Model Boat Mayhem

Mess Deck: General Section => Tugs and Towing => Topic started by: brianB6 on November 02, 2010, 02:23:37 am

Title: tug towing lights
Post by: brianB6 on November 02, 2010, 02:23:37 am
Does anyone know what lights are to be shown when towing at night?
Title: Re: tug towing lights
Post by: Umi_Ryuzuki on November 02, 2010, 02:49:13 am
http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=navRulesContent

... http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=Rule23
... http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=Rule24



See these images...

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w72/imagedktr/Navlights1.jpg

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w72/imagedktr/Navlights2.jpg


(http://www.dados.ptnauticmodel.net/Luzes_Comenda_1.jpg)

(http://www.dados.ptnauticmodel.net/Luzes_Comenda_2.jpg)

(http://www.dados.ptnauticmodel.net/Luzes_Comenda_3.jpg)

 :-)

.

Title: Re: tug towing lights
Post by: brianB6 on November 03, 2010, 02:31:09 am
Many thanks Umi
Title: Re: tug towing lights
Post by: sailorboy61 on November 03, 2010, 09:06:51 am


See these images...

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w72/imagedktr/Navlights1.jpg

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w72/imagedktr/Navlights2.jpg




And this is why the UK no longer has an experienced seafarer base.....you can pay a third world gentleman $5 a day and give hime a book of pictures like this, then you don't have to spend thousands of pounds, 4 years minimum training to have a Brit doing the job.

One thing I learned after 30 years experience at sea is that to those running shipping today, that experience isn't worth $5!!

Ouch!!!!!!! >>:-(  >>:-(  >>:-(  >>:-(
Title: Re: tug towing lights
Post by: TugChief on November 03, 2010, 09:33:09 am
Bang on there SailorBoy!

I left the sea 7 years back, Jumping off at the top after being a commissioning engineer and the engineering officer on the pride of the British merchant fleet, the Queens Mary 2.

Simple saying that we used to have when there were not enough Brits to man the thing…

•   Built by Indians and east Europeans…………………
•   Constructed in a French yard………………
•   Owned by Americans………………..
•   Run by anyone they could get!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pride of the British Merchant Marine, my backside!  Come to that what is the British merchant marine these days?

Darren. 
Title: Re: tug towing lights
Post by: Le Caux Deux on November 05, 2010, 07:39:41 pm
A question for the Experts about towing lights etc

I am loosely basing my tug on the Damen class of tug in the picture - what in the light in on the top right of the mast, as you look at the picture? (or the black in my sketch)

Secondly is my sketch correct for this type of boat

Mike
Title: Re: tug towing lights
Post by: TugChief on November 06, 2010, 07:19:29 am
All round white anchor light.

Darren.
Title: Re: tug towing lights
Post by: pugwash on November 06, 2010, 10:14:41 am
Mike your Yellow stern towing light should be over not under the sternlight
Geoff
Title: Re: tug towing lights
Post by: Le Caux Deux on November 07, 2010, 05:20:39 pm
Thanks Folks

Mike
Title: Re: tug towing lights
Post by: Le Caux Deux on November 11, 2010, 08:36:55 pm
Just for the record at least one UK tug model producer has got it the wrong way round on their web site

 I hope this last illustration is now correct and can help others struggling with the same problems
Title: Re: tug towing lights
Post by: Geoff Cropper on November 23, 2010, 05:14:31 pm
As most SHIP HANDLING events take place during the hours of daylight, wouldn't day shapes be more appropriate,  ie,       Black ball,over diamond over ball from the starboard yard arm ( restricted in my movements,keep clear. )  and a black diamond onthe port yard ( my tow is over 200 mts ).      Regards  Geoff.            PS.   When did you last see a model tug with day shapes aloft ?  never I suspect.     So whats the fuss about lights ?        Regards,   Geoff.
(http://s4.postimage.org/7rly4ysk/Tug_BROCKLEBANK_006.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/7rly4ysk/)

(http://s4.postimage.org/7rp97ns4/Tug_BROCKLEBANK_001.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/7rp97ns4/)
Title: Re: tug towing lights
Post by: RaaArtyGunner on November 23, 2010, 08:42:10 pm
Geoff,

Suspect the fuss is all to do with making an operating feature, namely operating lights and switching them on and off whilst operating the model, as opposed to daylight running which you mention is in comparison is a non operating feature. O0 O0 O0

But I know nuttin bout tugs/lights.
Title: Re: tug towing lights
Post by: brianB6 on November 23, 2010, 11:04:06 pm
We have night sailing, well twilight, and lights are essential.
One model of HMS Cornwall looks fantastic all lit up for night flying.
Title: Re: tug towing lights
Post by: RaaArtyGunner on November 23, 2010, 11:33:50 pm
Brian,

Thanks. Well there you have it.

Yep it will be a little darker down South your way.
Title: Re: tug towing lights
Post by: Umi_Ryuzuki on November 24, 2010, 12:40:47 am
We have a multi club night run once a year during the summer.
Dusk at 8:30 pm, run till 10:30 pm... Lighting truely makes the event.

 :-))

Seattle has a new model boat pond on the South end of Lake Union.
It should be very picturesque in the future...

 8)

Title: Re: tug towing lights
Post by: brianB6 on November 24, 2010, 04:14:34 am
No buoys that light up like yours but it's fun %%
Title: Re: tug towing lights
Post by: Geoff Cropper on November 24, 2010, 09:01:12 am
OK Boys,I hang my head in shame, you've got a great set up there.      You're right, it looks very effective.      But I notice, with a smirk, that you side stepped the Day Shapes question.          Well, have you?       Regards Geoff.
Title: Re: tug towing lights
Post by: Netleyned on November 24, 2010, 09:33:36 am
You wouldn't have the lights on if you were not towing at night
but you should use the shapes by day in a towing contest
Keep on counting the rivets!

Ned
Title: Re: tug towing lights
Post by: Geoff Cropper on November 24, 2010, 09:56:14 am
What's a rivet?          A small stream maybe?  {-)        Regards  Geoff.
Title: Re: tug towing lights
Post by: Netleyned on November 24, 2010, 10:49:05 am
Rivet Rivet   That's Frogspeak   %% %%


Ned
Title: Re: tug towing lights
Post by: Le Caux Deux on December 01, 2010, 01:35:36 pm
What's a "Starboard Yard Arm" where I come from a yard is either a unit of measure or somewhere to park y'r bike :-)
Title: Re: tug towing lights
Post by: Netleyned on December 01, 2010, 02:48:27 pm
What's a "Starboard Yard Arm" where I come from a yard is either a unit of measure or somewhere to park y'r bike :-)

Its what the sun must be over before you crack open a tinny %% %% %%
Title: Re: tug towing lights
Post by: sailorboy61 on December 01, 2010, 02:59:04 pm
What's a "Starboard Yard Arm" where I come from a yard is either a unit of measure or somewhere to park y'r bike :-)

an arm on a mast, probably a (hal)yard arm where a flag halyard was made fast, and a wild guess the one on the starboard side?

 ok2  :-)  :-)) {-)
Title: Re: tug towing lights
Post by: Le Caux Deux on December 01, 2010, 03:48:29 pm
Port is Red, Red is Left Wing, so I guess its on the right

Mike
Title: Re: tug towing lights
Post by: Netleyned on December 01, 2010, 05:02:16 pm
Yard
The lump of wood the sail hangs from on a full rigged ship
Goes Port and Starboard of the Mast

Ned
Title: Re: tug towing lights
Post by: Le Caux Deux on December 01, 2010, 05:34:08 pm
How many yards long is a yard then?

I hate to ask!

Mike
Title: Re: tug towing lights
Post by: Netleyned on December 01, 2010, 05:42:54 pm
As long as it needs to be


Ned
Title: Re: tug towing lights
Post by: brianB6 on December 01, 2010, 09:46:42 pm
As long as a piece of string
Title: Re: tug towing lights?
Post by: Martin (Admin) on December 02, 2010, 06:50:51 am
'How long as a piece of string?'... Easy! Twice as long as half it's length!  %)

Seriously though,  are ships mast lights as important these days?
 Do skippers stop and work out what the light configuration is or does it just come 2nd nature?
 What I mean by that is (I think), although I guess skippers have to be able to 'read' them, are they actually read or just an
 indicator that there is a vessel over there... the more lights it has, the more I need to avoid it!
 

Title: Re: tug towing lights
Post by: pugwash on December 02, 2010, 08:02:13 am
Martin I don't know about captains and officers of big ships who have collision avaoidance radar and many
orher electronic gadgets but one group of people still have to be able to read the lights and that is yachtsmen -
they are usually sailing about 5-7 knots so have to take early avoiding action and to be able to identify what is coming
towards them out of the dark is very helpful - eg. when we were sailing across Biscay we saw two boats coming towards us
about mile apart, we were going to sail directly between them until we saw the "pair trawling lights" and realised they were
connected to each other.  We had to make a very quick turn to get round the outside of them,
Geoff
Title: Re: tug towing lights
Post by: Le Caux Deux on December 02, 2010, 12:30:24 pm
I'm glad we are back to the original subject - the side track was a bit of fun, but I'd like to ask a serious question

not just about towing lights

How high does the stern light have to be, is their a rule, I'm struggling to get all the wires inside my mast, and if I can move my stern light onto the same level as my nav lights it makes life a lot easier.

Mike
Title: Re: tug towing lights?
Post by: sailorboy61 on December 02, 2010, 07:50:12 pm
'How long as a piece of string?'... Easy! Twice as long as half it's length!  %)

Seriously though,  are ships mast lights as important these days?
 Do skippers stop and work out what the light configuration is or does it just come 2nd nature?
 What I mean by that is (I think), although I guess skippers have to be able to 'read' them, are they actually read or just an
 indicator that there is a vessel over there... the more lights it has, the more I need to avoid it!
 



Yep, still have to know what the lights mean...... tells you direction of travel, aspect (how the other ship is 'sitting' relative to yours which isnt always apparent on radar or indeed how it 'looks' on radar). also the different lights  indicate different types of ships and that then tells who has right of way etc. The 'young uns' of today may sit in their seats glues to the radar, ais and vhf for their collision avoidance, but real seamen look out the window, feel the breeze on their face and 'smell' the weather, these are the ones that can still work when the lights go out, something, in my experience at least alot of those from the electronic era aren't able to do!!
Title: Re: tug towing lights
Post by: Esprit350 on December 04, 2010, 09:50:24 pm
How about.............."If in front you see red and green...take a chance and go between!".  ;)
Title: Re: tug towing lights
Post by: Le Caux Deux on December 05, 2010, 12:00:24 pm
I thought it was 'Red and Green should never be seen'

Mike
Title: Re: tug towing lights
Post by: Esprit350 on December 05, 2010, 12:12:02 pm
It's a joke!!!    Think about it - if you go in between red and green you'll hit head on!   %%
Title: Re: tug towing lights
Post by: Netleyned on December 05, 2010, 01:14:48 pm
Green to Green or Red to Red
Lash the helm and go to bed

Ned
Title: Re: tug towing lights
Post by: Netleyned on December 05, 2010, 02:19:57 pm
Joking aside I've not seen any height regs for stern lights
The regs state that it should be visible for 2 nautical miles over an arc of 135 degrees.


Ned

PS No doubt someone will come back with a height reg now I've posted this   %%
Title: Re: tug towing lights
Post by: Esprit350 on December 05, 2010, 04:02:13 pm
I remember doing "dipping lights" on my sailing training.  Due to the curvature of the earth, a light 2 miles away would have to be at a certian height to be seen.  I don't have the books that show how to work it out anymore though!  Doh!

This is why lighthouses etc have their height shown on charts so that sea farers can work out how far away they are.
Title: Re: tug towing lights
Post by: sailorboy61 on December 05, 2010, 05:17:48 pm
I remember doing "dipping lights" on my sailing training.  Due to the curvature of the earth, a light 2 miles away would have to be at a certain height to be seen.  I don't have the books that show how to work it out anymore though!  Doh!

This is why lighthouses etc have their height shown on charts so that sea farers can work out how far away they are.



There are so many variables with working out a distance off from a 'light', the height of the light gives a certain range it can be 'seen', the height of the observer gives a range he can 'see', obviously atmospherics play a large part too....so 'seeing a light is a guide....... the height of the light is more use for vertical sextant angles where there is a physical measurement....... sextant..... its in the box at the back of the chart table, under 5 years worth of accumulated rubbish and dust, and something these days guaranteed to clear a large number of people off any bridge should it be brought out!!
Title: Re: tug towing lights
Post by: farrow on December 08, 2010, 09:36:10 pm
Hi Sailorboy, you forgot to mention to throw in the height of the Tide. Always guaranteed to get this question in your practical chart paper for the MCA.
Title: Re: tug towing lights
Post by: farrow on December 10, 2010, 08:23:42 pm
In answer to Martins question, I always found that the easiest and safest way to work out if a risk of collision exists or if a vessel is being overtaken or a croosing situation exists was and still is to take bearings of a nav light.
Title: Re: tug towing lights
Post by: farrow on December 11, 2010, 10:29:46 pm
Talking about regulation heights, I expect somone will correct me, but when I learn't the regs only the mast head/forward masthead light have to be certain distance from the deck and then the others a set distance apart from each other. The others have to be just clearly visible over thier arc from the vessel. Of course masthead signal lights have to be reg distance apart. So stern light any height as long as it is below the masthead light and clearly visible over it's arc.
Title: Re: tug towing lights
Post by: rathikrishna on December 13, 2010, 07:58:43 am
Good morning friends...and its awesome article...actually i was looking for a post like this as i am making one great TUG for me...i am too thank full to all informative people here....thanks once again...