Would you guys make this trip at night?

230 Mike · **Posted:** Mon Jan 30, 2012 11:55 am

Yeah, trust your instruments, or else:

Sorry, couldn't resist.

Paul I. · **Posted:** Mon Jan 30, 2012 12:13 pm

That was the problem, the "chicken of the sea" did not use his GPS.

230 Mike · **Posted:** Mon Jan 30, 2012 3:59 pm

Yes, and now he's driving a school bus...

beyond the blue · **Posted:** Mon Jan 30, 2012 4:23 pm

If I have read the table correctly, you will have almost a full moon on the night of the 1st July 2012 (clear skies prevailing) and in my expierience a great help in night time sailing.

JeffLW · **Posted:** Mon Jan 30, 2012 5:49 pm

I'm reminded of a fireworks trip I took some years ago by boat that turned nasty.
Took our 215 Sundowner from Port Huron to Lexington. The forcast was for calm conditions all night.
And it was glass on the way up. About halfway back the wind kicked up 3 to 4 footers that turned into 8 footers when we got under the Bluewater Bridge. With waves breaking over the front of the boat, we would have been in trouble if we had had a bowrider. Not fun at all.
Never been so happy to get to finally make it to the dock before or since that trip.

I'd do it. Just pay VERY close attention to the weather report.

Bliss36 · **Posted:** Mon Jan 30, 2012 6:00 pm

blue dragon wrote:

But thats why I wanted to make this trip, to take some friends and family to watch the fireworks from the water. :cry:

I say do it....thats why you bought a boat right? I agree with others to do this trip prior to that night just to get familiar with it. Something else I recommend that we do is just stay at anchor once the show is over and hang out with your friends. What's the rush to get back to a crowded boat launch anyway? If everyone usually heads east to the marina after the show then park on the west side of the crowd so everyone isn't running you over. You might be surprised how quickly everyone clears out of there once the fireworks are over, and you and your friends can have a nice relaxing moon lit cruise back to the marina. Good luck!

acguy · **Posted:** Mon Jan 30, 2012 7:34 pm

JeffLW wrote:

I'm reminded of a fireworks trip I took some years ago by boat that turned nasty.
Took our 215 Sundowner from Port Huron to Lexington. The forcast was for calm conditions all night.
And it was glass on the way up. About halfway back the wind kicked up 3 to 4 footers that turned into 8 footers when we got under the Bluewater Bridge. With waves breaking over the front of the boat, we would have been in trouble if we had had a bowrider. Not fun at all.
Never been so happy to get to finally make it to the dock before or since that trip.

I'd do it. Just pay VERY close attention to the weather report.

If you get there and the weather turns for some unforeseen reason there is always the TTC to get you back to Scarberia!!!!

TX H210SS · **Joined:** Thu May 27, 2010 9:10 am **Posts:** 1488

Just a thought. If you are planning to make the run ahead of time as mentioned then you may as well plot in a plan B on the GPS. Like a midway port dock or marina just in case you need to get off the water...also if you have to light the spotlight keep one eye closed while its lit. Same as they teach with flares in the military. This greatly reduces your night vision recoup time.

blue dragon · **Joined:** Tue Jul 12, 2011 5:01 pm **Posts:** 792

beyond the blue wrote:

If I have read the table correctly, you will have almost a full moon on the night of the 1st July 2012 (clear skies prevailing) and in my expierience a great help in night time sailing.

Can you post a link to the lunar calendar?

ric · **Posted:** Mon Jan 30, 2012 9:31 pm

What's the point of owning a boat if you're not going to use it when it's cherished the most??!

Go!

I boat nightly almost every night. It's my favorite time to be on the water. With a full moon it's almost like daylight. The only time it sucks is when the water is glass. You can't tell when the water ends, sky starts, or land starts. That's when local water knowledge or GPS comes in handy.

aguyindallas · **Posted:** Mon Jan 30, 2012 9:31 pm

I would do it, with a trial run. You have a boat, enjoy it. I too advise setting the anchor for an extra 30-45 minutes to let the crazy people clear out. We watch fireworks ech year from the boat and it's magical. Treat yourself and your friends to a fun night.

beyond the blue · **Posted:** Tue Jan 31, 2012 6:34 pm

blue dragon wrote:

beyond the blue wrote:

If I have read the table correctly, you will have almost a full moon on the night of the 1st July 2012 (clear skies prevailing) and in my expierience a great help in night time sailing.

Can you post a link to the lunar calendar?

http://www.almanac.com/moon/calendar/ON/Toronto/2012-07

Cap'n Morgan · **Posted:** Thu Feb 02, 2012 8:22 am

Luckily, our fireworks are close to our marina. We just watched them from there last year. During the summer festival we have, we watched them from the concert grounds in this picture from 2 years ago.

blue dragon · **Joined:** Tue Jul 12, 2011 5:01 pm **Posts:** 792

Beautiful! I can't wait now.

Wet Doggg · **Joined:** Fri May 19, 2006 11:15 am **Posts:** 682

With a trial run you should have no problem. Used to make quite a few trips in the dark on Lake Michigan. Heck, if you do not feel comfortable running with all the other boats...head out to see a mile or two. Away from the crowd.

www.iFourWinns.com

Would you guys make this trip at night?

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