On Sun, 26 Aug 2007 19:32:11 -0400, Wayne.B
wrote:

On Sat, 25 Aug 2007 15:48:47 -0400, "Armond Perretta"
wrote:

Unless that "reasonable person" happened to be a judge in Admiralty Court.
In gear or out, when the machinery is running, the vessel must follow motor
boat rules.

Please explain to me the difference between running an engine out of
gear to charge batteries and running a generator.

Are you saying that if you run a generator you are no longer a
sailboat? Highly unlikely. Quoting Dickens' Oliver Twist: "If that
is the law, then the law is an ass".

What say resident counselor Dave?

Actually the USCG rules refer to

(1) A power vessel under way, defined as: The term 'power-driven
vessel' means any vessel propelled by machinery;

(2) A sailing vessel under way

and finally

(e) A vessel proceeding under sail when also being propelled by
machinery shall exhibit forward where it can best be seen a conical
shape, apex downwards. A vessel of less than 12 meters in length is
not required to exhibit this shape, but may do so. [Inld]

So it appears that the USCG does in fact differentiate between sail
boats under sail and sailboats under power by the phrase " proceeding
under sail when also being propelled by machinery" which would appear
to preclude the necessity of using a "steaming light" when simply
running engines to charge batteries, as long as the engines are not
connected to the propellers.


Bruce in Bangkok
(brucepaigeATgmailDOTcom)