As I was sailing on lake Travis last night I came across a 34 ft sailboat with a red stern light. As I past by I asked the skipper "why he was showing a red stern light? He replied that the white light drew bugs so he replaced it with red. He asked me if I didn't have the same problem. I replied no and stayed way clear of him. Has anybody ever heard of this before? As a retired Naval Officer I can't believe somebody would be so careless with the regs.
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And the red stern light...
...will attract the Coast Guard (or other agencies with flashing lights empowered to protect). Weigh the options: the inconvenience of bugs vs a "stop the boat!"/climb aboard inspection/cash out of pocket. Good idea to stay clear of those that have clearly earned a wide berth...
...will attract the Coast Guard (or other agencies with flashing lights empowered to protect). Weigh the options: the inconvenience of bugs vs a "stop the boat!"/climb aboard inspection/cash out of pocket. Good idea to stay clear of those that have clearly earned a wide berth...
Incredible what you’ll see on the water! I find that the Thermacell works way better to keep the bugs away and doesn’t confuse folks nearby .. I recently encountered someone on the lake who’d put the red/green lenses in backwards. Spooky that it had to have been done on purpose, like the red stern light, with a complete disregard as to what those lights actually are for.
Late one moonless night while sailing at about 6 Knts. (nice wind) I was being very slowly overtaken by an unidentifiable floating object ( a UFO). It had red & green side lights, a steaming light, a mast-top red & green and an anchor light. Turned out to be a giant Tri-maran under power, some folks just turn ALL the lights on.
Interestingly enough, My 76 Venture came equipped with a broken stern light as well as port and starboard lights that didn't work. Good thing - the colors were on the wrong side. I instlalled a single bow multi light and a new stern light, but have been thinking of rewiring and replacing the originals in the bargain(not such a bargain at today's prices) and running both for more visibility. Are there regs against this? or too confusing for other boaters? Remember, this is a V21 and the side lights are only about a foot or so away from the nose light.
More is NOT better. I can't find the exact Rule, but it is not permitted to show more than one set of sidelights at the same time. You could have 2 sets of sidelights on seperate switches, so that you could use the combination red/green OR the seperate sidelights, but NOT BOTH. I do know that if a USCGAUX or USPS Vessel Examiner is checking a boat during a Vessel Safety Check and they find double lights (both coming on at once) they can not issue a Decal to that vessel, and since the VSC follows USCG and state regulations it would indicate that there is a Federal rule against displaying both sets of sidelights.
It is amazing how careless many boaters (and sadly some manufacturers!) are about NavLights, many powerboats are running around without their masthead light since it "causes too much glare" to the person at the helm, or else one or more of the lights are blocked by a RADAR antenna or searchlight or the dinghy is pulled up on hte transom blocking the sternlight. Sailers are not perfect either, those tricolor NavLights used by some at the masthead are to be used ONLY under sail, yet I've seen sailboats using them under power. Also, if the Tricolor is turned on, the deck level NavLights should be turned off. It is allowed to use 2 360deg lights at the masthead (top one red, with green under it) in addition to the deck level NavLights, but again...ONLY when under sail. As soon as the engine is started, the Steaming light should be turned on (and the tricolor or other masthead sailing lights turned off) and the boat is now considered a powerboat under the rules.
From a practical standpoint, the more lights you have on, the more precious battery power you consume. So, that is another incentive to display ONLY the proper NavLights. That guy with the red sternlight would sure cause confusion! I'd wonder how he could be moving "sideways"!
On the subject of boats with the red/green light reversed, it is unfortunately and easy mistake with some light fixtures (lens was installed upside down), no excuse for this, but it happens. One sailboat builder who I will not name, actually shipped boats from the factory for at least part of a year with the combination light on the bow pulpit upside down.....red was showing to starboard, green to port. They did fix the boats (turned the lens over) but it was embarrassing! Just remember....Red, Port, Wine (aka, red light shows to port)
It is amazing how careless many boaters (and sadly some manufacturers!) are about NavLights, many powerboats are running around without their masthead light since it "causes too much glare" to the person at the helm, or else one or more of the lights are blocked by a RADAR antenna or searchlight or the dinghy is pulled up on hte transom blocking the sternlight. Sailers are not perfect either, those tricolor NavLights used by some at the masthead are to be used ONLY under sail, yet I've seen sailboats using them under power. Also, if the Tricolor is turned on, the deck level NavLights should be turned off. It is allowed to use 2 360deg lights at the masthead (top one red, with green under it) in addition to the deck level NavLights, but again...ONLY when under sail. As soon as the engine is started, the Steaming light should be turned on (and the tricolor or other masthead sailing lights turned off) and the boat is now considered a powerboat under the rules.
From a practical standpoint, the more lights you have on, the more precious battery power you consume. So, that is another incentive to display ONLY the proper NavLights. That guy with the red sternlight would sure cause confusion! I'd wonder how he could be moving "sideways"!
On the subject of boats with the red/green light reversed, it is unfortunately and easy mistake with some light fixtures (lens was installed upside down), no excuse for this, but it happens. One sailboat builder who I will not name, actually shipped boats from the factory for at least part of a year with the combination light on the bow pulpit upside down.....red was showing to starboard, green to port. They did fix the boats (turned the lens over) but it was embarrassing! Just remember....Red, Port, Wine (aka, red light shows to port)
Attracting Buggs
The boater in question should replace his red stern light with a white LED bulb if he is concerend about getting swarmed by insects. I have heard that the LED bulbs are on a slightly different wavelength and do not attract the bugs the way a incadesent does.
The boater in question should replace his red stern light with a white LED bulb if he is concerend about getting swarmed by insects. I have heard that the LED bulbs are on a slightly different wavelength and do not attract the bugs the way a incadesent does.
Showing Two Red/Green lights
Those who show two red lights are showing lights for a "Vessel Not Under Command". For two green lights the the closest I can find is "Vessel MineClearing" three green lights in a triangle. Rules 23-31 Lights for Vessels.
Dennis W.
S/V FullSailed
Those who show two red lights are showing lights for a "Vessel Not Under Command". For two green lights the the closest I can find is "Vessel MineClearing" three green lights in a triangle. Rules 23-31 Lights for Vessels.
Dennis W.
S/V FullSailed
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