Day Shapes

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David M

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After reading the Rules of the Road thread, I'm baffled as to how to secure a dayshape on an express cruiser.

Any help welcome. The new marina has a number of places to anchor nearby, none of them designated as special anchorages.

TIA.
 
Fly day shapes from the signal mast where they can best be seen. New style production boats generally are not fitted with a signal mast so use a section of 1" sched. 40, PVC pipe stuck into a gunnel rod holder.
 
Currently, I fly mine from the stern/anchorlight pole. Will be adding a stantion base or surface mount flag pole holder for the purpose one of these days.
 
I doubt if 50% of the recreational boating public knows what a day shape is. Many think its something in a bikini.
 
I think you're right Les... Wish I had one on my boat! (a shape in a bikini)

I can't remember the last time I saw a pleasure boat showing an anchor ball; and I don't have one myself, either. Unless you want to anchor where the "big boys" play, I wouldn't bother.
 
i dont' either.

(use one that is...)

i guess if you're going to anchor in the middle of a busy bay with heavy commercial traffic you'd want to show a day shape, otherwise it's useless. If i was going to show one, i'd attach it to a radio antenna and be done with it
 
Where in the rules is it stated that you are allowed to pick and choose which part you will comply with.
 
It's not stated anywhere as far as I know. But be realistic; when is the last time you've seen a pleasure boat showing an anchor ball????

In the places I anchor, no one is going to know what it means anyway, and even if they do know they don't care. I'm NOT moving, that's good enough for them and they will go around. LEO???? Haven't seen one around here in YEARS. Coasties even longer. In 4' of water I don't think I have to worry about the "big boys"

A Republican acquaintance once told me "if you don't get caught, it's not illegal". I don't necessarily agree but that's what I was told.
 
The only reason I ask is the new marina is a mecca for a plethora of bass boats and jet skis. Just covering my six.

Les,

Do you carry them. I could not find them on the www.
 
The rules apply with equal force to all vessels on navigable waters regardless to flag, ownership, service, size or speed.
 
We hear you L Keith (again).... but someone's gotta enforce them. No one does.

Kida you would be correct in showing the anchor ball; but you might just attract the darn things (jet ski & bass boats)...

Anchor lights are another story, if you value your life use them. Those idiots run at night too.
 
The United States District Courts enforce the rules everyday.
 
They only enforce 'em when it's brought to their attention.

When they start citing every fishing skiff in Tampa Bay for being anchored without proper day shapes I'll worry about it.
 
That's exactly where I show mine, from the radio antenna. I often anchor in St. Augustine inlet which is quite busy. You guys are correct, the average boater hasn't a clue what a day shape is but showing it makes ME feel better. :)

So, I got a 10" styrofoam ball, punched a hole in it, painted it black and when I anchor I simply lower my antenna, slip the ball over the end, put a rubberband where I want the ball to stay, raise the antenna and drop the hook. Like I said, it probably accomplishes little except to make me feel better. :)

quote:
Originally posted by PascalG

i dont' either.

(use one that is...)

i guess if you're going to anchor in the middle of a busy bay with heavy commercial traffic you'd want to show a day shape, otherwise it's useless. If i was going to show one, i'd attach it to a radio antenna and be done with it

Click to expand...
 
It keeps you in compliance with the rules. Lets just put it this way, if you are anchored, not showing a day shape and your vessel is struck by another vessel (large, small, pink or green) and one of your guests and/or passengers is injured/killed, you can bet the fact that you were not showing a day shape will be a MAJOR issue.
 
I don't doubt that it would be an issue, but if I was struck by one of those jet-skis or bass boats whose operator didn't even know what an anchor ball was, I think it would end up being pretty much non-contributory to the collision. I'm sure the lawyers would still have fun with it though.

So, bearing that last in mind, what SIZE anchor ball am I required to show on my 35' boat? And what size on my 10' skiff?

Les do you sell anchor balls in sizes "commensurate with the size of the vessel"?
 
Willie:

ROR, ANNEX I, section 6

6. Shapes
(a) Shapes shall be black and of the following sizes:
(i) a ball shall have a diameter of not less than 0.6 meter;
(ii) a cone shall have a base diameter of not less than 0.6 meter
and a height equal to its diameter;
(iii) a cylinder shall have a diameter of at least 0.6 meter and a
height of twice its diameter;
(iv) a diamond shape shall consist of two cones as defined in (ii)
above having a common base.
(b) The vertical distance between shapes shall be at least 1.5
meter.
(c) In a vessel of less than 20 meters in length shapes of lesser
dimensions but commensurate with the size of the vessel may be
used and the distance apart may be correspondingly reduced.

--

Imho, in a vessel of less than 20 m, in the event you were inspected, I believe that the inspector would be so astonished that you actually -had- the shapes to display, that there would be no criticism of what size they might be. FWIW: .6 m = 23.61 inches. On a 35 ft boat, that is rather large. If you had shapes that were half-size, I believe that this would be appropriate. Note, that the shape size is not specifically defined, for vessels of less than 20 meters length.
 
Being a wanna-be Boating-Geek, I've flown a black ball at anchor on my 35 express . . . and got some of the funniest looks, points, and shrugs I've ever seen! I use a 'flag clip' I got from the local boat store, and fly it off the VHF antenna, just above the arch (as low on the taper on the antenna as I can get it, while giving it 360 deg viewability.)

It's the 'standard size' inflatable ball - so the weight on the antenna is minimal.

BTW - I'm rather convinced that the local LEO's here on the Hudson have to think twice as to 'what that is'!
 
quote:
Originally posted by Les Hall

I doubt if 50% of the recreational boating public knows what a day shape is. Many think its something in a bikini.

Click to expand...

I got a day shape! Round is a Shape...right?
 
Not that I have ever used it, but I bought a 24" beach ball from CVS ($1.19) and sprayed it with black paint. If I get really bored while anchored, I think I'll blow it up, put it up on the VHF antenna and see what happens. Tim
 
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