Bad wreck on the lake last night

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My understanding of boating law is that it is illegal to run at night with light bars or dock lights active. It is my understanding that a hand spotlight is permissible in conjunction with the mandatory green/red and white apex light, but other lights may interfere with identification of the navigation lights.

I have opted to stay away from night runs after hearing too many horror stories. The one prominent in my mind was a woman driving with a bunch of kids who hit a whale late at night somewhere north of Bullfrog, resulting in a couple people drowning in the dark. I cringe every time I hear a boat running fast in the channel at night. Just not my cup of tea. It may be really peaceful and a nice in most circumstances, but it is not for me.

Once when my wife was about 20, she and her family had to go to the clinic at Bullfrog for some stitches to her brother late afternoon. By the time they got taken care of it was dark. As my father-in-law was driving with his spotlight active, the master fuse on his boat blew, leaving him dead in the water. They were able to radio into the ranger station, but were told as long as it wasn't a life threatening situation, they were free to float out in the channel all night and someone would help them in the morning. They tried to stay warm, snuggling in the cuddy of their boat, but were quite cold in the morning. When it got light, they radioed into the ranger station where a surprised ranger noted that their call the previous night had not been logged, that they were not safe out in the channel without navigation lights on, and that someone would be right out to help them. That was enough night boating for my wife, so even if I were inclined to do a night cruise, we would rather just enjoy the stars from the top of the houseboat.
 
So many people erroneously believe that the buoys mark the center of the channel. They do not. The red/green can buoys mark the edges of the main channel/ deep water. If you are on the correct side of the buoy for your direction of travel you SHOULD be fine…assuming the buoy isn’t out of position for some reason. But traveling on the “wrong side” can be dangerous.

We passed the buoy where the accident occurred this morning. It is definitely on the edge of the deep water. If those poor boaters mistakenly thought the bout marked center channel and they could pass on either side it was real easy to see how they got in trouble.

I’ve talked to many long term LP boaters who are surprised that the bouys are not marking center channel
 
bubba said:
I do night runs at powell from time to time.

Running inland water at night requires preparation, awareness and common sense.

A recent GPS track is an absolute must. When laying the track swing wide near buoys as to not be in-line for an impact on a night run - i clear buoys on the channel side by about 100 feet on every pass. With the recent low water I laid a permanent track during the week of April 12, 2023 on the buoy line from south lake to as close to hite as I could get. I also laid side canyon tracks in escalante and my other favorite areas.

I have a full glass helm with one 12” center PFD and two 9” side screens.

I have 2 remote long range spots that are aimed at 11 & 1, and I have 75k lumen light bars aimed at 12 low and 12 high. I am able to light up the canyon edge to edge, but for a safe passage you need more than a bright light.

On calm nights, especially on full moons, I set the center screen on dim with range set at 100 meters and stay right on top of the line. The other screen range is set at 1 km and the third is split screen set to instruments and FLIR inspired camera.

My massive lighting is more for spotting ducks and debris in the water and not for navigation - the GPS track represents 100% navigation with virtual zero deviation unless for debris in water - if I go off track I basically show speed to wakeless. The IR camera is short range and is not used a lot but fun to play with, it clearly shows rock temps and water temps but shows nothing subsurface. You need to calibrate the temps with 10 degree deltas or the screen is just a yellow and orange and black blur. It also gets tricky when water and rock temps are within set error ranges.

The top suggestions for night running inland waters is to have a recent GPS track. Next is to NOT get tricked into following the illuminated blinking buoys, do NOT visually go from blinking buoy to blinking buoy (not all buoys are illuminated), use the GPS track as primary like a IFR route. The reason for not driving direct to the next blinky buoy is it may not be the real next buoy and there may be land between your current position and it. NEVER lock onto a blinking buoy on inland waters unless you are 100% absolutely positive you know exactly where you are and you know exactly where the buoy is. There may be several non illuminated buoys between you and the blinking one… It is difficult to determine range to blinking buoys and elevated blinking buoys are very deceiving. Stay on track - always!

Night running powell is very peaceful, a new experience on another level, not a higher level, just another level. The only spook I have every encountered at night are the floating ducks that take flight right in front of you. Every time it happens it is a full adrenaline dump with dozens of ducks in the air illuminated by the LEDS. It is like a flash bang.

Know your limits and be prepared. I always wear a life vest at night.

If you think you are going to make it with just a spot light, you are over confident and very foolish.
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Bubba -

I'm envious of your massive lighting and recent GPS track - don't have either.

Hopefully, I'll never need to travel at night, but if I do I'll be navigating with the Navionics app adjusted for the current lake level. I do have radar which sees the buoys.
 
nzaugg said:
My understanding of boating law is that it is illegal to run at night with light bars or dock lights active. It is my understanding that a hand spotlight is permissible in conjunction with the mandatory green/red and white apex light, but other lights may interfere with identification of the navigation lights.

I have opted to stay away from night runs after hearing too many horror stories. The one prominent in my mind was a woman driving with a bunch of kids who hit a whale late at night somewhere north of Bullfrog, resulting in a couple people drowning in the dark. I cringe every time I hear a boat running fast in the channel at night. Just not my cup of tea. It may be really peaceful and a nice in most circumstances, but it is not for me.

Once when my wife was about 20, she and her family had to go to the clinic at Bullfrog for some stitches to her brother late afternoon. By the time they got taken care of it was dark. As my father-in-law was driving with his spotlight active, the master fuse on his boat blew, leaving him dead in the water. They were able to radio into the ranger station, but were told as long as it wasn't a life threatening situation, they were free to float out in the channel all night and someone would help them in the morning. They tried to stay warm, snuggling in the cuddy of their boat, but were quite cold in the morning. When it got light, they radioed into the ranger station where a surprised ranger noted that their call the previous night had not been logged, that they were not safe out in the channel without navigation lights on, and that someone would be right out to help them. That was enough night boating for my wife, so even if I were inclined to do a night cruise, we would rather just enjoy the stars from the top of the houseboat.
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Fact about headlights and lightbars
 
I saw Wake boats this trip, that would blind you at night for sure. A lot brighter then a cars headlights.
I have a mine light that I use for a little night fishing in the fall, it works well. A good bright moon and clear night make a big difference. It was clear for a while that night, when I took my dog to do her business. But I think the clouds covered it on him, and it got darker.
When I night fished last winter, I would stick a shovel in the ground and rap my reflective rain suit around it, and put the jacket around a chair. It stuck out like a sore thumb from a long way. And it would give me my barings. I will have a lot more reflective material this year, if I night fish.
 
PowellBride said:
So many people erroneously believe that the buoys mark the center of the channel. They do not. The red/green can buoys mark the edges of the main channel/ deep water. If you are on the correct side of the buoy for your direction of travel you SHOULD be fine…assuming the buoy isn’t out of position for some reason. But traveling on the “wrong side” can be dangerous.

We passed the buoy where the accident occurred this morning. It is definitely on the edge of the deep water. If those poor boaters mistakenly thought the bout marked center channel and they could pass on either side it was real easy to see how they got in trouble.

I’ve talked to many long term LP boaters who are surprised that the bouys are not marking center channel
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From what I’ve seen in the lower lake of late you are spot on. I’ve been figuring people knew they were cutting corners, maybe they really don’t… The turn upstream from Face around to facing up Last Chance is very hazardous, and I regularly have uplake boats turning inside of me when I’m coming home. We’ve stopped to look at the sinkers in there, magnificent collections of prop scars.
 
Nighttime driving lights on boats are illegal in Utah. But the same light used for docking is ok.

Light bars ABOVE and BEHIND your head are horrible as you are forced to look through the light beam refracting off of airbourne particulates, lots of scatter - for best viewing, place the lights lower and in front of you like on a car.

Illegal… hmmm… ill just pay the fine. With that said I have never ever seen another night runner cross my path, but if I had my lights on I would dim out of respect regardless of law.

Wakeless after dark - never heard of it.

In coastal waters there is a lot of nighttime driving, a lot safer for sure without rocks. One of the biggest fears of ocean passage daytime or nighttime is hitting a barely submerged container that fell off a ship.
 
RichieW13 said:
What is the logic for light bars being illegal?
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Rule 20 from the USCG navigation rules handbook
"(b) The Rules concerning lights shall be complied with from sunset to sunrise, and during such times no other lights shall be exhibited, except such lights as cannot be mistaken for the lights specified in these Rules or do not impair their visibility or distinctive character, or interfere with the keeping of a proper look-out. "

Light bars will washout the navigation lights on a vessel at night due to being so much brighter than the navigation lights and being mounted in places that can actually block the view of those navigation lights from certain angles.

I don't have the picture anymore but when I worked at Halls I used to see light bars mounted on the tow tower in front of and behind the 360 degree white "anchor" light. Even with the light bar off they were still in violation of rule 20 because you couldn't see the 360 degree white light from the front or back.
 
Jaquellan said:
We can all wonder why or how this happened, but please be kind enough not to judge before the facts are known. It’s amazing how close to the shore the channel marker is right there. Perhaps they were using that as their guide…
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Very good point.
In the lower lake there are several poorly placed navigation buoys and buoys without lights for nighttime (note: NPS officially denies this but photos don't lie). If you are unaware of that and just expect to rely on them, could be in for a surprise. I would never attempt night nav on this lake without a chartplotter gps. And even then, with much caution.
 
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