Hi, I have a tricolor/anchor light at the masthead. I just purchased a Davis anchor light. They are said to have an extremely low amperage draw. I like to try to keep as much weight as low as possible. I don't want to remove my tricolor. I am thinking about mounting this new Davis anchor light either on top of my davits or on top of the pilothouse. I know anchor lights are typically at the masthead, but I don't believe they are required to be there. I was just wondering if any other sailboats have thier anchor lights lower then the masthead??
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Of course
Someone else will probably quote the exact passage, but the anchor light is only required to be an all round light, NOT at the masthead. It is perfectly legal to have it lower, and in fact in many cases is preferable. Boat traffic, as opposed to ship traffic, is much more likely to see a light posted six feet up in the foretriangle than to see a masthead light. You are allowed a certain arc of light to be blocked by the mast, but try to keep it above everything else (above the boom for example). Steve Christensen
Someone else will probably quote the exact passage, but the anchor light is only required to be an all round light, NOT at the masthead. It is perfectly legal to have it lower, and in fact in many cases is preferable. Boat traffic, as opposed to ship traffic, is much more likely to see a light posted six feet up in the foretriangle than to see a masthead light. You are allowed a certain arc of light to be blocked by the mast, but try to keep it above everything else (above the boom for example). Steve Christensen
Davis LED
Hi Dave - I have a tricolor/anchor light combo on the top of my mast. However, I typically use the low wattage LED anchor light to save power and to bring the light in line with most others in the anchorage. If it's a crowded anchorage people might not look up! I plug mine into a cigaretter receptacle over the companionway. I use the masthead sparingly. Best, Trevor
Hi Dave - I have a tricolor/anchor light combo on the top of my mast. However, I typically use the low wattage LED anchor light to save power and to bring the light in line with most others in the anchorage. If it's a crowded anchorage people might not look up! I plug mine into a cigaretter receptacle over the companionway. I use the masthead sparingly. Best, Trevor
Visibility
The so-called "Arc of Visibility" is defined by the USCG as follows: Rule 21 "All-round light" means a light showing an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of 360 degrees." That said, there have been some previous dialogues about whether or not an anchor light hung lower than the masthead, and thus at least partially blocked by some part of your boat at some admittedly narrow angles, meets the above definition. I'm not sure how one could define "360 degrees" and "unbroken light" as anything less than that....and you certainly don't want an Admiralty Court deciding what the meaning of "is" is for you. It's a litigious world out there, folks. The key, however, is to see and to be seen.
The so-called "Arc of Visibility" is defined by the USCG as follows: Rule 21 "All-round light" means a light showing an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of 360 degrees." That said, there have been some previous dialogues about whether or not an anchor light hung lower than the masthead, and thus at least partially blocked by some part of your boat at some admittedly narrow angles, meets the above definition. I'm not sure how one could define "360 degrees" and "unbroken light" as anything less than that....and you certainly don't want an Admiralty Court deciding what the meaning of "is" is for you. It's a litigious world out there, folks. The key, however, is to see and to be seen.
I concur
I concur. On my East Coast trip we tried to find a spot on the Delaware designated as an anchorage. Seveal sailboats were there but we couldn't "see" them because they all had lights on the top of the masts. Better to be seen and have the lights at near eye level to your reference on the boat. 63" up might work for an ocean liner or freighter, but for the average boater 6' to 8' works bests. Besides, it's not likely that yoiu will be alone, anywhere, so the 360 becomes sort of a moot point. The only thing you need to remember is common sense and not put it directly onto the mast, but some distance away, minimalizing the mast shadow. I have a moveable light. My expereince is that you want to light to shine where it can be seen.
I concur. On my East Coast trip we tried to find a spot on the Delaware designated as an anchorage. Seveal sailboats were there but we couldn't "see" them because they all had lights on the top of the masts. Better to be seen and have the lights at near eye level to your reference on the boat. 63" up might work for an ocean liner or freighter, but for the average boater 6' to 8' works bests. Besides, it's not likely that yoiu will be alone, anywhere, so the 360 becomes sort of a moot point. The only thing you need to remember is common sense and not put it directly onto the mast, but some distance away, minimalizing the mast shadow. I have a moveable light. My expereince is that you want to light to shine where it can be seen.
It is lawful for anchor light to be below mast top
You have to consult definitions and Annexes to get exact interpretation of the regulations. In Annex 1 Section 9 (b) (i) of the Collision Regulations (Coast Guard regs) it indicates that "All round lights shall be so located as not to be obscured by masts, top masts 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. It is lawful to hoist an anchor light part way to the top of the mast. I do this using a loop around the topping lift to keep the light as far from the mast as possible to reduce the sector which is blocked.
You have to consult definitions and Annexes to get exact interpretation of the regulations. In Annex 1 Section 9 (b) (i) of the Collision Regulations (Coast Guard regs) it indicates that "All round lights shall be so located as not to be obscured by masts, top masts 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. It is lawful to hoist an anchor light part way to the top of the mast. I do this using a loop around the topping lift to keep the light as far from the mast as possible to reduce the sector which is blocked.
Malcolm is right
I dont have a copy of the COLREGS handy, but i know its in there where the anchor light does not have to be at the top of the mast. The book is also called "Rules of the Road". GET RID OF THE TRI-COLOR. They ARE legal but cant be easily seen. One dark night while comming into our harbor on someone elses boat, who also is a live aboard in this harbor, we almost collided with a boat leaving a slip. We never saw it till the last minute. It had a tri-color light about 60 feet up and our height of eye was about 10 feet. And lets not get into the 3 blasts when in reverse comming out of a slip or the lack of radio communications, the point is that you can not readily be seen with a tri-color light on the top of the mast. Even if we were at a distance and could see the lights, it would throw our depth perception off and you would be much closer than someone would think. If it werent for our near miss, I wouldnt be writing this. Just something to consider.
I dont have a copy of the COLREGS handy, but i know its in there where the anchor light does not have to be at the top of the mast. The book is also called "Rules of the Road". GET RID OF THE TRI-COLOR. They ARE legal but cant be easily seen. One dark night while comming into our harbor on someone elses boat, who also is a live aboard in this harbor, we almost collided with a boat leaving a slip. We never saw it till the last minute. It had a tri-color light about 60 feet up and our height of eye was about 10 feet. And lets not get into the 3 blasts when in reverse comming out of a slip or the lack of radio communications, the point is that you can not readily be seen with a tri-color light on the top of the mast. Even if we were at a distance and could see the lights, it would throw our depth perception off and you would be much closer than someone would think. If it werent for our near miss, I wouldnt be writing this. Just something to consider.
Light Pollution
The problem is two-fold: the number of lights in the background (light pollution), and secondly, the height of the anchor light on a mast. With the increase in population and the increase in the use of lights on shore, and brighter lights on shore, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to see lights on boats, both anchor lights and running lights. Even navigation lights on buoys and channel markers. Surprisingly, another problem is just the opposite – in an anchorage where there is little or no light pollution – some remote anchorage – one can see the stars in the night sky. The high masthead light can wind up looking like a large star! Secondly, the masts on today’s boats are much higher for the same length than they were a few decades ago. It wasn’t too many decades ago that gaff-rigged boats were fairly common but rig styles have moved toward high-aspect and the boats that people cruise in have increased in size, the combination of which has really pushed the anchor light skyward. One solution to these problems is to have a second light that shines downward onto the deck. There is no requirement for this, which is good (no wattage or arduous location specified) and bad, but it would really aid in being seen. A low-powered LED light could do wonders in making one’s boat visible in an anchorage at night. The “cost” in Amp-Hours would be minimal and be more than offset by the additional safety it would provide. I don't know how many times I've entered an anchorage at night and had a difficult time spotting the other boats - it's been a lot. I still have memories (nightmares?) about going into Bull Harbour (north end of Vancouver Island) at 2 AM in pea soup fog. "Most" boats had their anchor lights on (not all) and visability was in boat lengths. Ugh!
The problem is two-fold: the number of lights in the background (light pollution), and secondly, the height of the anchor light on a mast. With the increase in population and the increase in the use of lights on shore, and brighter lights on shore, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to see lights on boats, both anchor lights and running lights. Even navigation lights on buoys and channel markers. Surprisingly, another problem is just the opposite – in an anchorage where there is little or no light pollution – some remote anchorage – one can see the stars in the night sky. The high masthead light can wind up looking like a large star! Secondly, the masts on today’s boats are much higher for the same length than they were a few decades ago. It wasn’t too many decades ago that gaff-rigged boats were fairly common but rig styles have moved toward high-aspect and the boats that people cruise in have increased in size, the combination of which has really pushed the anchor light skyward. One solution to these problems is to have a second light that shines downward onto the deck. There is no requirement for this, which is good (no wattage or arduous location specified) and bad, but it would really aid in being seen. A low-powered LED light could do wonders in making one’s boat visible in an anchorage at night. The “cost” in Amp-Hours would be minimal and be more than offset by the additional safety it would provide. I don't know how many times I've entered an anchorage at night and had a difficult time spotting the other boats - it's been a lot. I still have memories (nightmares?) about going into Bull Harbour (north end of Vancouver Island) at 2 AM in pea soup fog. "Most" boats had their anchor lights on (not all) and visability was in boat lengths. Ugh!
Running lights
When I'm sailing at night in a heavy light pollution area, once in a while I'll shine a flashlight on my sails just to let others know not only where I'm at, but the direction I'm heading (the hardest part to know at night). I have radar so I know where everybody is, but I also want them to know where I am. I also reduce my speed to about 3-4 knots usually.
When I'm sailing at night in a heavy light pollution area, once in a while I'll shine a flashlight on my sails just to let others know not only where I'm at, but the direction I'm heading (the hardest part to know at night). I have radar so I know where everybody is, but I also want them to know where I am. I also reduce my speed to about 3-4 knots usually.
oil lamp
What about an oil anchor lamp? I've thought about getting an oil-burning anchor lamp, and hanging it from a wire in the foretriangle, about 6 feet off the deck. Has anyone done this? Seems it would save on power, as well as giving a light closer to eye level, as others have commented. Jay
What about an oil anchor lamp? I've thought about getting an oil-burning anchor lamp, and hanging it from a wire in the foretriangle, about 6 feet off the deck. Has anyone done this? Seems it would save on power, as well as giving a light closer to eye level, as others have commented. Jay
I have been using
an oil aka kerosene lantern for six years. The coast guard requirement is to show an all around white light displayed where it may best be seen. In my case I hang it from the back stay about six feet above the lazerette where it can illuminate the furled sail and the mast. Most mast head lights look like stars and don't do anything to show the boat. Summer of 2004 the DNR folks came by about 9 PM and looked us over. One asked if that was a lantern and I told him it was. He questioned the absence of a mast head light. I told him that the Coast Guard Required an all around white kight displayed where it may best be seen. His responce was , Well I'll let it go this time. I continue to use an oil light.
an oil aka kerosene lantern for six years. The coast guard requirement is to show an all around white light displayed where it may best be seen. In my case I hang it from the back stay about six feet above the lazerette where it can illuminate the furled sail and the mast. Most mast head lights look like stars and don't do anything to show the boat. Summer of 2004 the DNR folks came by about 9 PM and looked us over. One asked if that was a lantern and I told him it was. He questioned the absence of a mast head light. I told him that the Coast Guard Required an all around white kight displayed where it may best be seen. His responce was , Well I'll let it go this time. I continue to use an oil light.
I believe the colregs also state that additional
white lights "as required" to aid in identification of vessels at anchor. Common practice here to have the additional light hanging from boom or off the stern as you described. I have a battery powered LED for the dinghy that seems like it would make excellent extra light & they are about ~$20 if I remember right.
white lights "as required" to aid in identification of vessels at anchor. Common practice here to have the additional light hanging from boom or off the stern as you described. I have a battery powered LED for the dinghy that seems like it would make excellent extra light & they are about ~$20 if I remember right.
It may be tough to defend in court.
I think it may be difficult to defend in court if you do not have a light that is CG certified. Maritime law is not quite like normal civil law. Things are sort of embedded in concrete and there is very little room for interpretation.
I think it may be difficult to defend in court if you do not have a light that is CG certified. Maritime law is not quite like normal civil law. Things are sort of embedded in concrete and there is very little room for interpretation.
Ross, I am curious
Did these guys check to be sure you had paid your registration? I could be wrong but that is about all they seem to do here in WA.
Did these guys check to be sure you had paid your registration? I could be wrong but that is about all they seem to do here in WA.
Kerosene lamp (LED Mod) and Sail magazine
In one of the latest issues, there was a short article (very short) of a chap who had bought the "Ankerlight" for his anchor light. I just went out and bought one, the same as his but other than lighting it outside in the dark, I haven't used it as yet. The lamp has a Fresnel lens and as you can tell by the name of the lamp, its purpose is clear. Below is a link to a chap who modified his Ankerlight to take a LED light. Some of you might be interested in this. I also would prefer my anchor light to be independent of the main electrical system to save electrical juice for other things. I hope the link works.
In one of the latest issues, there was a short article (very short) of a chap who had bought the "Ankerlight" for his anchor light. I just went out and bought one, the same as his but other than lighting it outside in the dark, I haven't used it as yet. The lamp has a Fresnel lens and as you can tell by the name of the lamp, its purpose is clear. Below is a link to a chap who modified his Ankerlight to take a LED light. Some of you might be interested in this. I also would prefer my anchor light to be independent of the main electrical system to save electrical juice for other things. I hope the link works.
propane lantern?
The other month I used a colman "lantern" (really just something that can screw into the small propane can) and on the medium setting it stayed on all night, and still had fuel left. I haven't tried it since but it seemed to work pretty good, just tied it to the forestay. Not sure about the expense, though it is probably more expensive than s kerosine lamp?
The other month I used a colman "lantern" (really just something that can screw into the small propane can) and on the medium setting it stayed on all night, and still had fuel left. I haven't tried it since but it seemed to work pretty good, just tied it to the forestay. Not sure about the expense, though it is probably more expensive than s kerosine lamp?
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