My wife recently attended a sailing course in which the instructor told her that, since the masthead light and the sternlight cover a total of 360 degrees, these two lights fit the requirement of an anchor light. My interpretation is that the anchor light is "unbroken through 360 degrees," both horizontally and vertically. Before I go back to the instructor, am I interpreting the Col Regs too strictly? What is the concensus?
- Status
Only horizontal angles matter
To give other boats view from any relative bearing, the anchor / masthead light should be visible from 360 degrees. If it were visible 360 degrees vertically as well, how would you secure it? It would have to float over your vessel
Aside... unless the masthead light is a "tri-color light", it is in fact an anchor light.
To give other boats view from any relative bearing, the anchor / masthead light should be visible from 360 degrees. If it were visible 360 degrees vertically as well, how would you secure it? It would have to float over your vessel
Aside... unless the masthead light is a "tri-color light", it is in fact an anchor light.wouldn't that be lights for under power?
I don't know about your boat, but if I turn on my stern light, my bow navigation lights are also on. With your masthead light and navigation lights on that would be the signal to other boats that you are moving under power. I think I would stay with a single anchor light. Not to mention, that's one light drawing amps instead of two or more.
I don't know about your boat, but if I turn on my stern light, my bow navigation lights are also on. With your masthead light and navigation lights on that would be the signal to other boats that you are moving under power. I think I would stay with a single anchor light. Not to mention, that's one light drawing amps instead of two or more.
MY ERROR
I didn't mean to imply that you had to have 360 in the vertical dimension (although there is something in the Annex I to the rulse about the degrees up and down from the center the light has to cover). My point was that, if you cover 225 degrees at masthead height (say 25 or 30 feet) and 135 degrees at the stern, you are no longer showing an unbroken light. The rules make allowance for two lights within a meter or so of each other, but I think this is pushing it. Also, I think you're right, Brian, the sidelights and the sternlight are connected together.
I didn't mean to imply that you had to have 360 in the vertical dimension (although there is something in the Annex I to the rulse about the degrees up and down from the center the light has to cover). My point was that, if you cover 225 degrees at masthead height (say 25 or 30 feet) and 135 degrees at the stern, you are no longer showing an unbroken light. The rules make allowance for two lights within a meter or so of each other, but I think this is pushing it. Also, I think you're right, Brian, the sidelights and the sternlight are connected together.
Frank
Are you confusing the all around white masthead light that is an anchor light with the forward facing steaming light further down on your mast?
Are you confusing the all around white masthead light that is an anchor light with the forward facing steaming light further down on your mast?
David...
...he's not confusing the two. I believe Frank's contention is that combining the mast(steaming) light with the stern light for 360 deg coverage would not constitute a legal anchor light because the two light sources are at different heights(vertical). The instructor's comment was meant to imply that ANY 360 degrees of white light constitutes an anchor light... as long as the running (colored) lights are off and only one white light source is seen at any time. Height is not important. A lantern hanging from the boom can be an anchor light......Personally, I always thought it had to be a single light. Now, why Frank would question his wife's instructor is the real mystery. Sounds like the CAP"N and MATE controversy brewing.
...he's not confusing the two. I believe Frank's contention is that combining the mast(steaming) light with the stern light for 360 deg coverage would not constitute a legal anchor light because the two light sources are at different heights(vertical). The instructor's comment was meant to imply that ANY 360 degrees of white light constitutes an anchor light... as long as the running (colored) lights are off and only one white light source is seen at any time. Height is not important. A lantern hanging from the boom can be an anchor light......Personally, I always thought it had to be a single light. Now, why Frank would question his wife's instructor is the real mystery. Sounds like the CAP"N and MATE controversy brewing.
SINGLE LIGHT VS. DOUBLE
Joe is correct, I am questioning whether you could split the lights by twenty feet and still call it a 360 anchor light. To further open the question, I do have an anchor light problem, so I'll throw that out. I am new to sailing, although I've owned power boats for years. In a powerboat, the anchor light is easy, you just pop a little stick on the cabin top and you are good to go. However, with my sailboat, somebody already stuck a BIG stiick on the cabin top, and then hung sheets and ropes all over it. Seriously, my problem is that I have the steaming light about three feet down the mast (MacGregor 25). I also have a Windex at the masthead. The previous owner never had (or maybe removed) the anchor light. He had a small oil lamp that he would run up the rigging if he was anchored at night. I have two problems with that (three if you count a certain queasiness to putting a flame in my rigging). The first is that I don't know if the flame will last all night, the second is that, at certain bearings, the mast will shadow the light. The second option was to get a lamp type flashlight, and run that up the rigging. It solved my "flame in the rigging" problem, but not the shadowing and the length of burn question -- and added the problem of keeping and disposing of batteries. The third option was to add a second steaming light AND a stern light at the masthead, powered off ship's batteries. This makes sens and covers the 360 degrees (since they would be physically close to each other), but means running another set of wires up the mast and all the attendant electrical issues, and I'm not sure if it would interfere with the main sail head (I haven't looked). The fourth option is to rig an actual anchor light at the mast head and then somehow rig the Windex on top of it. Again, I'd have to run wires in the mast and it seems that if this were the answer, there would be an easy way to do it. OK, so what's the answer? What are other people doing? Oh, and my beautiful, wonderful and amazing Mate brought the question to me - we are in agreement that the instructor was wrong (but then, she's biased - she thinks I'm pretty special, too)
Joe is correct, I am questioning whether you could split the lights by twenty feet and still call it a 360 anchor light. To further open the question, I do have an anchor light problem, so I'll throw that out. I am new to sailing, although I've owned power boats for years. In a powerboat, the anchor light is easy, you just pop a little stick on the cabin top and you are good to go. However, with my sailboat, somebody already stuck a BIG stiick on the cabin top, and then hung sheets and ropes all over it
. Seriously, my problem is that I have the steaming light about three feet down the mast (MacGregor 25). I also have a Windex at the masthead. The previous owner never had (or maybe removed) the anchor light. He had a small oil lamp that he would run up the rigging if he was anchored at night. I have two problems with that (three if you count a certain queasiness to putting a flame in my rigging). The first is that I don't know if the flame will last all night, the second is that, at certain bearings, the mast will shadow the light. The second option was to get a lamp type flashlight, and run that up the rigging. It solved my "flame in the rigging" problem, but not the shadowing and the length of burn question -- and added the problem of keeping and disposing of batteries. The third option was to add a second steaming light AND a stern light at the masthead, powered off ship's batteries. This makes sens and covers the 360 degrees (since they would be physically close to each other), but means running another set of wires up the mast and all the attendant electrical issues, and I'm not sure if it would interfere with the main sail head (I haven't looked). The fourth option is to rig an actual anchor light at the mast head and then somehow rig the Windex on top of it. Again, I'd have to run wires in the mast and it seems that if this were the answer, there would be an easy way to do it. OK, so what's the answer? What are other people doing? Oh, and my beautiful, wonderful and amazing Mate brought the question to me - we are in agreement that the instructor was wrong (but then, she's biased - she thinks I'm pretty special, too) Somebody is confused
Brian mentions driving the sailboat under power while displaying your running lights and the mast head light. This is not legal. The masthead all round white light is the anchor light on most sailboats. A lantern hanging from boom displaying the correct 360 degree of light for a prescribed distance is also acceptable, but not very wise in many anchoring situations.
Brian mentions driving the sailboat under power while displaying your running lights and the mast head light. This is not legal. The masthead all round white light is the anchor light on most sailboats. A lantern hanging from boom displaying the correct 360 degree of light for a prescribed distance is also acceptable, but not very wise in many anchoring situations.
CORRECT, BUT....
Jim, we have been using masthead and steaming light sort of interchangably. What I was referring to originally is the steaming light on the front centerline of the mast.
Jim, we have been using masthead and steaming light sort of interchangably. What I was referring to originally is the steaming light on the front centerline of the mast.
sorry about the confusion.
I refer to my 360 degree light as my anchor light. I meant to say the steaming light which Frank originally was talking about. I mistakenly called the steaming light a masthead light. Though the steaming light and stern lights (with nav lights) would not sufficient for an anchor light. Besides, why would you want to run 2 lights anyway? Isn't that just wasting battery power?
I refer to my 360 degree light as my anchor light. I meant to say the steaming light which Frank originally was talking about. I mistakenly called the steaming light a masthead light. Though the steaming light and stern lights (with nav lights) would not sufficient for an anchor light. Besides, why would you want to run 2 lights anyway? Isn't that just wasting battery power?
1 Metre Apart Rule
You answered your own question Frank. Most mast heads are much higher than the stern light, so it would be in violation of the metre apart rule to use both white lights IMHO. Another option, although also contraversial (Davis has not sought coast guard approval for it) is to use a Davis Mega Light hauled up to the spreaders. It has a 2 nautical mile visibility and only consumes an amp or 2 over night, and has a light meter to turn on at dusk and off at sunrise. I plan to start using one this season after loosing my masthead anchor light last season. I never used it anyways because of the excessive battery draw overnight. I checked with a Canadian Coasty recently on the Davis light and his opinion was that approved by the Coast Guard or not, any light use was better than not using one at all. Don
You answered your own question Frank. Most mast heads are much higher than the stern light, so it would be in violation of the metre apart rule to use both white lights IMHO. Another option, although also contraversial (Davis has not sought coast guard approval for it) is to use a Davis Mega Light hauled up to the spreaders. It has a 2 nautical mile visibility and only consumes an amp or 2 over night, and has a light meter to turn on at dusk and off at sunrise. I plan to start using one this season after loosing my masthead anchor light last season. I never used it anyways because of the excessive battery draw overnight. I checked with a Canadian Coasty recently on the Davis light and his opinion was that approved by the Coast Guard or not, any light use was better than not using one at all. Don
Megalight ought to be legal
I have a Davis megalight mounted to the masthead on my boat. Works a charm. Draws much less than even the advertised draw and shuts itself off at dawn. I believe the US Coast Guard rule is that your anchor light must be unobstructed and mounted where it can best be seen. If you can't get to your masthead, hangning a megalight from teh spreaders ought to fit the bill. You'll have a blind spot where the mast blacks it out, but I'll bet the glare around the mast is still visible except over a very small arc. Justin - O'day Owners' Web
I have a Davis megalight mounted to the masthead on my boat. Works a charm. Draws much less than even the advertised draw and shuts itself off at dawn. I believe the US Coast Guard rule is that your anchor light must be unobstructed and mounted where it can best be seen. If you can't get to your masthead, hangning a megalight from teh spreaders ought to fit the bill. You'll have a blind spot where the mast blacks it out, but I'll bet the glare around the mast is still visible except over a very small arc. Justin - O'day Owners' Web
Megalight should be legal - Part 2
I once crewed on a H37 Legend with an anchor light that killed the house batteries before sunrise. Imagine what would happen on my H23! Personally, I'd rather have an "illegal" light that stays lit all night than a legal light that dies at 2 am. Peter H23 "Raven"
I once crewed on a H37 Legend with an anchor light that killed the house batteries before sunrise. Imagine what would happen on my H23! Personally, I'd rather have an "illegal" light that stays lit all night than a legal light that dies at 2 am. Peter H23 "Raven"
low draw anchor light
They are available. When I turn mine on, the amp meter jumps and then moves back down at less than 1 amp. (They aren't cheap) If your anchor light kills your battery in one night, then you need to do something...more battery, low-amp light, something. Actually, if your anchor light kills the battery, what about the stereo, reading lights, VHF, not to mention the blender, refrig, etc. do? (What no frozen drinks at anchor? no cold beer?) You at least need a decent stereo at anchor, even if a cooler keeps the beer cold.
They are available. When I turn mine on, the amp meter jumps and then moves back down at less than 1 amp. (They aren't cheap) If your anchor light kills your battery in one night, then you need to do something...more battery, low-amp light, something. Actually, if your anchor light kills the battery, what about the stereo, reading lights, VHF, not to mention the blender, refrig, etc. do? (What no frozen drinks at anchor? no cold beer?) You at least need a decent stereo at anchor, even if a cooler keeps the beer cold.
kills batteries?
I have a standard anchor light and when at anchor I run my light and the vhf all night. I don't recall it ever killing my batteries. Maybe it's time to upgrade the batteries for more amp-hours. Though I would like it if the Coast Guard would approve the megalight.
I have a standard anchor light and when at anchor I run my light and the vhf all night. I don't recall it ever killing my batteries. Maybe it's time to upgrade the batteries for more amp-hours. Though I would like it if the Coast Guard would approve the megalight.
Megalight
hands down. The Coast Guard doesn't give a damn what you hang up there so long as it is visible far enough away, minimum two miles in clear weather. With its freznel lens, the Megalight easily qualifies. Moreover, the anchor light needs to be visible. The rule does not say where you have to put it. "Rule 30 (b) A vesel of less than 50 mete4rs in length may (not shall) exhibit an all-around white light where it can best be seen instead of the lights prescribed in paragrpah (a) of this Rule." Paragraph (a) says two lights. I personally dislike masthead anchor lights. You can't tell where the boat is. I hang mine in the foretriangle about ten feet off the water. Occluding by the mast is minimal or non-existent since the boat will swing at anchor. The CG does not like oil lamps because in general they are not bright enough.
hands down. The Coast Guard doesn't give a damn what you hang up there so long as it is visible far enough away, minimum two miles in clear weather. With its freznel lens, the Megalight easily qualifies. Moreover, the anchor light needs to be visible. The rule does not say where you have to put it. "Rule 30 (b) A vesel of less than 50 mete4rs in length may (not shall) exhibit an all-around white light where it can best be seen instead of the lights prescribed in paragrpah (a) of this Rule." Paragraph (a) says two lights. I personally dislike masthead anchor lights. You can't tell where the boat is. I hang mine in the foretriangle about ten feet off the water. Occluding by the mast is minimal or non-existent since the boat will swing at anchor. The CG does not like oil lamps because in general they are not bright enough.
The Megalight also
makes a very good steaming light if your steaming light is kaput as mine is at the moment. The Megalight sits nicely in the spinnaker-pole ring on the forward side of the mast and can be moved fairly high up for visibility. Being blanked by the mast from astern, it closely approximates the proper steaming light.
makes a very good steaming light if your steaming light is kaput as mine is at the moment. The Megalight sits nicely in the spinnaker-pole ring on the forward side of the mast and can be moved fairly high up for visibility. Being blanked by the mast from astern, it closely approximates the proper steaming light.
Defender has it for less...
I've been considering one, since my prefered method for identifying us on the hook at night is frowned on by the coast guard, and requires me to find that damn little funnel all the time, I found it for about $5 cheaper at defender. Unless it's on the shelf at Boat US tomorrow when I'm there, I'll probably mail order it from defender. And, oh yeah, I hang it from the foretriangle, about 6 feet off the deck, makes for a decent decklight, and also is easy to deal with, a little marlin and a half hitch on the forestay and we're good for the night. Geof
I've been considering one, since my prefered method for identifying us on the hook at night is frowned on by the coast guard, and requires me to find that damn little funnel all the time, I found it for about $5 cheaper at defender. Unless it's on the shelf at Boat US tomorrow when I'm there, I'll probably mail order it from defender. And, oh yeah, I hang it from the foretriangle, about 6 feet off the deck, makes for a decent decklight, and also is easy to deal with, a little marlin and a half hitch on the forestay and we're good for the night. Geof
- Status