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For most small vessels, motoring requires red and green (port and starboard) lights, and a white light visible in all directions around the boat. This is almost always a stern light and a masthead light on sailboats. Boats under sail require port and starboard lights, and a white stern light.
The lights that are commonly used as replacement fixtures are the Dual Voltage Marine Lights. But I warn you, they are not cheap, however they are practical when you want to use 120 volt power, or 12 volt battery power to light up certain areas. If I find other models, I'll post some more information for you.
Anchor in a well-protected area to minimize the impact of wind and current on your boat. DO: Set two anchors if necessary. In difficult or congested anchoring situations, consider setting two anchors. This provides added security and reduces the boat's swinging radius. This is particularly true in areas with strong currents or winds.
When you drop the anchor, maintain a manual anchor watch for a set time to make sure it all held, and you set everything right. On our boat, we don’t leave until at least an hour after we've set, while checking the boat's position with a hand bearing compass and a GPS to make sure we're not moving. Automatic Anchor Watches
The basics of anchoring in calm conditions in an anchorage with good holding aren't difficult to master, and (link: /guides/how-to-anchor-a-boat-7-critical-steps-lake-river-sea text: you should start with basic anchoring techniques) if you haven't read it already and practiced setting your hook.
New South Wales, on the other hand, restricts the total time than any boat can spend at anchor in the state to 90 days. And a boat can not be in on "location" for over 28 days. The definition of "location" is very broad, for example, the officials in Sydney Harbour consider the entire harbor to be one location even though it has many distinct bays.
Insulating your boat ensures that it is comfortable and energy-efficient. An improperly insulated boat, such as an old aluminum sailboat, is prone to condensation. You can insulate your boat using closed-cell foam. Closed-cell foam is a popular choice for boat insulation because it is lightweight, moisture-resistant, and durable.
A boat on a mooring can sit safely for weeks without harm, but an anchored boat should be checked almost daily. Some risks include: Bad weather can unseat anchors and cause them to drag. Birds may move onto unoccupied boats and make a mess. If a boat is to be left, steps should be taken to leave bird scaring devices on board.
If the wind is variable this may be difficult to figure. Do your best, but if you have a big lull for half an hour, think before using the full boat speed if the wind picks up before you record your DR. Compass Deviation. Metal objects on a boat can affect a compass heading. The effects vary with the direction the boat is heading.
A GPS in the stern of a big boat with 200' of scope out can swing through circle almost 500’ in diameter, and that will look like a dragging anchor to most drag alarms. What you care about is if the anchor moves, not if the boat moves, because a boat at anchor is always moving. A better drag system allows you to estimate the anchor position.