Chatham First Light How is the light working for you? Tell us →
For people who know these waters

One question for mariners.

Have you used Chatham Light from the water since the beacon changed? Tell us whether it is working better, the same, worse, or if you are unsure.

Independent community effortNot affiliated with the U.S. Coast Guard, the Town of Chatham, or any Town board. This is a community feedback form, not an official incident report.
About 20 seconds

How is the new light working for your navigation?

Choose one answer. Rough location and contact information are optional.

Compared with the previous rotating light, does the new light make navigation:
Add a private email or short note Optional

Your choice and any note may be summarized anonymously. Any email stays private and does not join an email list.

Have more to share?Open the detailed trip report to add conditions, experience, comparisons, or pictures.
Detailed report

Document a trip from the water

Use this longer form when you have detailed observations or pictures to contribute.

Quick trip report

What happened on your latest trip?

Submit again whenever the route, distance or conditions change.

Private contact

Your email is kept private, helps us distinguish mariners from repeat trip reports, and is not added to the Working Mariner Updates list.

This observation

An operating area is enough. Do not disclose a precise fishing location.

Conditions during this observation Required
Your experience with the new light
Compared with the prior rotating light, how safe is the new light for your navigation? Required
Pictures from this observation

Show what you saw—or could not see.

Pictures of the new light, the prior rotating light, conditions on the water, or a moment when no light was visible can all help. Pictures remain private until reviewed and approved for the Gallery.

Private until reviewed.Submitting does not join an email list or sign the petition.

Add detailed mariner background and comparisonOptional · your experience, routes, navigation tools, sweep, loom and operational context
Your boating experience
What best describes how you use Chatham waters?
Credentials or experience
Conditions you regularly operate in Select all that apply
How often do marine air, fog or reduced visibility affect your operations?
Routes and navigation
Areas you regularly navigate Select all that apply
Compare the light by operating area Optional, especially useful for regular operators
Navigation tools normally available Select all that apply
Working GPS or chartplotter aboard
GPS effectiveness around Chatham’s shifting bars and shoals
NEW light compared with the PRIOR rotating light
Experience with the PRIOR rotating light
Nearshore sweep and loom

“Loom” means the visible glow or sweep across the water or sky that can help locate and orient to a lighthouse—even when you are not looking directly at the point of light.

PRIOR rotating light

NEW light

Where, if anywhere, would a stronger nearshore sweep or loom be useful? Select all that apply
Operational risk and visual backup
How would you characterize the navigational difficulty of Chatham’s waters, bars and shoals?
Since the new light was installed, have you changed what you routinely do? Select all that apply
Get Working Mariner UpdatesA separate, optional email list for focused requests and important developments.
Stay connected

Working Mariner Updates

After sending a report, join the separate email list for focused requests, evidence summaries and significant developments.

  • Requests for route- or condition-specific observations
  • Mariner evidence summaries and significant findings
  • Important Chatham Light developments and meeting notices

Separate and private. Joining this list does not submit feedback or sign the petition. Sharing feedback does not subscribe you to email.

Professional mariner email list

Join the updates

Email and your relationship to the water are required.

Add your home port and operating areas Optional
Regular operating areas Select all that apply