"Capt. JG" wrote in message
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"Wayne.B" wrote in message
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On Mon, 27 Aug 2007 09:02:17 +0700, wrote:

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.

That would certainly be the common sense interpretation unless it has
been modified by some court precedent.


Part of the problem would be for either the CG or another boater from
determining if you're being propelled by machinery or just running your
engine. If the other boater picks wrong, there could be a problem.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com




It's not often that I can hear another sailboat's motor running from any
distance. If the sails are sheeted in hard and they're going dead into the
wind, or if they only have the main up in light winds (again, sheeted in
hard), it is fairly obvious they're steaming. Nobody, but nobody, in any of
the places I have sailed, uses the steaming dayshape. I did for a while
until I got tired of being the only one using it and nobody knowing what it
was for. Likewise with using sound signals. Overtaking boats in the channel,
I will sometimes sound the requisite two short blasts signaling my intention
to pass to their port side. Being inland rules, I'm not "allowed" to proceed
until they respond. But they think I'm just honking at them and get all bent
out of shape and return the flying bird salute.

Sailing or not, under power or not, I tend to apply the General Prudential
Rule and assume that everyone on the water intends to run me over.