Anchor Light

Scott T-Bird

Scott T-Bird

.
Oct 26, 2008
6,290
Catalina 320 Barnegat, NJ
Gunni said:
My rigger was so impressed with the build and install of marinebeam combo steaming light fixture that he is now spec'ing it for his work.
Click to expand
I was glad you posted that reference because I checked out the product selections. I was doing a comparison of the Series 25 replacements (economy models) vs the USCG models. Pricing out anchor, steaming/deck combo, bi-color bow, and stern lights I calculated $200 for the economy vs $386 for the USCG versions. For my small boat, I always question where overkill lies. The upgraded models appear to add 1 nm of visibility. Important or not? The upgraded (USCG) combo mastlight is especially appealing for both smaller size and more efficient steaming light. I suppose it is more visible as well. Which model combo did you select? I'm guessing the USGC series for $119.
These all seem to be a perfect fit for replacements. I currently have the Hella deck light combo but its profile snags my mainsail halyard if I leave too much slack in a breeze. It's a pain to get it unsnagged and I kicked out the deck light bulb and glass cover a while ago, so it has not been operational. The smaller profile of the Marinebeam looks appealing.
Isn't it something how easy it is for the wind to snag a slack halyard on something, but to get it unsnagged seems impossible? :confused:
 
AaronD

AaronD

.
Aug 10, 2014
739
Catalina 22 9874 Newberg, OR / Olympia, WA
I have the $119 version, and the same for my bow and stern navigation lights - the $89 sealed versions, not the 'economy' ones with replaceable bulbs. I'm still installing the steaming light so I can't comment on its usage (or halyard snags), but I like that there's no bulb contacts to corrode, and I've sure been happy with the nav lights.

But, of course, you mentioned 'overkill'. I'm not sure I know the meaning of that word. :) I suspect my wife would tell you that I've never undertaken a boat project that didn't quickly move to overkill...
 
Gunni

Gunni

.
Mar 16, 2010
5,937
Beneteau 411 Oceanis Annapolis
Scott, consider the use of a mast light guard:
 
Scott T-Bird

Scott T-Bird

.
Oct 26, 2008
6,290
Catalina 320 Barnegat, NJ
AaronD said:
I have the $119 version, and the same for my bow and stern navigation lights - the $89 sealed versions, not the 'economy' ones with replaceable bulbs. I'm still installing the steaming light so I can't comment on its usage (or halyard snags), but I like that there's no bulb contacts to corrode, and I've sure been happy with the nav lights.

But, of course, you mentioned 'overkill'. I'm not sure I know the meaning of that word. :) I suspect my wife would tell you that I've never undertaken a boat project that didn't quickly move to overkill...
Click to expand
Sealed LED lights versus converions for LED bulbs ... hmmm. Sounds like a valid upgrade (not overkill). :cool:
 
S

sesmith

.
Jul 1, 2010
990
Catalina 350 Port Huron
NotCook

NotCook

.
Dec 29, 2008
806
Treworgy 65' LOA Custom Steel Pilothouse Staysail Ketch St. Croix, Virgin Islands
AaronD said:
Just one caveat: I bought the anchor light with built-in photocell, so it turns itself off at dawn. That seemed like a great idea at the time, and a way to save a little energy automatically.
Click to expand
Here's another caveat: Some anchorages don't allow an anchor light. Case in point, Buck Island National Monument of the north shore of St. Croix. They claim the lights may confuse the sea turtles coming to next and lay their eggs, so no exterior lights are permitted on boats anchoring in the designated anchorage overnight. Surprised me, but that's the rule.

Brian S said:
There are people who advocate for an all-around light hung lower than the top of the mast.
Click to expand
That's what we have also. We have the LED on our masthead - but seems to me it can blend in with many other stars way up there in the sky.

Then again, anchor lights against a lit shoreline can really be hard to distinguish.
 
Jacktar

Jacktar

.
Sep 14, 2014
1,280
Catalina 22 Pensacola, Florida
Got to love some of the new green regs on Caribbean islands, I got in trouble wearing gloves while diving in the Grand Caymans, not allowed or foot wear in less than 4 feet of water? Lucky they do not have the black sharp spined sea urchins there.
 
mauruuru

mauruuru

.
Dec 13, 2010
123
Hake 32RK Red Bank
to terst the light with a photocell, just cover the fixture with a dark covering and it should light
 
AXEL

AXEL

.
Mar 12, 2008
359
Catalina C30 MKIII WEST ISLIP, NY
I just bought an Orca Green Marine LED mast light with solar turn on/ shut off. I great product, made in USA, life time warranty.
 
Ned Ludd

Ned Ludd

.
Apr 4, 2016
201
Newport 28 Richardson Marina
I'd like to hear more about not having the anchor light at the masthead. I was considering adding one until reading this thread. My mast is not wired for a masthead light but the wiring is available at the mast step, it was a factory option. I am mostly a landlocked lake sailor so small power boats and jet skis are the primary concern. Obviously not adding one will leave more cash for another project.

There is a socket mount on the stern rail where the aft running light goes. The bow & stern lights are switched independently, I assume this is so one can swap the stern lights whether anchored or sailing. It seems to me a 360 degree 3nm white light in the face would be too much for cocktail hour.

Any thoughts or experiences?
 
Parsons

Parsons

.
Jul 12, 2011
1,165
Leopard 40 Jupiter, Florida
Actually, I was thinking of buying the same Marinebeam model this year. Anyone have one now that they can give feedback on? For the steaming/deck light, there were complaints that there was no recess in the light to tuck the wires behind, so it was messy installing. Is there room under this one to protect the wiring connections?
 
Stu Jackson

Stu Jackson

.
Feb 26, 2004
23,051
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
Ned Ludd said:
Obviously not adding one will leave more cash for another project.

Any thoughts or experiences?
Click to expand
Yes. Pound wise and penny foolish.

1. Get legal and mount an anchor light where it is supposed to be.

2. ADD additional lights to light up the cockpit so the fools who don't look up will see you.

Saving a few bucks to avoid doing what the regs mandate makes no sense to me.
 
Brian S

Brian S

.
Nov 9, 2012
2,500
Oday 192 Lake Nockamixon
Ned Ludd said:
I'd like to hear more about not having the anchor light at the masthead. I was considering adding one until reading this thread. My mast is not wired for a masthead light but the wiring is available at the mast step, it was a factory option. I am mostly a landlocked lake sailor so small power boats and jet skis are the primary concern. Obviously not adding one will leave more cash for another project.

There is a socket mount on the stern rail where the aft running light goes. The bow & stern lights are switched independently, I assume this is so one can swap the stern lights whether anchored or sailing. It seems to me a 360 degree 3nm white light in the face would be too much for cocktail hour.

Any thoughts or experiences?
Click to expand
For a sailboat, COLREGS say 135º stern facing white light and bi-color bow lights while under sail. When under power, a forward facing 225º white light is added, the so-called steaming light. This would have the effect of a power boat, with 360º white light and bi-color bow lights.

As for non-masthead 360º anchor light, it only has to be displayed and visible 1NM. There are no regs as to height, and I know someone who used to use a kerosene lamp hanging between a line from the mast to the forestay. Meets the 1NM reg, though it is unsatisfactory from a kerosene consumption standpoint.

Some have questioned if the mast blocks the light from a full 360º. The person who used the kerosene lamp (and who now uses a Bebi light similar to the Marine Beam utility light previously discussed in the thread) has gone out in his dinghy and paddled all the way around the boat, and has seen no visibility blocking from the mast.

I think displaying the light from about 1/3 up the mast elevates it, but doesn't put it too high for inland lake powerboats to miss it in closer quarters vs. when it's all the way at the masthead. I used to use a simple LED battery lantern hanging from the end of my boom. Gets the job done.
 
Ron20324

Ron20324

.
Jan 22, 2008
8,050
Beneteau 323 Annapolis MD
[QUOTE="Brian S, ... Some have questioned if the mast blocks the light from a full 360º. The person who used the kerosene lamp has gone out in his dinghy and paddled all the way around the boat, and has seen no visibility blocking from the mast. ....[/QUOTE]

There IS a shadow from mast blockage! I posted in another thread a couple months ago when I was anchored in St Michaels- San Domingo Creek. I went to the bow to check my anchor one night as a mild breeze swung the boats. The boat in front of me had a light in the fore triangle. On the chop of small wavelets I could very well see the shadow of his mast swinging back and forth. The farther back the shadow came, the wider it was. Actual fact the moon blocks the sun during an eclipse.
 
Scott T-Bird

Scott T-Bird

.
Oct 26, 2008
6,290
Catalina 320 Barnegat, NJ
Gunni said:
Here is my install; custom starboard riser to get up where it belongs.
Click to expand
I was wondering about the height. Why don't they put this light on a pedestal to elevate it above the top of the masthead?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Top Bottom