'Guy-eyes'Thanks. Right there in front of me. Now you know why my wife doesn't send me to the basement to look for stuff.
which is why the mast head is a high priority for LED'sEasier to replace a bulb that is not on the masthead.
Just a few small comments for clarification: (or to add to the confusion)I have a round 360 white light on top of the mast. I also have a forward to side white light about 12" down from that. I have a white stern light on the hull. I have a red and green light forward on the hull.
The two mast lights were wired together is why I asked. I think they need to be separate, otherwise my anchor light is lit while motoring.
Russ posted the following on a Mac Board a number of years ago...A few months ago, GOOD OLD BOAT magazine ran an article where you use a on, off, on switch and a couple of diodes so that, switching negative and positive, you can use two wires to select and run either, but not both, lights, or have them off. In advance, as I did not read all replies, sorry if I repeat what another might have already noted.
Some validity to this 'clutter' point for sure. But not this. At 1000 feet, the angle between the water and a masthead light at 40 feet is 2.2 degrees.night sailors are scanning the water ahead, not the horizon.
Sometimes.Yes, your mast head lights are right up there with the 40 anchor-lit boats you are sailing 1000 feet in front of.
It's not legal.I assume it is heresy to ask the question, but what is the downside of illuminating your masthead tri-color and your bow and stern navigation lights simultaneously during a nighttime sailing situation in a coastal area where large ships are present? If it gets noticed one way or the other, what is the harm?
Not really true. When anchoring you need to exhibit a 360 degree white light. It's does not need to be masttop, or even mounted on the mast.You need the mast head light to properly indicate to others that you are anchored. This is a required signal that has been used for many years and still in use today.
Understood that it is not legal, and I imagine that it could get the offender in trouble if it was brought to the attention of authorities. I think the confusion was part of my reason for asking ... confusion could get the watch paying closer attention until they realize it is just one boat. What difference would it make if the watch thought there might be 2 boats in the same direction if it got them to pay closer attention. What difference would it make when they realize it is just 1 boat. It shouldn't make any difference in their decision making process. The one set of signals would only mimic the other set of signals and be in very close proximity, so there would be no distinction in how boats around them should react. The lights wouldn't indicate conflicting positions. It would look like one small boat with waterline lights and another small boat with masthead lights right next to each other going in the same direction and at the same speed. Why would that make any difference when it is discovered that it is just one boat? It may be misleading, but I don't see how it could lead to a dangerous crossing. Just give me one good example where it would be dangerous ... (that's a challenge)It's not legal.
It will be confusing. Is it one boat with 2 sets of lights? Is there a large boat right behind a small boat?
Except on a sailboat unless your 360* all round masthead light is not a top the mast it will not be seen from a full 360* arc.Not really true. When anchoring you need to exhibit a 360 degree white light. It's does not need to be masttop, or even mounted on the mast.