Improvised anchor light??

All U Get · Jun 6, 2013

Try this http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|65136|739053|760453&id=7977
or this http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|65136|992429&id=7961

I hung mine from the topping lift so it was close to being seen 360 degrees.

All U Get

Doc_holiday · Jun 6, 2013

I think the LED lantern would be to weak. Needs a two mile view. On my clipper, I did as suggested but I hauled up one of those battery operated stern lights.

The nice thing about the 26c is its easy to install a new anchor light with the mast down.

tkanzler · Jun 6, 2013

Some interesting reading.

http://forums.hunter.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?t=152668

Ross · Jun 6, 2013

For several years I have used a kerosine lantern hung from the backstay.

RobertLangdirect · Jun 6, 2013

So, I used two, small, CHEAP, 360-degree LED camping laterns, one ran up the main halyard and the other up the jib, on the Potomac, last year, during a drunken event at a local dive restaurant. Another boat nearby had none.

Midnight, MD river patrol and USCG board other vessel and start giving tickets. They never came over to us.

LED is visible for miles at night and two laterns will provide 360-degrees of coverage.

'nuf said?

rgranger · Jun 6, 2013

I've used LED lanterns as well. They are cheap and very bright. Much brighter than a standard anchor light. And when one fails, you don't have to drop the mast to replace it. I Guess on a Mac 26C that is not such an issue.

Patrick S/V Shangra-La · Jun 6, 2013

I used one of those rechargeable camping lanterns hung it from my flag halyard on the spreader.

It works both as an anchor light and to illuminate the boat. Enjoy your nights at anchor.

Stu Jackson · Jun 6, 2013

Ross said:
For several years I have used a kerosine lantern hung from the backstay.

We've been doing that since 1998. It has a fresnel lens.

dscribner · Jun 6, 2013

When my anchor light is in question I have a back-up kit. A 3 LED puck light in a Walmart bag (to give me something to tie to) and a cheap piece of rope as a messenger line. I've seen it from afar and it was brighter than the 35 foot Hunter anchored next to us. Whatever you do, use the messenger to pull it away from the mast, unless you LIKE being kept up all night by the constant banging!

Sumner · Jun 6, 2013

I have a tendency to make a lot of the items on our boats, but when it came to the anchor light I went the other way and bought a very low wattage (2 watt) Hella All-Around anchor light that has an approval for the Coast Guard and other agencies....

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

Sure I could put something together for less than 10 dollars instead of $100 but what if there is an accident that is or isn't your fault and blame is put on you for your $10 light. Do you really want to take the chance of how that is going to play out?

For us $100 is a small price to pay for piece of mind and since we run on solar the less than 2 watt draw is big. So far I don't think I've seen one actual legal all-around light mentioned in the replies above. If you have something up there then you probably aren't going to get ticketed but that doesn't mean that you have meet the requirements of the law.

Our install...

...on our Mac is here ....

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

...and we bought the same light to use on the Endeavour. It had a legal top of the mast all-around light but the draw wasn't under 2 watts.

Sum

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Our Endeavour 37

Our MacGregor 26-S Pages

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Ross · Jun 6, 2013

The law calls for an all around white light placed where it may best be seen. It must be visible for a distance of two miles on a clear night. I know that a candle burning in a jar is visible for two miles.

Rick I · Jun 6, 2013

Get the best anchor light in the world - the Owl light from http://www.bebi-electronics.com/

rgranger · Jun 6, 2013

Sumner said:
If you have something up there then you probably aren't going to get ticketed but that doesn't mean that you have meet the requirements of the law.

I see where you are coming from and I don't think people should short cut safety equipment but for boats our size, a lantern hung from the back stay does meet the legal requirements... and I've read more than once, claims that a lamp hung from a back stay is safer than a mast topped all around for a sailboat. This is most true in the case of a heavy fog or other low visibility situations. No one is looking up in those circumstances and a mast head light can go unnoticed in a heavy fog.

Something to think on anyway.

tkanzler · Jun 6, 2013

rgranger said:
. . . and I've read more than once, claims that a lamp hung from a back stay is safer than a mast topped all around for a sailboat. This is most true in the case of a heavy fog or other low visibility situations. No one is looking up in those circumstances and a mast head light can go unnoticed in a heavy fog.

Remember that there is no requirement that it be at the top of the mast. In fact, there's lots of reasons it's better off down low, like in a crowded anchorage, during a fireworks show, when the nitwits weigh anchor and make a mad dash for the marinas. An anchor light at the top of a 55 ft mast might as well not be there at all.

From the Colregs:

Rule 30 - Anchored Vessels and Vessels Aground

(a) A vessel at anchor shall exhibit where it can best be seen:

(i) in the fore part, an all-round white light or one ball;
(ii) at or near the stern and at a lower level than the light prescribed in subparagraph (i), an all-round white light.
(b) A vessel of less than 50 meters in length may exhibit an all-round white light where it can best be seen instead of the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) of this Rule. (emphasis added)

All U Get · Jun 6, 2013

Always have a plan "B". I had to lay down the anchor light on the mast head.

All U Get

Chuckbear · Jun 6, 2013

Rick I said:
Get the best anchor light in the world - the Owl light from http://www.bebi-electronics.com/

Amen to that. we have been using the Owl for years with the photo cell and it's set it and forget it. Sometimes we forget about it and the light is on after dark at a marina. Chuck

Kordie · Jun 6, 2013

Chuckbear said:
Amen to that. we have been using the Owl for years with the photo cell and it's set it and forget it. Sometimes we forget about it and the light is on after dark at a marina. Chuck

Just trying to work the Owl out. The website isn't the most user friendly but that won't stop me buying from them.

It installs into the existing anchor light housing?

It isn't designed as a replacement for the entire unit?

I do like the idea of the photovoltaic. I have left my boat at anchor to go exploring and had to leave the anchor light burning 24 hours. Not a huge issue but better not to.

Chuckbear · Jun 6, 2013

Kordie said:
Just trying to work the Owl out. The website isn't the most user friendly but that won't stop me buying from them.

It installs into the existing anchor light housing?

It isn't designed as a replacement for the entire unit?

I do like the idea of the photovoltaic. I have left my boat at anchor to go exploring and had to leave the anchor light burning 24 hours. Not a huge issue but better not to.

You do have to improvise a mount. It attaches to a standard PVC pipe and we used a PVC base to attach the pipe to the top of the mast on our trawler. But it's well worth the effort. If you contact Bibi, they will give you plenty of ideas to mount it. Chuck

Chuckbear · Jun 6, 2013

Here it is mounted.

Improvised anchor light??

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