Masthead Tricolor?

[newly anonymous]

Something came up on a different thread that gave me pause, but I'm posting here rather than hijack that thread.

I had a masthead tricolor on my previous boat, but decided not to install one, at least so far, on the current boat. Part of the reason is that I suspect that a good LED masthead tricolor is still a few years away, and part of the reason is that I was so unimpressed with the one on my other boat.

The advantage is clear in terms of reduced power consumption having one bulb vrs three. I suppose offshore it's better to have the light up higher, except of course that it's so freaking difficult to change the bulb. A disadvantage, clearly is that so many newbies use tricolors incorrectly, either when steaming or when the running lights are on.

So what's the verdict? Is a tricolor worth the cost and weight aloft?

 

[sailingdog]

NA-

Yes, if you venture offshore at all or sail in heavy weather, a masthead tricolor makes a lot of sense. Offshore, the masthead tricolor can be seen from a much greater distance than deck level lights, as well as won't generally be blocked by the sails, waves and such. In heavy weather, a masthead tricolor can generally be seen over the swells and waves which would block or obscure deck-level lights.

There are good masthead LED tricolors out already, as well as LED replacement bulbs for common incandescent tricolor light fixtures, like the Aqua Signal series 25 and 40.

I have the Orca Green Marine Trianchor, which is a combination tricolor/anchor light. Lopolights also make separate tricolor and anchor fixtures as well.

The OGM light I have is actually about the same weight as the anchor light it replaced and only requires TWO WIRES for both functions.

 

[Rick D]

TriColor Negatives

I was going to put one in too. However, NA is absolutely right that many are used improperly in my experience. It can be really confusing.

One thing I had not considered is that it may be dangerous in close conditions. The reason I say this is from my experience in an annual overnight race. It was a black night without a moon. Near the finish, in very light conditions, there were about a half dozen of us within a half-mile of each other. We were moving around quite a bit to chase wind. Anyhow, I was tracking a guy (with my crew) who had a masthead light. He reached away from us. However, later, we came way too close to him as he jibed back. We didn't notice him until we were almost on top.

We had changed our lookout pattern to see nav lights in a deck position which is where the majority of them are. We were not looking up to view a masthead light.

Anyhow, after that experience, I decided to skip the masthead and put LED's in my nav lights instead. I did and feel better about it.

The ORCA combo unit SailingDog has installed seems an excellent unit and if it weighs about the same as the anchor light, all the better. However, after that one experience, and in view of my night sailing in some close-in traffic areas, I would be sure I had a switch to go from mast head to deck lights.

 

[sailingdog]

Rick-

That's why I said offshore and in heavy weather... for in harbor type settings, use your deck-level lights... and yes, I have both on my boat.

IMHO, you need to have both masthead and deck level nav lights.

 

[Graysailor]

I also have both masthead and deck level. The OGM masthead is LED and I have replaced deck level bulbs with LED's.

 

[newly anonymous]

certainly, if one has a tricolor light, one must still have deck lights. it's inappropriate to use a tricolor when steaming (motoring.)

 

[sailingdog]

NA-

Some of the sailboats I sail on don't have a motor...so deck level lights aren't technically required...