running at night

[woodee148]

Well, I did not plan on doing it but I had too run from hamilton harbor on Lake ontario to Grimsby at 12:00 at night. It ws a bit nerve racking as I have never drivin in the dark before. How fast do you go? I can putt along at 5mph or palne up and go at 20 mph (fuel efficient at 3000 rpm or 28mph)

comments or suggestion on running at night? keep in mind I am 1 Mile out and depth is not a concern (although floating debris has been seen)
the only lights I have is my anchor light and my running lights. I have dock lights but they did nothing for me

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: running at night

I don't know about the Great Lakes but on inland lakes there is a 10MPH limit at night, nightime can be very nerve racking in fact dangerous if you don't know the lake. A 12v 1,000,000 cp. spotlight can be had very cheap and works great for finding land. I wouldn't want to be on a strange lake at night but it's no problem on the local lake I visit because I know all the hazards and stick to 10mph rule.

 

[tnduc]

Re: running at night

I fish a lot at night, and depth is a major concern in the Lower Laguna Madre. I generally run at about 20-24 mph at night. Get yourself a good spotlight and a GPS. Next time you go out lay your routes, which you can retrace using the GPS. The spotlight will pick out the things that the GPS doesn't mark (other boats, floating debris, etc...).

 

[springhead]

Re: running at night

I fish at lot at night, i carry a couple of those 1 million cp spot lights fully charged, there not exspensive and you can see where youre going and can especially see other boats that have no lights on.

 

[GrindKore]

Re: running at night

I boat on Lake Erie its large body of water and relatively deep compared to inland waters, also I know my landmarks/lights very well. However, I would never go faster than 5 MPH at night. During the day I see all kinds of floating junk, especially big tree stumps that fall in to the lake from eroded shoreline. Running in to something like a tree stump will likely split the hull and/or fling you out of the boat. If you absolutely must boat at night, wear your PFD, attach the engine cutoff string to your body, and take it slow.