Hella NaviLED all I need on mast?

[bugbitten]

My 9.2A's mast has been down for rigging issues all spring and summer. I'm hoping to finally get it reinstalled this coming week. However, as many of you have probably already gathered, I'm ignorant about nearly all things sailing and am confused on the navigation lighting requirements. I replaced the white light at the top of the mast with a Hella NaviLED trio unit and ran new wiring for it. Obviously, the all-around white light replaces the anchor light, but my question is, do the red and green lights replace the running (under power) light that is half way up the leading edge of the mast? I clipped off the connectors for that light, thinking they weren't needed, but could run another cable if needed.

Practical Sailor's review of the LED unit said this: "Perko's 170 Series and the Hella NaviLED Pro series are the only lights (other than Orca Green's tri-color), that are certified for both power and sail." Is that what they meant?

I've looked at the Boat US, USCG, and Federal sites but am still confused.

Here are the Fed regs:

http://www.uscgboating.org/fedreqs/default.html

on page 27 it says that if you're under 12 meters and under power, all you need is the P&S lights forward and a white light aft (figure 2).

Is it legal to run more than that, having the P&S lights also running on the top of the mast?

This stuff is giving me a headache. Maybe I'll go back to bed.

Thanks.

John

 

[Maine Sail]

If "steaming" or motoring you can't have your red green above your steaming light so a tricolor at the mast head is only suitable for sailing not motor sailing or motoring. Keep your steaming light connected as you'll want to use that with your deck level running lights for steaming/motoring.

 

[bugbitten]

Thanks. I was afraid of that! Better to figure it out while the mast is still down, though!