Mastead nav Lights?

[Salty]

After sailing last night, I noticed a vessel coming into our harbor with its nav lights at least 35 feet of sea level. My first thought is what is a ship that large doing in our small harbor at night. As it got closer I realized it’s was a sailboat with a tri color light on the masthead. Is this legal for a sailboat? Even though it’s very visible on the masthead it can be misinterpreted as a very large vessel.

 

[Tim R.]

They are legal on sailboats up to a certain size.

Rule 25(b)
In a sailing vessel of less than 20 meters in length the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) of this Rule may be combined in one lantern carried at or near the top of the mast where it can best be seen.

 

[Dick McKee]

Salty...It depends on what they were showing. Tim is correct about 25b, but 25c allows 2 all-round red and green. If showing a mast head you must also show deck level lights also. We only use our mast head when we are 10 miles+ off shore just as an insurance to been seen farther away. We chose not to show a mast head near a harbor because of the confusion you described.

 

[Stu Jackson]

If showing a mast head you must also show deck level lights also....We chose not to show a mast head near a harbor because of the confusion you described.

NO, no, no. The reason is confusion. If you show mast head you cannot show deck light, too. Never BOTH.

Yes, mastheads should be used offshore for that reason.

If you have both, then use deck level in harbors to avoid this very confusion.

 

[Dick McKee]

Stu..I don't want to start something but you should read 25c. It requires both.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Stu..I don't want to start something but you should read 25c. It requires both.

Dick, let's not then.

I agree, but not BOTH ON at the same time. I believe you'll agree.

English sometimes leaves a bit to be desired, comin' & goin'.

 

[Paul Mermelstein]

In our U.S. Power Squadron unit, we teach that a vessel under 20 meters may use a masthead tri-color instead of the side lights, not in addition to them. Also, re-reading COLREGS says the same thing. I think the confusion is with the vertical all-round lights (red over green) that MAY be shown with sidelights. But these MAY NOT be shown with the masthead tri-color.

 

[guest]

Mast head nav light must be off when under power.

When you are under motor, the deck level nav lights are used along with the steaming light.

 

[RichH]

Masthead nav lights are easily 'missed' by small boaters because they are so high and are so easily confused with lights on shore, etc. When scanning the horizon, most boaters do not look 'up' but at the horizon - where its easier to see deck lights.

I only use my masthead nav light when at sea or on very dark nights. They should probably be 'sized' much brighter than the anemic '2-mile' visibilty; ditto the deck nav lights. My deck nav lights are still the old-fashioned '2 mile' variety; but, Ive 'upped' the bulb brightness/intensity and dont mind changing burned-out bulbs frequently 'cause I want to BE SEEN.
My feeling is that masthead nav light should be MUCH MUCH brighter than the silly '2 mile' lights commonly found masthead light. Many times Ive VHF-contacted approaching ships when at sea and invariably they dont see my '2 mile' masthead when the atmospheric conditions are anything less than 'ideal'; ditto the deck nav lights.

 

[tommays]

IMHP a LOT of the brightness issue comes down to how much it affects your night vision

MY new steaming light is a Perko 3 mile which i bought becasue it was the only thing rig-rite had and adpator for that fit a 3490 mast section

BUT its a bit MUCH and also functions a nice deck work light when we clean up

 

[guest]

Maybe this link will help to understand.

http://www.boatsafe.com/flash/reviewlights.html