Winnipesaukee Forum - View Single Post

02-25-2004, 09:12 PM

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"Who's expert opinion is this? Yours?"

Well, yes!

I have optometry experience and worked for a dispensing optician years ago. A judge could declare me a "Lay Expert" for criminal court testimony today. But you so completely misunderstand this nav light concept, that Sisti & Twomey would have paid me to stay away from that trial! (You probably didn't know that defense attorneys pay very handsomely for expert witnesses to just "disappear" -- but attorneys don't call it that, either).

There's more to night blindness than the 2% who cannot see at night (and don't know it).
If you have had LASIK or RK eye surgery, your vision at night has been compromised: A nighttime traffic accident in Germany will have you tested for night vision. 70% do not get their licenses back. http://www.winnipesaukeeforum.com/archive1.cgi?noframes;read=57764

Mee'n'Mac touched on one aspect of detection. Still another is that a boat's own spray will "catch" the light spilled from the navlights: sometimes light mist or fog will. Sometimes it's arrayed across the foredeck -- sometimes it's reflected off the edges of the chrome housing.

Here's a rough analogy on what this is about: Occasionally, you'll drive up on a van with no rear lighting: No tag, tail, or turn lights shining rearwards.

Although you can't directly see either his taillights or his headlights, you can detect his presence.

It's the same for night boaters. I have many miles of night experience with unlighted boats — including my own boat.

In a full moon maybe, moonless night, not a chance...

Seeing unlighted boats/objects under full moon conditions should be fairly easy.

Seeing the red/green navigation lights from astern (with a disabled white light) is easier on moonless nights. (You don't see the red/green, you detect it. Instrument lights also show astern).

Here's another night-optometry trick: Look at the red/green lights on other boats. They should appear equally sharp in appearance -- red or green. If you need new lenses, one of those colors (red or green) will appear consistently sharper.

Give "detection" a try before you reach the conclusion that "It Can't Be Done". If you find disagreement with others about the capacity of your night vision, consider taking night vision supplements.

02-25-2004, 09:12 PM	#37
madrasahs Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Boating at night . "Who's expert opinion is this? Yours?" Well, yes! I have optometry experience and worked for a dispensing optician years ago. A judge could declare me a "Lay Expert" for criminal court testimony today. But you so completely misunderstand this nav light concept, that Sisti & Twomey would have paid me to stay away from that trial! (You probably didn't know that defense attorneys pay very handsomely for expert witnesses to just "disappear" -- but attorneys don't call it that, either). There's more to night blindness than the 2% who cannot see at night (and don't know it). If you have had LASIK or RK eye surgery, your vision at night has been compromised: A nighttime traffic accident in Germany will have you tested for night vision. 70% do not get their licenses back. http://www.winnipesaukeeforum.com/archive1.cgi?noframes;read=57764 Mee'n'Mac touched on one aspect of detection. Still another is that a boat's own spray will "catch" the light spilled from the navlights: sometimes light mist or fog will. Sometimes it's arrayed across the foredeck -- sometimes it's reflected off the edges of the chrome housing. Here's a rough analogy on what this is about: Occasionally, you'll drive up on a van with no rear lighting: No tag, tail, or turn lights shining rearwards. Although you can't directly see either his taillights or his headlights, you can detect his presence. It's the same for night boaters. I have many miles of night experience with unlighted boats — including my own boat. In a full moon maybe, moonless night, not a chance... Seeing unlighted boats/objects under full moon conditions should be fairly easy. Seeing the red/green navigation lights from astern (with a disabled white light) is easier on moonless nights. (You don't see the red/green, you detect it. Instrument lights also show astern). Here's another night-optometry trick: Look at the red/green lights on other boats. They should appear equally sharp in appearance -- red or green. If you need new lenses, one of those colors (red or green) will appear consistently sharper. Give "detection" a try before you reach the conclusion that "It Can't Be Done". If you find disagreement with others about the capacity of your night vision, consider taking night vision supplements.