Hunter 50CC Operation Manual page 60

The arc of the lights and color allows you to determine the
direction a vessel is moving. How good are your lights?
You should test them to see how visible you might be
at night. Whether on a trailer or at the marina, switch
on your lights and see how well they can be seen. Walk
away from the boat or row away, if you are at anchor or
at a mooring, and see how visible the lights are as you
move further away. How easy are they to see against the
background of lights on shore? g g
Notes Lights
This White Masthead Light
includes sail-
ing vessels
Sidelights or combination lights
under power
and motor
sternlight
sailing
Sailing Sidelights or combination
Vessels lights
under sail
sternlight
alone
Let's say that your stern light, for some reason, can only
be seen for ½ mile. You are underway at 8 knots and a
large ship is approaching at 15 knots. The ship is only 4
minutes away from collision with you. By the time the ship
"might" see you, identify the light and decide on the reac-
tion that should be taken, it is too late. A ship traveling at
15 knots may take miles to stop. Look at the stern light
again, as you move from the stern toward the bow. Does
the stern light "disappear" as the sidelight "appears"?
The stern light should disappear and sidelight appear at
22.5 degrees abaft the beam. If you don't see the green
starboard sidelight or the red port sidelight when the stern
light disappears, there is a problem with the arc of one or
all of these lights. This means that if another boat were
approaching you at the angle where no lights are seen,
there is increase risk of collision.
You should also check to make sure that your masthead
light disappears at the same time each sidelight disap-
pears and they both disappear when the stern light
appears.
Check your sidelights from dead ahead. You should see
both red and green. However, by moving toward one side
Hunter 50 • Boating Safety
CC
by 1-3 degrees, you should then see only one light. If you
still see two lights, an approaching vessel won't be able
to tell which direction you are going.
When boating at night, remember the following: "When
two lights you see ahead, turn your helm and show your
red."
4.5.4 Sound Signaling Device
Your boat is provided with a horn which conforms with
U.S. Coast Guard requirements for boats of this size. All
class A boats are recommended to carry a hand, mouth,
or whistle, as well as a power operated horn. The device
Less than 12 meters (39ft.)
2 NM (3.7 km) see note
1 NM (1.9 km)
2 NM (3.7 km) see note
1 NM (1.9 km)
2 NM (3.7 km) see note
should be used to promote safe passing, as well as a
warning to other vessels in fog, or confined areas, or as
a signal to operators of locks or drawbridges. Following
are standard whistle signals:
One Prolonged Blast
One Short Blast
Two Short Blasts
Three Short Blasts
Five or More Blasts
4.14
12 (39ft.) meters to less
than 20 (65 ft.) meters
3 NM (5.6 km)
2 NM (3.7 km)
2 NM (3.7 km)
2 NM (3.7 km)
2 NM (3.7 km)
Warning Signal
Pass on my port side
Pass on my starboard side
Engines in Reverse
Danger Signal
Fig. 4.8