Issue date
Ensuring that your on board safety equipment is in correct working order is paramount and with many yachties and boaties heading out on the water in the warmer weather now is the time to give everything a thorough check.
Yachting New Zealand asks that you take some extra time to ensure your man overboard lights are working correctly.
Yachting New Zealand Safety and Technical Officer Angus Willison comments; “It has come to my attention that there are a number of Man Overboard lights that do not perform as they should. When equipped with batteries and thrown in the water, they lay on their side, and the light fails to ignite.”
“Obviously this could be disastrous for someone relying on being seen in the water at night. Most people would assume that checking the light means holding it upright in the cockpit, but I would encourage you to get it wet.”
If you own a man overboard light/s please check this piece of equipment on your boat by throwing it in the water. If it does not perform properly, take a photo and send it to me at Yachting New Zealand angus@yachtingnz.org.nz, as I wish to keep track of faulty units.
Any light unit which fails to ignite or perform as expected should be returned to the reseller. If you are unsure who the reseller is Yachting New Zealand can tell you who sells them if you contact Angus on angus@yachtingnz.org.nz or tel. (09) 361 1471
