Correct location for steamimg light/mast light

[doehunter]

Jersey 16,
You just cleared up another question I had. There's been motor boats in my family my whole life, and we never had "steaming lights". Just a red/green on the bow, and an all around white on a pole on the stern. I couldn't understand why everyone was saying I needed a steaming light.
When we anchored and fished at night, we just kept all the lights on because they were all on one circuit. Is that OK? If not I need to separate my lights into two circuits.
Thanks,
Jim

 

[Jersey16]

If your in a purely recreational area with no commercial traffic around you should be ok. If there's a lot of commercial traffic however you may jam yourself up by misleading captains of your intentions.

All and all I would try to stick with wiring your all around white seperate from your running lights just to be safe.

 

[Pest UK]

Please for, safety sake, do not show more lights than is necessary, especially in a commercial area. On your road vehicle extra white lights on the front or red lights on the back even flashing amber lights are generally acceptable. On the water they could identify you as a completely different vessel,i.e. a 360deg. steaming/stern light is o.k. but add a135deg. stern light and, from behind, you have become a vessel of over 50 metres. Do not show a steaming light with a tricolour as this could identify you as a trawler or other fishing vessel, the amber flashing light defines an air cushion vessel. Of these errors there are many, beware.

 

[doehunter]

Please for, safety sake, do not show more lights than is necessary, especially in a commercial area. On your road vehicle extra white lights on the front or red lights on the back even flashing amber lights are generally acceptable. On the water they could identify you as a completely different vessel,i.e. a 360deg. steaming/stern light is o.k. but add a135deg. stern light and, from behind, you have become a vessel of over 50 metres. Do not show a steaming light with a tricolour as this could identify you as a trawler or other fishing vessel, the amber flashing light defines an air cushion vessel. Of these errors there are many, beware.

If only have a red/green on the bow, and a 360 white on a pole at the stern it seems like I'm covered, and there are no extra lights.
Now if I'm anchored I don't need the red/green. But if it's on the same circuit it would be left on. Technically that would mean I'm under way, but is it a problem if I'm sitting still?
I guess I could make it 2 circuits.
1. Put the 360 white on the pole, by itself, for an anchor light.
2. Put the red/green on the bow, and the white on the back of the transom on a second circuit.
That leaves me having to swap poles out if I motor at night and need a steaming light. Or make a third circuit and mount a steaming light on the mast.
@#$%^&!
I was just wanting to keep it simple. One circuit, red/green on the bow and a 360 white on a pole near the stern.
But then I wouldn't have a steaming light. But then I believe Jersey 16 said that's good enough for these boats.
Jim

 

[Pest UK]

Doehunter, Red & Green plus 360 White means you are 'under way' and under power. the 360 being your stern light and your steaming light, and therefore able to 'make way' if required to do so, perhaps by a bigger vessel which cannot pass you 'port to port' due to its draft, requires you to steer to starbrd and gives five or more blasts on his horn "Your actions are not sufficient to avoid a collision". he has no idea that you are 'safely' tucked up in your bunk!
You could of course instal a separate stern light, have two small switches near the fuse board, No1 (on/off) for Red & Green, No2 (two way)for stern or 360.
Normal sailing

 

[Pest UK]

Sorry, pressed the wrong button!!
Normal sailing Sw1 'ON' powering Red & Green Sw2 powering stern light
Under power Sw1 'ON' powering Red & Green Sw2 powering 360
At anchor Sw1 'OFF' Sw2 powering 360
I hope this is of some help.

 

[Paul Brinkley]

Hey Jim

"One circuit, red/green on the bow and a 360 white on a pole near the stern.
But then I wouldn't have a steaming light. " Actually, you wouldn't have a stern light for sailing at night. Your 360 white could be used for a combo steaming and stern light for motoring, and also for an anchor light, but not as a stern only light.

The simplest setup to be able to anchor, sail, and motor with the correct lights showing for each will require 3 circuits and 3 lights. 1. red/green sidelights. 2. anchor light. 3. stern light.

Another setup uses 3 circuits and 4 lights. 1. red/green sidelights and stern light. 2. anchor light. 3. steaming light. This is probably the most common.

"But then I believe Jersey 16 said that's good enough for these boats." Remember that Jersey 16 won't write you a ticket, but he won't pay for one, either!

The attachment may help you visualize some of these arrangements. There are a couple of these which are legal for part of the time, but which I cannot see being able to configure to do everything. -Paul

 

[Sumner]

......1. Put the 360 white on the pole, by itself, for an anchor light......Jim

Lots of people do the above and you will probably never be questioned about it and it might actually be safer, but the light on a pole is not considered a 360 deg. light since the mast blocks it from some views. That is why they say you should have the anchor light at the top of the mast.

We often talk about the fact that having it lower might actually be safer with power boaters running around.

We have the light at the top of the mast and this probably isn't legal either, but have had Christmas tree LED lights down below on the boat on anchorage.

If you are looking for a good anchor light that doesn't draw hardly any amperage and is Coast Guard approved then....

...you might consider the Hella NaviLED®360 ....

http://www.hellamarine.com/?a=3&t=3&View=FullStory&productID=661&pcid=0

It is only 2 watts. We bought ours from Defender...

http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|65136|739053|760449&id=769978

I was tempted by cheaper lights, but they either used more power or weren't Coast Guard approved and in this "I'll sue you world" I wanted the Coast Guard approval.

Good luck and here is our mod...

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/macgregor/outside-23.html

Sum

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Our MacGregor S Pages

Mac-Venture Links

 

[Sumner]

One more idea and this was posted by Russ on the other board...

http://www.macgregorsailors.com/modt/index.php?view=453

The above lets you control either the masthead running light or the top of the mast anchor light with just the stock 2 wires going up there. Good idea if you don't want to run more wires up the mast.

With the above and a switch on the bow lights and another on the stern light you could be legal for sailing at night, motoring at night or on anchor.

Paul that is the best 'single' drawing I've seen yet explaining what lights should be shown when. Thanks,

Sum

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Our MacGregor S Pages

Mac-Venture Links

 

[Paul and Karen]

the Tri Colour light is great for being seen from a VERY long distance.
Ships have a tendency to miss sailing boats made from fiberglass as the radar dosent reflect well off of this surface.

SO keep the Tri Colour.
If you want an all round White Anchor Light, you can get them in a combination with the allround white below the Tri Colour from Aqua Signal

Paul

 

[doehunter]

Doehunter, Red & Green plus 360 White means you are 'under way' and under power. the 360 being your stern light and your steaming light, and therefore able to 'make way' if required to do so, perhaps by a bigger vessel which cannot pass you 'port to port' due to its draft, requires you to steer to starbrd and gives five or more blasts on his horn "Your actions are not sufficient to avoid a collision". he has no idea that you are 'safely' tucked up in your bunk!
You could of course install a separate stern light, have two small switches near the fuse board, No1 (on/off) for Red & Green, No2 (two way)for stern or 360.
Normal sailing

I didn't think about the red/green being on at anchor, telling others you can move if needed. I won't be doing that anymore. I have most of what I need to rewire, I just have to get out there and do it.
I'm wondering if the local coastguard station would be receptive to me stopping by one day and let them give my boat a quick look. Then when they see me on the water, they'd be less likely to interrupt my day?
Jim