light at masthead is not working. Can one just hang, for example, a battery powered flouroscent light from the foretraiangle, or not? Seems to me "see, be seen and avoid" is the rule vs a "proper" light, particularly one, even when operable, is 60' up.
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Col Regs
Col Regs, Rule 30: (b) A vessel of less than 50 metres 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.
Col Regs, Rule 30: (b) A vessel of less than 50 metres 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.
Anchor light
Hi Jim - I used to hang a kerosene lantern in the foretriangle on my parents' boat growing up. I always like the salty look and enjoyed the ritual of setting it up. These days I plug in a Davis LED and hang it off th end of the boom - sometimes I use the masthead anchor light, but I feel the lower one is more visible in crowded anchorages. Trevor
Hi Jim - I used to hang a kerosene lantern in the foretriangle on my parents' boat growing up. I always like the salty look and enjoyed the ritual of setting it up. These days I plug in a Davis LED and hang it off th end of the boom - sometimes I use the masthead anchor light, but I feel the lower one is more visible in crowded anchorages. Trevor
After a few toddies while on shore............
I find it easier to find my why back to mothership if I attach something to the end of the boom so my boat looks "different". Especially is S. Cal and Catalina Island where it's pretty crowded and all the boats are lined up on moorings. I use a solar-rechargable garden light used in landscaping. It doubles as a nice soft cockpit light too.
I find it easier to find my why back to mothership if I attach something to the end of the boom so my boat looks "different". Especially is S. Cal and Catalina Island where it's pretty crowded and all the boats are lined up on moorings. I use a solar-rechargable garden light used in landscaping. It doubles as a nice soft cockpit light too.
Here we go again...
Jim We sail out of th estuary, anchor in Clipper Cove, Horseshoe Cove, Hospital Cove, China Camp, etc. This issue has been beaten to death so many times, I can't begin to tell you. A forum search on anchor lights will keep you reading forever.
I agree with the "be seen." From where, far away or up close is always the issue. A kerosene lantern on our backstay works for us in these anchorages. However, many others have different anchorage issues, distances to be seen, traffic, etc. And there are the rules. We put a Davis mega light on our masthead, and use the kerosene lantern. There are a bunch of boats illegally anchored (for good?) in Clipper Cove ith NO lights. Yuck! Stu
Jim We sail out of th estuary, anchor in Clipper Cove, Horseshoe Cove, Hospital Cove, China Camp, etc. This issue has been beaten to death so many times, I can't begin to tell you. A forum search on anchor lights will keep you reading forever.
I agree with the "be seen." From where, far away or up close is always the issue. A kerosene lantern on our backstay works for us in these anchorages. However, many others have different anchorage issues, distances to be seen, traffic, etc. And there are the rules. We put a Davis mega light on our masthead, and use the kerosene lantern. There are a bunch of boats illegally anchored (for good?) in Clipper Cove ith NO lights. Yuck! StuI have used a battery powered LED lamp
run up the halyard, works pretty good. Just remember to send a messenger line with it to pull the halyard back down.
run up the halyard, works pretty good. Just remember to send a messenger line with it to pull the halyard back down.
Visibility
In the island anchorages here in the Sea of Cortez a masthead light blends with the bright stars in a dark clear sky. Our home port in CA channel islands was not a problem due to fog etc. Coming in at night it is confusing. We use a solar powered garden light on the boom, and I made a 4 LED light with fresnel lens (like the old salt-shaker light) that is hung from the radar tower (powered by 12 vdc). Each LED beams horizontally. Very low power drain compared to the masthead one and bright about 8 ft off the water surface. I can even locate the boat when taking the dink ashore at night.
In the island anchorages here in the Sea of Cortez a masthead light blends with the bright stars in a dark clear sky. Our home port in CA channel islands was not a problem due to fog etc. Coming in at night it is confusing. We use a solar powered garden light on the boom, and I made a 4 LED light with fresnel lens (like the old salt-shaker light) that is hung from the radar tower (powered by 12 vdc). Each LED beams horizontally. Very low power drain compared to the masthead one and bright about 8 ft off the water surface. I can even locate the boat when taking the dink ashore at night.
jack
tell us more about your led 4 bulb units. any diagrams etc. would be appreciated/ what lights you selected an so on. been wanting to do this for a while.
tell us more about your led 4 bulb units. any diagrams etc. would be appreciated/ what lights you selected an so on. been wanting to do this for a while.
Here 'tis Ed
The LEDs were ultra bright white ones, but exact part number is home in Calif. The Light/lens was an Aqua Signal from WM, about $10. Took out bulb, wired in 4 LEDs and resistor. See website below for needed resistor and types and number of LEDs. Use more LEDs if you want. Hope the photo turns out showing disassembled unit attached to rail clamp.
The LEDs were ultra bright white ones, but exact part number is home in Calif. The Light/lens was an Aqua Signal from WM, about $10. Took out bulb, wired in 4 LEDs and resistor. See website below for needed resistor and types and number of LEDs. Use more LEDs if you want. Hope the photo turns out showing disassembled unit attached to rail clamp.
Jack, thanks for the quick response
This is the best setup i have seen yet. It looks like it would be just great, so im off off to build one or two. this looks like a great project. Thanks much!
This is the best setup i have seen yet. It looks like it would be just great, so im off off to build one or two. this looks like a great project. Thanks much!
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