Best colours for visibility at sea

Hi

After about 30 odd years at sea, on ships and yachts, my conclusion is that black is the most visible colour at night and black/rescue orange combination is best during the day.

Shining a light on a yacht sail is very effective at night.

Radar reflectors are not much cop on the whole.

Nowadays I would rather use AIS.

I wish so many people would not paint their whole boat white. A small white boat in waves is practically invisible.

 

I wish I could come up with a cool pattern that might make people want to paint their small boats something other than white. It seems really counter-intuitive to paint them black though because most people seem to think it will be invisible at night.

 

Infra red has a wave length that is invisible to the human eye. So, if you paint your boat infra red it will be invisible.

Poida

 

infra-red example:

 

Sure, don't you remember those Honda Civic commercials from the 70's, during the fuel crisis? They had different "what if" scenarios where everyone drove a Civic, and we saved billions of gallons of gas/oil each day, lotsa room in parking lots because everyone had a small car, lotsa room on the freeway with no traffic congestion, etc. Anyway, we are getting way off-topic again...

Back on topic, maybe, if white is least visible during the day, what color is least visible at night (tropical night, not polar night)?

 

AIS is indeed a very valuable tool. I was recently in heavy conditions, radar garbled with sea clutter and horizontal rain, on the edge of two traffic separation zones and was very happy that the my AIS was pinging away.

Do remember that many vessels are not AIS equipped and that your eyes ,plus a sharp lookout are still needed to defend your safety.

 

Sorry Hoyt that's black.

This is a photo of an infra red boat.
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Poida
PS The dots on the side are to indicate where the boat would be, if you could see it.

 

You're right. How'd I miss that?

 

I thought it was a night shot Hoyt!

-Tom

 

Here's a boat I finished earlier.
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It's Infra Red with Ultra Violet stripes.

That makes it more conspicuously invisible.

Poida

 

Actually, we can see things that are actively energized by Ultra Violet light. I think maybe if there is enough UV we can actually see it. Otherwise it is just used in dyes and things to make colors look brighter. An Example is hunting clothing that is cammoflauge, but dipped in UV dyes to make the colors look brighter and might actually be like wearing glowing clothing as far as animals are concerned.

 

Here's my friends boat with real invisible paint.



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(If you look closely, you can see the displaced water.) Not that water which is displaced can be seen because it doesn't exist...

 

Schooner, if you don't like the look of my boat just say so. Actually I painted it invisible so you people in this forum wouldn't criticise it. Like the chine angle should be equal to half the length of the freeboard multiplied by displacement in bucket loads divided by the keel thickness in beer cans.

Anyway I have had free moorings for years and it confuses the crap out of Rattlesnakes.

Poida

 

This is quite good.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44x5KdciqO8&feature=youtu.be

 

It is pretty good but not great colours IMHO for visibility.

I thought buddy was going swimming there for a minute, I guess he didn't like the spray.

Be a great ride though.

-Tom