Thankful to be alive. Be careful out there this next couple of weekends. 2024
ohboyitsrobby reply :
Man, we were fishing a night tournament last night and things got hairy. We were running about 45 headed from one spot to another and there were a few boats in the area. So as we're running we see a boat headed our way so we turned left to go past and they turned left a little so we turned right to go around. Guess what?? They started drifting right a little. Thinking they would see a 21 foot white skeeter with our light on. We straigtened up and the other boat again just kept coming at us. About 50 yards away maybe closer it became obvious something awful was about to happen so my partner just jerked left and we did a 45 mph donut on the water. I ended up in his lap and soaking wet but we missed the other boat. Thank God. We chased the ppl down and it so happened to be a real good friend of ours who was real shaken and wet like us. He was apologising like crazy and said he never saw us. With everyone soaking wet and real shook up we parted ways. Then I got to thinking about my son and wife and how close they were to losing me and I'm pretty shook up. So to all y'all guys gonna be out these holiday weekends coming up be careful.
islandbass reply :
Glad nothing worse happened.
BassWhole! reply :
Going 45 at night, one guy didn't see the other boater, and the other one keeps going left to avoid the first? Is this how fresh water guys do it? I'm glad no one was injured or worse, but ya'll really need some boating lessons, and a bit of common sense.
WRB reply :
45 mph at nigh is a accident looking for a place to happen. Do you have any idea what your closing speed is? Yours at 45 + their speed and neither of you can have any depth perception at night.
Tom
BrianinMD reply :
Turned left, isn't it each go right in approaching boats which is taught in boater safety????
Brew City Bass reply :
On 6/30/2018 at 10:55 PM, reason said:Going 45 at night, one guy didn't see the other boater, and the other one keeps going left to avoid the first? Is this how fresh water guys do it? I'm glad no one was injured or worse, but ya'll really need some boating lessons, and a bit of common sense.
This is exactly why almost every lake I fish has a no wake at night. It's slower, but I'd rather be alive than dead.
A-Jay reply :
Glad you're OK.
It's important that boaters first, know there are rules and then what they are.
Understanding how to "read" navigation lights, especially from a distance, is an integral part of boating; and not just at night. If you are by and large unfamiliar with this you may be an accident waiting to happen.
In every meeting or crossing situation, daytime & during periods of limited visibility (doesn't have to be dark), Course changes should be early, decisive and in accordance with "Navigational Rules of the Road". So much so that ones intentions are Clear & Blatantly obvious to the other vessel.
Small incremental course changes are very difficult to interpret making it a recipe for disaster.
http://www.boatsafe.com/flash/reviewrules.html
Again, Glad you're OK.
A-Jay
ohboyitsrobby reply :
I'm assuming here because I wasn't driving but I believe my boater was trying to leave the wide side of the lake open as we approached each other. And as we got closer he realised that they were veering slightly that way. Then when we went right the other boat like we should have to begin with, that they veered that way away from the bank side. To me the worst part once I realised I was ok was the other boater admitting he never saw us until we drenched them. What may in the whole grand scheme of thing was I was the only one of the 3 with a life jacket on.
Sam reply :
Ohboy, I keep a very powerful spotlight in my Ranger that I can get to fast if I see another watercraft around me and they are not paying attention or doing something dumb.
Even in the daylight that spotlight gets their attention and they know I am where I am and to stay away.
I also have a small hand held blast horn that I have no problem blasting. That can get some attention, too, plus make for some good conversation back at the ramp for those who heard it and wondered what happened.
When necessary, I blow that horn when passing another boat. And yes, the guys on the other boat usually give me a one finger salute. But everyone is safe.
Some guys get upset that I "blinded" them for a few seconds. But they stayed away from my boat.
And nothing personal, but going 45 MPH at night is dangerous. Not necessarily for other boaters but for what is floating in the water. A floating stump, log, branch or sand bar or flat can cause some strong heartburn, even on waters you know like the back of your hand.
Plus the fact that critters come out at night to hunt and so do the knats and flies and mosquitoes and no-see-um's.
Glad you are OK but that was a close call and someone up there is giving you a warning. Please listen to the man.
lo n slo reply :
two fisherman were lost last night here on Lake Norman. their boat was found capsized early this morning. as of right now, no one knows exactly what happened. so tragic. http://www.wsoctv.com/www.wsoctv.com/news/local/search-underway-after-boat-found-overturned-in-lake-norman/780242764
jbmaine reply :
Glad everyone was OK,
but I have to ask, If someone were driving down a road at night at 45MPH with no head lights on, they would get pulled over in a heart beat for reckless operation, or some such thing, yet it is common for boats to go at speed at night, not being able to see far enough in front of them to avoid rocks, land, floating objects.
And this is considered acceptable?
Would you have been going as fast if it were not a tournament?
NHBull reply :
.....heck, my lake has a 40 MPH like it during the day. Glad nothing bad happened. At night I carry a spot light that will emuminate a flyer *ss at a 100 meters. I would not hesitate to ruin someone's night vision.........at least that would stop them...
lonnie g reply :
glad all is well and both parties acted like gentlemen , accidents do happen.nice reminder on being safe at all times
BassWhole! reply :
On 7/1/2018 at 8:40 AM, jbmaine said:Glad everyone was OK,
but I have to ask, If someone were driving down a road at night at 45MPH with no head lights on, they would get pulled over in a heart beat for reckless operation
Not just that but the comparison would continue as "and attempted to pass oncoming traffic on the left because the shoulder was wider"... Nothing short of stupid and reckless.
WRB reply :
On 7/1/2018 at 3:37 AM, ohboyitsrobby said:I'm assuming here because I wasn't driving but I believe my boater was trying to leave the wide side of the lake open as we approached each other. And as we got closer he realised that they were veering slightly that way. Then when we went right the other boat like we should have to begin with, that they veered that way away from the bank side. To me the worst part once I realised I was ok was the other boater admitting he never saw us until we drenched them. What may in the whole grand scheme of thing was I was the only one of the 3 with a life jacket on.
Please have your boater freind read the boater safety rules that AJ posted, it could save lives, including yours!
Tom
Gundog reply :
The fact that the other boat driver says he never saw you would worry me. I don't know all the facts but I'm glad all parties involved were ok. I would talk to the boat drivers and find out exactly what went wrong so that it becomes a lesson rather than just a mistake.
Squarebill79 reply :
You were running 45mph at night? Wow, just wow. Maybe start there when you are trying to figure out what went wrong.
38 Super Fan reply :
On 7/1/2018 at 3:37 AM, ohboyitsrobby said:I'm assuming here because I wasn't driving but I believe my boater was trying to leave the wide side of the lake open as we approached each other. And as we got closer he realised that they were veering slightly that way. Then when we went right the other boat like we should have to begin with, that they veered that way away from the bank side. To me the worst part once I realised I was ok was the other boater admitting he never saw us until we drenched them. What may in the whole grand scheme of thing was I was the only one of the 3 with a life jacket on.
45 at night on a crowded lake with no life jacket? Your boater is an idiot, there's no way in hell I'd get in a boat with someone like that.
Log Catcher reply :
Around here we have too many people that are going to ignore the rules. They are going to do whatever they want to and hope everybody stays out of their way.
sully420 reply :
Don't you have horn's on your boats?
ohboyitsrobby reply :
I have a horn in my boat along with one of those Stanley spotlights that sit beside me after it gets dark. I'd be lying to you if I said I knew if my partner did. I'm sure he does because it's the law but I've never seen it and theres a lot of stuff to look under and in to find it. We did talk to the other boater last night and he said he was going 40ish also and reiterated that he never saw us. He took responsibility. I don't know who's fault it was. I do know that my wife has informed me when she sees them they're both gonna be informed of how stupid they are. She don't care who's to blame. Just that something bad about happened.
Rahlow reply :
The lesson here is, no decision in this situation is left to boaters, the rules are clear, so even if one does not see the other, the correct actions are specified. And speed at night should be “no wake” speed.
And folks should keep the idiot and moron comments to themselves. IMHO
scaleface reply :
I learned the hard way about navigating at night . On Mark Twain Lake I have never seen another boat at night , so late one night took off on plain too the boat ramp, the wrong way .
Montanaro reply :
I would be investigsting WHY the other guy didnt see the lights. His mistake, yalls? Some people flick them off when fishing and yall may not have turned them back on.
Catt reply :
@Sam see below ????
We run WOT all the time at night, one person operates the boat one handles the Q-beam!
3,000,000 candle power will turn darkness into light!
ohboyitsrobby reply :
On 7/2/2018 at 8:36 PM, Montanaro said:I would be investigsting WHY the other guy didnt see the lights. His mistake, yalls? Some people flick them off when fishing and yall may not have turned them back on.
Our lights were for sure on. We never turn them off. If the bugs ever get too bad while fishing i hang my hat over the stern light and I had my hat on so I know it was uncovered.
Todd2 reply :
Speed and night time boating is recipe for disaster IMO. I have a Spot light that I use sparingly. It blinds other boaters, because their's is blinding me. I've seen kayakers in the middle of the lake without lights at midnight. Not smart, but does it matter whose fault it is in a tragedy? Keep the speed down and make it home safe.
Tennessee Boy reply :
I'm glad you're still here to make this post.
Troy85 reply :
On 7/2/2018 at 9:48 PM, Todd2 said:I have a Spot light that I use sparingly. It blinds other boaters, because their's is blinding me.
Don't you just hate that. Your eyes have adjusted to the darkness, you see another boat coming and what does he do. He turns on his spot light and points it right in your face....its like, thanks man, now I'm night blind for the next 5 minutes.
Arcs&sparks reply :
The other driver was probably using his gps to navigate and not looking ahead.
J Francho reply :
On 6/30/2018 at 10:39 PM, ohboyitsrobby said:So as we're running we see a boat headed our way so we turned left to go past
Wrong answer. Sorry, rules of navigation dictate you pass on the right. It also helps to show your red Port side light to them. Look for them to do the same, then you know they see you. Unless it is wide open water, and no other boats around, 45 mph is WAY too fast for night running.
Catt reply :
On 7/2/2018 at 10:51 PM, J Francho said:Wrong answer. Sorry, rules of navigation dictate you pass on the right. It also helps to show your red Port side light to them. Look for them to do the same, then you know they see you. Unless it is wide open water, and no other boats around, 45 mph is WAY too fast for night running.
That would be correct ????
It's quite common for me to run 60, 70, & even 80 mph at night!
Now y'all must understand I running in a clearly boat lanes with boat traffic around.
Once I've marked the buoys for the boat operator I'm constantly sweeping in front of the boat & back to the buoys.
As another boat approaches I will not light up the boat but I'll hit a spot a few yards in front of em.
TOXIC reply :
Glad you got lucky. You just described how a majority of boating accidents happen both day or night. When I was guiding and on the lake a lot there was a rule I operated under.
#1. There are no rules.
Why?......
Because you can never, never, never, trust that the other guy has read the rules. Have I read, studied and been tested on the USCG Rules of the Road? Yes I have.....but that doesn't mean the boat bearing down on my bow has. Or they aren't intoxicated. Or they aren't distracted. Or they aren't paying attention.....or, or, or............Just too many variables as to why they didn't know what to do. You had the darkness of night to complicate things even more. Here's what I do every time I am meeting a boat head on.....I show them my side, meaning I make an exaggerated turn (the right way if possible) and show them the broadside of my boat. There's no doubt which way I am turning. And yes, sometimes it's to my port side which is against the rules but if the situation warrants it, that's the way I am turning because I don't want them hooking me out of the water with my head split ear to ear and saying " Well, at least he was right".
WRB reply :
Robby your warning to be careful this 4th of July holiday week is appreciated.
I appologize for blaming you for what occurred and you are lucky to be alive!
Traveling at 45 mph at night is extremely dangerous because you can't see and blinding oncoming boats with a spot light is also dangerous, using a spot light to help see what's ahead is a good idea. My point about closing speed was overlooked and a critical factor of boating accidents because both boats are going very fast, eg; yours at 45 mph + the other boats was on plane going 35 mph? or faster = 80 mph or faster. At 80 mph your are closing at 120' per second. By the time your brain can react you are 200' closer to a head on collision, starting to turn takes another second and both boat have traveled over a football field toward each other and you can't see that far or have any perspective of judging distance at night. Slow down at night, in California where I fish at night the speed limit is 10 mph.
Tom
Ratherbfishing reply :
I almost bumped into another boat at idle speed because I couldn't/didn't see him. I can't imagine flying along at 40 mph at night. That's plenty fast in the daytime-as far as I'm concerned.
Catt reply :
I guess we have better boat operators cause most boat accidents are in broad daylight...well maybe not!
Tennessee Boy reply :
On 7/3/2018 at 1:07 AM, TOXIC said:Glad you got lucky. You just described how a majority of boating accidents happen both day or night. When I was guiding and on the lake a lot there was a rule I operated under.
#1. There are no rules.
Why?......
Because you can never, never, never, trust that the other guy has read the rules. Have I read, studied and been tested on the USCG Rules of the Road? Yes I have.....but that doesn't mean the boat bearing down on my bow has. Or they aren't intoxicated. Or they aren't distracted. Or they aren't paying attention.....or, or, or............Just too many variables as to why they didn't know what to do. You had the darkness of night to complicate things even more. Here's what I do every time I am meeting a boat head on.....I show them my side, meaning I make an exaggerated turn (the right way if possible) and show them the broadside of my boat. There's no doubt which way I am turning. And yes, sometimes it's to my port side which is against the rules but if the situation warrants it, that's the way I am turning because I don't want them hooking me out of the water with my head split ear to ear and saying " Well, at least he was right".
You're right. There are no rules.
I know a guy (who always goes WAY to fast) who was going across the lake one night when an anchored house boat heard him coming and suddenly turned on their lights right in front of him. He turned quickly and barely hit the boat at an angle. He was not hurt but it ripped a big chunk of fiberglass out of the side of his boat. He was lucky. People don't follow the rules.
jbmaine reply :
A few years ago there was a fatality on one of the lakes I fish. Kids were running around at night ( probably done it a hundred times ) and ran their boat onto a point into an oak tree. The tree won.
ohboyitsrobby reply :
I trust the driver of the boat more than anyone else I've been on the water with my entire life. And above being the driver that evening and my team partner most tournaments he's my friend. Did he possibly make a mistake that night? Maybe. But as stated a little bit above the rules don't always apply. Could we have followed the proper rules that night and nothing happened? Possibly or we could've had another boat in our boat. You just don't know what other ppl are gonna do. What I do know was when a decision had to be made he did what he thought had to be done and I trust his decision. I didn't share my experience for people to call others idiots or fools. At one point or another we've all done something stupid. It was just a cautionary tale. Especially with the upcoming holiday with its drunks out and ppl sitting stationary in the middle of the lake with no lights on. Hope everyone has a wonderful and safe independence day.
Sam reply :
On 7/2/2018 at 8:46 PM, Catt said:@Sam see below ????
We run WOT all the time at night, one person operates the boat one handles the Q-beam!
3,000,000 candle power will turn darkness into light!
Wow! My light is an XPS Extreme Performance series 2000 lumens handheld model.
It does a good job but yours is dynamite.
Of course, we don't have to be on the lookout for gators in Virginia, only fools on the water.
Catt reply :
On 7/3/2018 at 6:19 AM, Sam said:Wow! My light is an XPS Extreme Performance series 2000 lumens handheld model.
It does a good job but yours is dynamite.
Of course, we don't have to be on the lookout for gators in Virginia, only fools on the water.
One candle power is 12.57 lumens
That puts the Max Million III at 37,710,000 lumens or 18,855 times brighter than your XPS Extreme Performance.
People who have never used a Max Million III have idea how powerful they are.
kenmitch reply :
And Catt said....Let their be light!
Arcs&sparks reply :
On 7/3/2018 at 9:00 AM, Catt said:
One candle power is 12.57 lumens
That puts the Max Million III at 37,710,000 lumens or 18,855 times brighter than your XPS Extreme Performance.
People who have never used a Max Million III have idea how powerful they are.
Your flood light is not 37 million lumens... sorry bud. ????
Arcs&sparks reply :
It’s 1,200 lumens
Catt reply :
On 7/3/2018 at 9:23 AM, Arcs&sparks said:Your flood light is not 37 million lumens... sorry bud. ????
One candle power is 12.57 lumens, you do the math!
Multiple 3,000,000 by 12.57 & what do you get?
My calculator says 37,710,000
Arcs&sparks reply :
@CattThey are not equal measurements, and you have no idea how rediculous 37million lumens would be.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Brinkmann-Q-Beam-12V-DC-Spotlight/478577389?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=2094&adid=22222222228135668466&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=m&wl3=244225920618&wl4=pla-430562609684&wl5=1018904&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=113148485&wl11=online&wl12=478577389&wl13=&veh=sem
read the description. 1,200 lumens
The reason those cheap flood lights say candlepower is to impress the customer.
Its only a 100watt halogen bulb ????
Catt reply :
Lumens
Lumens refers to the amount of visible light that is created by any type of light source. Just think of it like this: whereas candlepower measures the light given off by a single candle, lumens measure the area illuminated by the candle. Because candlepower and lumens measure different qualities, they have different ratios, with 1 candlepower = 12.57 lumens.
http://www.defenseunit.com/candlepower-vs-lumen-definition/
TOXIC reply :
I do know it is illegal to run at night with any lights other than USCG approved navigation lights. Spotlights and mounted lights are classified as Docking Lights and are not to be used while running. When I am in Wisconsin and we are out for our evening pontoon cruise, we do use a spotlight to light up the dock and to spot channel buoys in very narrow stretches of some of the lakes but never while running. I would also never spotlight an approaching vessel. You just blinded them and increased the chance they will not be able to see you. A few flashes off to the side usually alerts them if they have not seen your red/green nav lights or your white stern light. Everybody be safe and as has been said, this week is going to be extreemly busy in addition to some intoxicated operators.
Arcs&sparks reply :
On 7/3/2018 at 6:12 PM, Catt said:1 candlepower = 12.57 lumens.
http://www.defenseunit.com/candlepower-vs-lumen-definition/
Not sure if you’re trolling or not?
The flood light manufacturer doesn’t follow the same math as you
ohboyitsrobby reply :
I'm just throwing this out there but catt is on the shortlist of most respected members so I seriously doubt he's trolling.
Troy85 reply :
fissure_man reply :
Lumens = Total light output
Candlepower = Light intensity or brightness
Though related, they measure different qualities of the light source; it takes more parameters than a fixed conversion factor to relate them. The links that recommend a conversion factor of 12.57 are wrong.
You can change the intensity (candlepower) of a light source independently of the light output (lumens) by adjusting the focus of the beam. In motor vehicles, this could be analogous to relating horsepower and top speed.
Taken to an extreme, a laser pointer could have very high candlepower/intensity (higher than your Q-Beam), but would be a poor choice for illuminating the path ahead because it doesn’t actually produce much light (and the light it does produce is narrowly focused).
As a gut check on top of this, think about how fast 18,000+ flashlights would drain your battery.... That energy has to come from somewhere.
Edit: FWIW, the 12.57 conversion factor assumes a conceptual light source which emits a uniform intensity of light in all directions. If such a source emitted light at a uniform intensity of 1 candlepower, its total light output would be 4π lumens (4*3.142 = 12.57).
In the case of the Q-Beam, the light is focussed and the candlepower rating will be based on the peak light intensity at the center of the beam, to give the most impressive number. If this peak intensity was produced uniformly in all directions, the total output in lumens would indeed be through the roof, and it would be an extraordinarily bright light that you wouldn’t want on your boat.
Arcs&sparks reply :
Edit; posted at the same time as fissure_man
meant no disrespect with the trolling comment
Todd2 reply :
This thread has taken a strange twist, we are now studying light physics..lol
Slow down, don't blind others, assume somebody is out in front of you. Get home safe.
WRB reply :
Common sense, would you want a bright light shined in your eyes while driving down the lake at night.....no! Would you see another boat coming down the lake a long way off with a bright spot light shining on the water.....yes!
It takes time to recover from night blindness from a bright light in your eyes, you are blind for a few seconds.
Tom
Catt reply :
@Arcs&sparks chill out!
I was fishing for @Sam but he wasn't biting & you aint fun!
NHBull reply :
All I know is that I am going to Wally World to buy
a really, really, great.....best in the world, 1 billion candle-power QRSTU Beam spot light, to ensure satellites can see me from Mars.....
TnRiver46 reply :
I just quit fishing when it gets dark and idle back to the ramp. I still hit logs all the time while idling
buzzbaiter83 reply :
80% of the tournaments I fish are night tourneys. We start in daylight hours but end between 4 or 5am. We run 50-60mph at night, even faster if we need to get back fast. The river channel is 60-140ft deep depending on the lake we’re fishing. If there’s been rain or we notice any logs or trash on our way out we move slower than normal back to the dock. We use our Q-Beam to check for floating objects. If we see a boat it gets a couple flashes in the air. There’s plenty of room for boats to travel. Our lakes are typically clean of debris. The only real danger is a dock or boat that’s came untied and floated out. We’re constantly checking. Teamwork is the key to night running like @catt said.
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