Except you're showing two white lights aft. Only one is allowed. That's why I said of you're using your anchor light as a steaming light the stern light should be extinguished.
Steaming Light Question
- Thread starter Ward H
- Start date
Except you're showing two white lights aft. Only one is allowed. That's why I said of you're using your anchor light as a steaming light the stern light should be extinguished.
I have a captain's license however, just to be sure I looked these up since I don't always remember the specifics.
Rule25(e) when Motorsailing (ie: sails and motor running) its Masthead, Sidelights and Sternlight. Boats <12 meters in length are optional for day shapes and masthead lights may substitute for the steaming/stern light, so as noted when used, cover the existing stern light.
Otherwise Rule 23(a) boats < 50 meters or 23(c) applies for boats under <12 meters in length (motor only) its masthead, stern and running lights (23(a)) or use rule 23(c) which is running lights and an all around light.
So to be proper in your situation, cover the stern light and use the all around Anchor light and you are perfectly within the USCG inland rules.
Easiest way to look at it is if you are sailing, its just the running lights, no steaming light. If the motor is in use, then consider yourself a powerboat and use the proper lights for a power boat of your size. Length has a lot to do with it here since under 12 meters the rules get simple and you have a little more wiggle room to adjust
Fair winds,
Victor
Rule25(e) when Motorsailing (ie: sails and motor running) its Masthead, Sidelights and Sternlight. Boats <12 meters in length are optional for day shapes and masthead lights may substitute for the steaming/stern light, so as noted when used, cover the existing stern light.
Otherwise Rule 23(a) boats < 50 meters or 23(c) applies for boats under <12 meters in length (motor only) its masthead, stern and running lights (23(a)) or use rule 23(c) which is running lights and an all around light.
So to be proper in your situation, cover the stern light and use the all around Anchor light and you are perfectly within the USCG inland rules.
Easiest way to look at it is if you are sailing, its just the running lights, no steaming light. If the motor is in use, then consider yourself a powerboat and use the proper lights for a power boat of your size. Length has a lot to do with it here since under 12 meters the rules get simple and you have a little more wiggle room to adjust
Fair winds,
Victor
Great discussion.
Illuminating.
:stirthepot:
Well reasoned and insightful. Well written, all of them.
Really.
Thanks to all.
:wow:
...and congratulations are due:
Yet ANOTHER USE for duct tape!!!
Illuminating.
:stirthepot:Well reasoned and insightful. Well written, all of them.
Really.
Thanks to all.
:wow:
...and congratulations are due:
Yet ANOTHER USE for duct tape!!!
I suppose that if all that is necessary is to identify yourself as a generic power-driven vessel of less than 12 m rather than a sailboat under power, whether sails up or down not a factor, then dousing the stern light and using the all-round anchor light when the steaming light is out works "in a pinch!" Interesting discussion, as always.
.
On my commercial boats were have a long daily checklist to go through, and it gets logged on the log book.
Below is what you would see for a sailboat [starboard side] less than 40' LOA steaming with running lights [minus steaming light] and anchor light on [stern light would not be visible]. Not that much different from what you'd see if the sailboat was steaming with its steaming light on; mostly a matter of height above the water. However, if running with anchor light on and stern light also on, one would see two white lights, one high above the other, when the vessel is viewed from astern. There's no such configuration. If "the thing" is moving away from you maybe you don't care that much about what it's supposed to be. However, with stern light doused as suggested she'd look like a power-driven vessel < 50 m with an unusually high "stern light" or an unsually high all round white light (vessel < 12 m). See link below for the other figures.
Yes, technically, that sailboat running as a "power-driven vessel" would appear to be within COLREGS, but the "point" of the COLREGS on navigation lighting is to identify yourself to other traffic in potentially crossing situations so every one knows who has right of way. If you're "a thing" with non-standard lighting configuration you won't be found in "the book" that we're all required to have aboard [i.e., the USCG Navigation Rules and Regulations Handbook].
http://www.bosunsmate.org/seamanship/lights.php
Attachments
Great link on light configurations, Kings Gambit!
I had to laugh at the one that was titled..
"Vessel Restricted in Her Ability To Maneuver conducting underwater operations where an obstruction exists"
It looked like a bunch of boats, at anchor, tied together watching a July 4th fireworks show. (True story)
Here is a tip on getting low maintenance and longevity of all lights.
Use this or similar anti-oxidizing electrical grease/paste.
http://www.sanchem.com/electrical-contact-lubricant.html
Makes sure both socket and bulb metals are clean/bright. Use "very very little" of this type of paste to give almost imperceptible coating (not gobs). You will be surprised at the years of service with no oxidation/corrosion. Especially if you have dissimilar metals between bulb and socket. BTW the bulbs seldom get stuck and break.
Wishing bright full moon nights sailing for all....
Jim...
I had to laugh at the one that was titled..
"Vessel Restricted in Her Ability To Maneuver conducting underwater operations where an obstruction exists"
It looked like a bunch of boats, at anchor, tied together watching a July 4th fireworks show. (True story)
Here is a tip on getting low maintenance and longevity of all lights.
Use this or similar anti-oxidizing electrical grease/paste.
http://www.sanchem.com/electrical-contact-lubricant.html
Makes sure both socket and bulb metals are clean/bright. Use "very very little" of this type of paste to give almost imperceptible coating (not gobs). You will be surprised at the years of service with no oxidation/corrosion. Especially if you have dissimilar metals between bulb and socket. BTW the bulbs seldom get stuck and break.
Wishing bright full moon nights sailing for all....
Jim...
Many O'Day 272's were sent out of the factory with a combination switch that was to light either the anchor light at the top of the mast or the steaming light at the top of the mast. Our boat has never had a steaming light though the switch indicates it should. The only light that worked with a minimum of consistency was the anchor light that was very visible in all directions...I know this to be true. So here is my choice..use anchor light with running lights..which I've often done...or someone told me I could use running lights without any sort of light on the top of the mast while under sail because the boat was under a certain length..i.e. under the requirement for a steaming light at 26'-11 inches. What are your thoughts of this ? Thank you for your thoughts...I have Chapman's downstairs..perhaps I should read it before asking this question.
Under sail alone you MAY NOT show any white light forward, regardless of length. Red/Green side lights and stern light only. The masthead/steaming light is for power driven vessels only and says "I am a powerboat, do not give way for me". Many sailors get this wrong.
While this is correct, I would not advice this path. I like to think about the most practical accident that could happen and avoid that.
If you just had your side lights and stern light on, the worst situation would be you would be confused for a vessel under sail. Which means someone might have moved out of your way that didn't have to.
If you covered your stern light and turned on the anchor light you run the chance that a small power vessel operating at a high speed wouldn't see you. Your stern light is now 50 feet in the air and he is looking at the water.
My choice might change if I was off shore but the OP said he only had to power for 15 minutes to get back to his slip.
So if this was me, I would hoist a battery powered lantern or flashlight from my main halyard. It would be in front of the mast and there by blocked from the stern so you only show one stern light.
For the record, 50 ton master inland, OUPV (6-pack) near coastal, sailing and commercial assistance towing endorsement.
Just my thoughts. Fair winds,
Jesse
While we are scrutinizing the rule book, try this next time you are out night sailing along our busily lit coast lines, shore lights and such- make sense of masthead lights relative to a vessel - a boat with it's masthead anchor light lit 65 feet above it's nav lamps shouldn't consider itself well lit. Since my prime directive is to avoid collisions, not protocol breeches I would stay with my brightly lit stern (white) lamp AND behave like the power boat that I am. This is the same reason that I NEVER rely solely on my masthead anchor lamp. You can't see them, especially if you are a mobo skipping dazzle-eyed across the water at 30 knots. There are good cheap battery powered white lights that can be deployed from a halyard, and downhaul. But my last recourse would be to rely on that lamp +30 degrees above an approaching boat's line of sight.
And in a nut shell, you have just given one of the best posts on the ridiculousness of running a masthead tricolor. They should never have been made legal!
Let's not jump to conclusions...
I had experience, where the sidelights were completely invisible because of the waves (off shore, 2.5 m waves). Fortunately, it was close to dawn and we saw the mast and the sails of the other sailboat way before we saw the lights. If both boats are in a trough, you cannot see the other hull/deck/cabin top.
I would say that each option has its own application. If I was sailing in- and off-shore, I would have installed both (the normal side lights and the tri-colour), have them on a switch (to make sure that I use only one set) and use them depending on where I was.
I think (IIRC) there was a similar discussion and the conclusion was close to that (have both, use either, depending on where you are), as well.