Peaceful Nights?

RECESS · May 29, 2009

My solar garden LED lights become dim around 2am.

Andy1237 · May 29, 2009

Turn off the fridge, switch to one battery, turn on the light. In the middle of the night when the fans start slowing down to the point that the battery is obviously dying-turn it all off. And btw, after supper run the motor for 30 minutes to charge the battery and heat the water for washing dishes.

MrBee · May 29, 2009

I always use the anchor light. If this is the only thing ruffing your feathers on another wise nice evening with the Admiral , I suggest you get an attitude adjustment. For god's sake man, buy another battery and attach the Anchor light to it ! He He

" If the Admiral ain't sleepin good....then I ain't sleepin good"

Bee

Joe · May 30, 2009

I was not aware there was any regulation about where an anchor light was mounted. Any 360 degree light is satisfactory... it doesn't have to be mounted to the masthead. I have hung a lantern from the end of the boom, perfectly legal I'm sure. I'm going to get an led lantern that uses rechargeable batteries and get it off the house circuit entirely.

Broke sailor SV Marcell · May 30, 2009

Anchor light: It's required by law.

Bill Bell · May 30, 2009

I have an automatic LED anchor light at the masthead that draws .08 amps but also use a couple of solar LED garden lights (just like Neil's picture) at deck level. They last until the sun comes up in the morning. Kind of nice to have something at deck level to keep the late night boaters aware of you.

sailingdog · May 30, 2009

A Davis Megalight is about $40 or so... and it will run all night (10 hours) on less than two amp hours of electricity with the low power bulb, and less than 3.5 amp-hours with the brighter high power bulb.

Running just non-certified anchor lights is a stupid idea. If you get hit, the visibility of the lights will come up and if they're not certified, you'll probably be found partially liable for the accident.

If you want to run the LED garden lights IN ADDITION to a certified anchor light, by all means, go ahead. But running them INSTEAD of a certified anchor light is just dumb.

IF your batteries are such that you can't afford to run a Davis Megalight or similar fixture for the night, you've got some serious issues with sizing the batteries for the loads you're creating.

Another relatively inexpensive solution is to get a small LED anchor light fixture and install that in the cockpit or thereabouts... they've come down a lot in price, and use even less electricity than the Davis Megalight.

Neil McDonald said:
Imagine relaxing peacefully on your boat anchored in a quiet cove far away from the busy world and watching the end of a beautiful summer sunset. Everything is blissfully calm and idyllic, until this conversation takes place:

First Mate “Are you going to switch on the anchor light?”
Skipper “Nope, uses too much battery”
First Mate “Someone will ram us in the middle of the night!”
Skipper “Not gonna happen”
First Mate “I’ll be awake all night worrying”
Skipper (blood pressure rising) “Grrrrrr!”

So what do you do about an anchor light when you are moored in a remote spot with minimal boat traffic? Run your house batteries all night to power the anchor light to avert a disaster with a 0.0000001% chance of ever happening? Spend good money to buy a LED anchor light for the mast head and risk your neck installing it?

How about a low cost solution that should keep almost everyone happy? The latest batch of solar powered LED garden lights are compact, low cost (under $5) and they even look good! Not only that, but the LED and the solar power portions (compete with auto shut-off for daylight hours) are totally integrated and can be readily mounted on your boat.

Legal beagles will point out that these units are not certified as anchor lights and must be mounted at the mast head. Ignoring the certification issue, my response is that traditional masthead anchor lights are less than satisfactory in the small anchorages frequented by coastal cruisers in my boating area. Human eyes naturally scan at eye level. If you are anywhere near a moored sail boat, your neck needs to be ratcheted back to an angle that creates business for chiropractors to see the average masthead anchor light. However any small twinkle of light at eye level quickly gains your attention.

After deciding that the solution to my crew’s stress problem was a solar powered LED, I eventually decided that the optimum mounting location was on top of the MOB pole. Easy to install, good visibility, looks as if it belongs there and is a low cost throw-away replacement every 2-3 seasons. The attached pictures show how it is done. Before anyone else mentions it, it did occur to me that it would be even better if the light could be mounted directly on the MOB pole so that it would also go overboard with significant benefit for a night time emergency. The mounting design for that is still under development!

Ross · May 30, 2009

I use a kerosine lantern, with a half inch wick, hung from my back stay, well above the boom. That way it not only show 360 but also illuminates the deck and sails. With kerosine selling for about 2.5 cents per ounce this burns all night for about 20 cents. It meets USCG requirements for 6 candles. I observed a boat showing a LED yard light in a dark cove and they were barely visible at a half mile. I don't like masthead lights, they look too much like stars. Lights closer to the boat show the boat and in fog are more likely to not be mistaken.

Chuckbear · May 30, 2009

if you don't have enough battery power to run an anchor light all night you need to be tied to a dock and not at anchor until you get that issue resolved. A light at night is law and you might play with your own safety but you are also playing with the safety of others that might be on the water at night and you don't have that right. Chuck

CharlieCobra · May 30, 2009

I have a Coleman propane lantern that hangs from a clip on the backstay. Plenty bright and burns all night cheaply. It actually looks pretty salty on Oh Joy.

Ross · May 30, 2009

CharlieCobra said:
I have a Coleman propane lantern that hangs from a clip on the backstay. Plenty bright and burns all night cheaply. It actually looks pretty salty on Oh Joy.

I bet if you hooked that up to the cooking supply it would burn all season.

TimCup · May 30, 2009

Easy does it, dog...

While it's pretty obvious from his post where he stands (multiple reasons why he should not do what we all know is legal and reasonable), I don't think he's gonna hear anything you're saying calling him and/or his ideas "stupid" and "dumb".

Can we keep this the civilized forum?

Otherwise, of course, you make perfect sense, as ausual...

cup

CharlieCobra · May 30, 2009

Ross said:
I bet if you hooked that up to the cooking supply it would burn all season.

Yeah but I'm REAL cautious with the propane system on the boat for obvious reasons. It works well, is reasonably safe at the moment and simple. I'd rather use my big brass oil lamp but it needs some restoration. Now THAT would look salty. I'll probably refit it along with the boat...

RECESS · May 30, 2009

CharlieCobra said:
I have a Coleman propane lantern that hangs from a clip on the backstay. Plenty bright and burns all night cheaply. It actually looks pretty salty on Oh Joy.

Hmmmmm I never thought of that. I will have to give that a go. Two thumbs up!!

Ross · May 30, 2009

The Coast Guard requirement is to show an all around white light displayed where it may best be seen. They go further to state that the top of the main mast is not the best choice. Saying that Closer to the hull is better.

Chuckbear · May 30, 2009

Ross said:
The Coast Guard requirement is to show an all around white light displayed where it may best be seen. They go further to state that the top of the main mast is not the best choice. Saying that Closer to the hull is better.

Ross, I have not seen that anywhere in the Coast Guard information regarding the top of the mast. The key words here are "all around light". If any part of the structure and or the rigging blocks the light than it is not an all around light. On a sailboat that is the top of the mast. I do not know of any instance that a light at a lower station has been a problem, BUT, if you where to be involved in a legal issue than the anchor light would be incorrect. Chuck

Ross · May 30, 2009

Chuckbear said:
Ross, I have not seen that anywhere in the Coast Guard information regarding the top of the mast. The key words here are "all around light". If any part of the structure and or the rigging blocks the light than it is not an all around light. On a sailboat that is the top of the mast. I do not know of any instance that a light at a lower station has been a problem, BUT, if you where to be involved in a legal issue than the anchor light would be incorrect. Chuck

Chuck, try this C&P and link:
Rule 30
(a) A vessel at anchor shall exhibit where it can best be seen:

1. in the fore part, an all-round white light or one ball;
2. at or near the stern and at a lower level than the light prescribed in subparagraph (i), an all-round white light.

(b) A vessel of less than 50 meters in length may exhibit an all-round white light where it can best be seen instead of the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) of this Rule.
(c) A vessel at anchor may, and a vessel of 100 meters and more in length shall, also use the available working or equivalent lights to illuminate her decks.
(d) A vessel aground shall exhibit the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Rule and in addition, if practicable, [Inld] where they can best be seen;

1. two all-round red lights in a vertical line;
2. three balls in a vertical line.

(e) A vessel of less than 7 meters in length, when at anchor not in or near a narrow channel, fairway or where other vessels normally navigate, shall not be required to exhibit the shape prescribed in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Rule.
(f) A vessel of less than 12 meters in length, when aground, shall not be required to exhibit the lights or shapes prescribed in subparagraphs (d)(i) and (ii) of this Rule.
(g) A vessel of less than 20 meters in length, when at anchor in a special anchorage area designated by the Secretary, shall not be required to exhibit the anchor lights and shapes required by this Rule.
http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/mwv/navrules/rules/Rule3031.htm

(a) A vessel engaged on pilotage duty shall exhibit:
(i) at or near the masthead, two all-round lights in a vertical line, the upper being white and the lower red;
(ii) when underway, in addition, sidelights and a sternlight;
(iii) when at anchor, in addition to the lights prescribed in subparagraph (i), the light, lights, or shape prescribed in Rule 30 for [vessels at anchor / anchored vessels].
(b) A pilot vessel when not engaged on pilotage duty shall exhibit the lights or shapes prescribed for a similar vessel of her length.

http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/mwv/navrules/rules/Rule29.htm

Chuckbear · May 30, 2009

Ok, Maybe it is just me but I see nothing that says the masthead on a sailboat is probably not the best place. Perhaps you could clarify.

Rule 21

"All-round light" means a light showing an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of 360 degrees.

Where else would that be on a sailboat?

Chuck

Peaceful Nights?

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