any lights (seen this many times as we al have). It's not illegal to drink in most places, just illegal to be drunk and drive. Just as it should be legal to operate a baot at night with lights to see where we're going....both case need the same attention...which would be to use the best judgement for the safety of all.
bassmaster

[gizzard shad]

This topic sure has gotten a lot repsonses, - but nobody has been able to show me where in the boating regulations that it states it illegal to operate a boat while using a spot light. If I ever get a ticket I will appeal the fine because it is not stated in the regulations that it is illegal. If is stated somewhere will somebody please indicate where it is stated.

Thanks