Using spotlight while running at night

[daviddquillin]

When I am running in my local bay at night, I often leave the spotlight on. Our bays are packed with crab pots, and the buoy lines will foul the prop in a heartbeat if you run over one. The buoys are impossible to see unless it is a full moon, and thus I use my spot. Am I violating some unwritten rule by doing this? I get the impression that leaving a spot on is frowned upon. There is almost never any other traffic on the water when I am out, so I am not blinding anyone. How do others handle a situation like this?

 

[L Hall]

If you see a boat with a spotlight on continuously, you can assume it is operated by a boat owner, not a mariner. A Mariner will only use a spot for very brief periods.

Bob, I can't ever remember seeing a tug running with a constant spotlight on.

 

[L Hall]

I know the shrimpers run with lights - I'd hardly call them mariners based on my experience with them. They don't respect each other much less a recreational boat.