Amber Flashing light.

[Alan]

Originally Posted by Stoo

Over hear, Coasties and Police boats use blue strobes when they're on calls.

Oddly, so do snowplows!

Good thing boating is seasonal... otherwise we would have lines of cars driving into harbours during blizzards, thinking they're following snowplows!

That confused the crap out of me when I first moved to Canada. First winter seeing a blue flashing light ahead/behind me, thinking it was a cop car and then realising it was a bloody great plow truck with x 000 kg's and 6 metres of plow on the front bareling towards me. I 'spose like a cop car/fire engine/ambulance it's still advisable to get out of their way!

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by tim griffin

Red Jet fast cat uses yellow flashing light when coming in alongside Cowes and Southampton. Could be confusing to rescue services as said before. Why not use flares if in trouble and want Rescue services to come to your aid ???

Tim I agree, unfortunately it would appear that some of the local Solent schools have there own rules. You would have thought that the RYA would notice this sort of thing when they inspect one of there schools.

Pete

[Mike B]

Pete,

I agree with this one. (I'm not sure what you are showing on the second picture but guess there is an amber light on there somewhere!).

There are rules around the use of blue (and some might be suprised to hear amber) flashing lights on road vehicles. (Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations) I suspect this also means that "technically" you shouldn't use a flashing amber beacon on a boat on trailor unless it fits with one of the criteria below. (I'm not suggesting that you don't just that your aware that you may be breaking the law)

Blue (NB this doesn't just cover flashing, it is any light - so those Blue LEDs on your bonnet technically have to go and a "light" also includes reflective material so no reflective blue stripes!)
An emergency vehicle is classed as a vehicle used:

for police purposes (but not necessarily a police vehicle, e.g. search and rescue)
for fire brigade purposes (but not necessarily a fire brigade vehicle)
for ambulance purposes (but not necessarily an ambulance vehicle, e.g. mountain rescue)
as an ambulance for moving sick, injured or disabled people
by a specialist company for fire salvage work
by the Forestry Commission for fire fighting
by local councils for fire fighting
for bomb disposal
for nuclear accidents
by the RAF mountain rescue
by the National Blood Service
by HM Coastguard
for mine rescue
by the RNLI for launching lifeboats
for moving around human organs
by Revenue and Customs for serious crime

Amber

a road clearance vehicle
a bin lorry
a breakdown vehicle
a vehicle with a 25 mph top speed
a vehicle wider than 2.9 metres
a roadworks vehicle
an escort vehicle
a Revenue and Customs vehicle
a surveying vehicle
a clamping or tow truck vehicle
airport vehicles
any other specially authorised vehicle

Surely there should be some rules for watercraft.

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by Mike B

Pete,

I agree with this one. (I'm not sure what you are showing on the second picture but guess there is an amber light on there somewhere!) Surely there should be some rules for watercraft.

Yes yellow light. Personally I thought the rules for prevention of collisions at sea were fairly straight forward for small boats.

[Biggles]

Further to Mike B's answer to have a blue light fitted you need to be in one of the types he lists and also have the approval of the local Chief Constable of Police.

[Biggles]

This is for Hightower.

[Hightower]

Pretty straight forward Nick. Why not stick another one on the other side and at the same angle of that bracket and make it look like it was designed by Darleks .

Draw up what you need and Mail me. (email address on way)

[Devon Powerboat]

Hi Biggles and everyone else

Just wondering where you got that orange light from, i want one for my boat,

or if any one knows where to get the mini led lights that would sit under my A frame.

Cheers John

www.devon-powerboat-training.co.uk
www.devon-rib-rides.co.uk
www.devon-rib-charter.co.uk

[Biggles]

John,

PM sent.

[Tideway]

I think that Mike B's list is a good indication of what is what; but afloat there are a few more blue light services. Harbourmaster and fisheries patrol vessels spring to mind, as do Range Patrol boats but they are MOD, so kinda come under Mike's list.

Difficult to find anything definitive via Googling as to lights, but flashing yellow in the marine sense has a fair few meanings h/craft, subs, purse seining etc... I have also seen it on survey boats, but it kind of looks wrong, as if they were on the hard shoulder!

PLA may be muddying the waters with their requirements (pun intended)



t

[Simon Hawkins]

Originally Posted by Pete7

Tim I agree, unfortunately it would appear that some of the local Solent schools have there own rules. You would have thought that the RYA would notice this sort of thing when they inspect one of there schools.

Pete

Pete

Noted your comment, as you have posted picture of my boat. I do have a blue light on my boat, and the reason for this is because I get involved in alot of rescue boat activities, plus my boat is sometimes used by Cowes Harbour Comission. I will add that the light is never used unless the boat is involved in this type of instance as it would not be correct or professional to do so.

Simon

[Hightower]

On it's way tomorrow Nick.

[Biggles]

Andy,

Looks nice and shiny. Thanks.

Nick.

[Hightower]

I had to queue for 20 mins at the post office this morning

But is sent.

[Biggles]

Andy,

Cheers for that.

[Biggles]

Andy,

Received bracket today. Will start to fit it tomorrow if I can brave the cold.

[Biggles]

Andy,

Bracket fitted. Got to get some wire now and will hopefully start on that tomorrow.

[Paul F]

Interesting thread.
When i enquired on fitting our boat out i did ask about amber flashing lights.
According to the powers to be, you can display any lights you like during the day time and in clear vis. except for blue.
Reason on asking was that our boat is used for powerboat grand prix marshalling and you have to have either a orange flashing light or orange flag to be used for any incidents.
Paul

[Biggles]

All gone to plan. Light now fitted and working.

Thanks for the assistance Andy and Kieron.