Anchor light - battery operated and rechargeable

[Mark Maulden]

My seven yr old LED light at the top is out. I’m looking for opinions on a rechargeable light to hang in the forward triangle or off the end of the boom or somewhere. I have never liked a light at the top as it mixes with stars and shoreside lights. Now that the top is kaput, time to change. Thoughts?

 

[JoeWhite]

Use the kind of light that is worn on the forehead with strap. They are now USB recharged and last more than 10 hours per charge.

 

[Phil Herring]

Hey, no worries about stars in the PNW, right? Or sun.

 

[thinwater]

You really need one light that is USCG approved. I don't think what you are looking for exists. In fact, I'm not aware of any LED hanging lights that are approved. Incandescent, but not LED. Please post.

Go up and replace it, and then add something non- USCG lower if you like. Good idea. When I cruised I would keep the LED cockpit on in crowded harbors.

 

[JBP-PA]

A couple years ago Yachting did a review of portable and battery anchor lights

Anchor lights test

Still relying on an old hurricane lamp at anchor? Duncan Kent tests the latest electric anchor lights and gives advice about where to fit them

www.yachtingmonthly.com

 

[JBP-PA]

I really like the Luminaid inflatable LED light. I use it as a backup anchor light, not as my primary, because it gives a nice glow over the whole boat (it's a wee boat). I also use it frequently in the cabin just to provide a soft glow.

 

[Sailfanatic]

My seven yr old LED light at the top is out. I’m looking for opinions on a rechargeable light to hang in the forward triangle or off the end of the boom or somewhere. I have never liked a light at the top as it mixes with stars and shoreside lights. Now that the top is kaput, time to change. Thoughts?

I am with you on this issue. I have generally hung a basic battery powered camp lantern in the foretriangle for years as my anchor light, leaving mast top light off. You can get a lantern at any camping store or a Walmart.

 

[Terry Cox]

Thoughts?

Fam gifted me Luci, an inflatable solar light. Works great for a cockpit light, anchor light, etc. Even though it says access is blocked, it will still show the product.

MPOWERD Luci Outdoor 2.0 Light - Moosejaw

The MPOWERD Luci Outdoor 2. Earn up to 10% back in Moosejaw Reward Dollars on every order.

www.moosejaw.com

 

[ggrizzard]

There is an 'approved', LED, battery operated, all around, white anchor light available. The company's name escapes me at the moment, but it was sold direct
and by Defender, maybe others.
They also make a red-green-white nav light and a suction or rail mount kit.
They are good about warranty repairs and /or replacement.

 

[Sanfelice]

IMO, I don't think it has to be Coast Guard approved, otherwise any vessel registered/flagged in another country would not be in compliance. I believe the regulations say it must be visible from 2 mi. The LEDs today should be sufficient. On my boat a portable Led light is much brighter than my CG approved anchor light that came with the boat. I string a Led lantern from the forestay and one from the backstay which I believe are much more visible than than a light at the top of the mast. Flame away!

 

[thinwater]

IMO, I don't think it has to be Coast Guard approved, otherwise any vessel registered/flagged in another country would not be in compliance. I believe the regulations say it must be visible from 2 mi. The LEDs today should be sufficient. On my boat a portable Led light is much brighter than my CG approved anchor light that came with the boat. I string a Led lantern from the forestay and one from the backstay which I believe are much more visible than than a light at the top of the mast. Flame away!

a. It is required to have been tested to meet COLREGS requirements. There are also ISO standards that are ... identical. So the practical answer is yes, it does need to be approved. If there is an accident, the short answer will be "No, there was no approved light showing." That the masthead light was broken and you don't like climbing will not be an effective defense.

b.The requirements (brightness, vertical angles, obstructions) are in the annex to COLREGS.

I basically agree, there are many things that could work. I've published articles on some good DIY alternatives (intended as supplements for special circumstances). But the fact remains that without one tested light you are not in a good place the event of an accident. You are completely sunk based on the court precedents that I have read.

If I really did not want to climb I would get one of the cheap listed LED lights and mount it off the stern rail or similar. If it's not worth that, it's a hazard to navigation you do not value and it should be removed from the water. Sorry, but I have no compassion for poorly lit boats at anchor.

 

[ggrizzard]

I found the light(s) I referred to earlier:

Navisafe Portable 360° / MOB LED Light for Dinghy or Kayak

Portable Anchor Light, LED Anchor Light, NaviSafe Anchor Light 2NM

store.marinebeam.com

 

[thinwater]

I found the light(s) I referred to earlier:

Navisafe Portable 360° / MOB LED Light for Dinghy or Kayak

Portable Anchor Light, LED Anchor Light, NaviSafe Anchor Light 2NM

store.marinebeam.com

Neat light. But the OP specifically asked about lights you can hang. There used to be a few that were USCG aproaved, but as far as I know, none are available in LED, which makes them kind of useless for most of us.

Any LED light you can hang that is USCG listed? The law is the law, and if it isn't listed, it does not count.

 

[LloydB]

Replace the LED unless you NEVER plan on powered navigation at night while remembering that those new LED's are more powerful and less expensive than they were even just five years ago. On the other hand if it were me I would be tempted to get two of those dingy lights and build my own hanger one for each stay with an appropriate lamp shade below that I could not see from the deck at night. If a LEO questions me for having two I would just ask him which one I should turn off when at anchor.

 

[Barnacle Bill]

It has to be visible 360 degrees for two miles.

 

[ggrizzard]

If a LEO see's 2 bright white lights on an anchored vessel they will likely not care
if there are two or one. The point being, they saw you anchored.

 

[thinwater]

... I would be tempted to get two of those dingy lights and build my own hanger one for each stay with an appropriate lamp shade below that I could not see from the deck at night. If a LEO questions me for having two I would just ask him which one I should turn off when at anchor.

It is perfectly legal and even good practice to have additional lights below the white all-around, so long as they do not confuse. Nothing flashing, however (expressly forbidden).

For example, red and green sentimental lights are bad because they can look like or confuse running lights ... and some people add those because they like the cool low-rider look. Very bad.

But extra white deck lights at anchor are fine ... so long as they are not so brite they distract others from their sleep, which is also occasionally a problem.

 

[thinwater]

It has to be visible 360 degrees for two miles.

Sort of. See Colregs Annex I 84.17

(b) All-round lights shall be so located as not to be obscured by masts,
topmasts or structures within angular sectors of more than 6 degrees,
except anchor lights prescribed in Rule 30, which need not be placed at
an impracticable height above the hull, and the all-round white light
described in Rule 23(d) [not an anchoring rule] , which may not be obscured at all.

Also:
2. Vertical positioning and spacing of lights
(a) On a power-driven vessel of 20 meters or more in length the masthead
lights shall be placed as follows:
(i) the forward masthead light, or if only one masthead light is carried,
then that light, at a height above the hull of not less than 6 meters,
and, if the breadth of the vessel exceeds 6 meters, then at a height
above the hull not less than such breadth, so however that the light
need not be placed at a greater height above the hull than 12
meters;
(ii) when two masthead lights are carried the after one shall be at least
4.5 meters vertically higher than the forward one.
(b) The vertical separation of masthead lights of power-driven vessels shall
be such that in all normal conditions of trim the after light will be seen
over and separate from the forward light at a distance of 1000 meters
from the stem when viewed from sea level.
(c) The masthead light of a power-driven vessel of 12 meters but less than
20 meters in length shall be placed at a height above the gunwale of not
less than 2.5 meters.

0. Vertical sectors
(a) The vertical sectors of electric lights as fitted, with the exception of lights
on sailing vessels underway [anchored is not under way] shall ensure that:
(i) at least the required minimum intensity is maintained at all angles
from 5 degrees above to 5 degrees below the horizontal;
(ii) at least 60 percent of the required minimum intensity is maintained
from 7.5 degrees above to 7.5 degrees below the horizontal.
(b) In the case of sailing vessels underway the vertical sectors of electric
lights as fitted shall ensure that:
(i) at least the required minimum intensity is maintained at all angles
from 5 degrees above to 5 degrees below the horizontal;
(ii) at least 50 percent of the required minimum intensity is maintained
from 25 degrees above to 25 degrees below the horizontal.
(c) In the case of lights other than electric these specifications shall be met
as closely as possible

Note that this explains why anchor lights can be nearly invisable within a few hundred feet; you are under the required angle. You need to view your anchor light from at least 500 feet to get an accurate idea of brightness. And this is why suplimental lights are smart.