Nav light wiring

[degas]

Can I combine navigation lights on a single breaker?

On my 12VDC panel I currently have a few of the breakers dedicated to navigation lights:

1. Sternlight: White light, stern, facing aft
2. Masthead light: White light, halfway up the mast, facing forward
3. All-round light: 360 degree white light, top of mast
4. Sidelights: Red light and green light, bow, facing port and starboard

Transport Canadia says that I must use these lights in these ways:

• Power: Masthead light, sternlight, and sidelights
• Sail: Sternlight and sidelights
• Anchor: All-round light

Considering that the sternlight and sidelights are only ever used together, why not save a breaker by merging these 2 circuits? The new setup would need only 3 breakers:

1. Sternlight & sidelights
2. Masthead light
3. All-round light
4. Free breaker ready for a new adventure

Successes? Horror stories?

 

[dmax]

Most boats combine the stern and side lights onto one breaker as they're never needed independently, so go for it.

 

[dLj]

That's how my boat and all others I've ever owned were wired. As in stern, port and starboard on one breaker...

dj

 

[kappykaplan]

Most boats combine the stern and side lights onto one breaker as they're never needed independently, so go for it.

That's how my boat and all others I've ever owned were wired. As in stern, port and starboard on one breaker...

 

[Stu Jackson]

1. Masthead light: White light, halfway up the mast, facing forward
2. All-round light: 360 degree white light, top of mast

Masthead is also usually called steaming light.
All-round is also usually called anchor light.

 

[jssailem]

Considering that the sternlight and sidelights are only ever used together, why not save a breaker by merging these 2 circuits? The new setup would need only 3 breakers:

1. Sternlight & sidelights
2. Masthead light
3. All-round light
4. Free breaker ready for a new adventure

 

[Barnacle Bill]

The masthead light [at the top of the mast] is an all round white light for anchoring only. The steaming light [also referred to as a bow light] is not a masthead light on your boat as you explained it because it is not at the top of the mast, but on the front of the mast. It is white, facing forward used only for when the vessel is motoring and not sailing. However, there are steaming/bow lights that can be at the top of the mast, combined with the anchor light. They are usually one fixture with two bulbs. There would be one switch to turn on the steaming light/bow light, and another switch marked so a second bulb facing aft ignites, which when switched on will complete the 360 degree anchor light. The stern light and two red and green bow lights are considered the navigation lights. These should be on one switch. The bow light on another switch and the anchor light on another switch. If it is a combination bow/anchor light, there will be 3 wires. A negative for both bulbs and a two positives, one for each of the two bulbs. But, as you expressed, you don't have that arrangement on your boat. There are other combo lights on the market that also are designed to fit on the masthead where the red and green, stern light anchor light and bow light are in one fixture. The wiring gets a little trickier with those types. But, I digress.

 

[Davidasailor26]

The masthead light [at the top of the mast] is an all round white light for anchoring only. The steaming light [also referred to as a bow light] is not a masthead light on your boat as you explained it because it is not at the top of the mast, but on the front of the mast. It is white, facing forward used only for when the vessel is motoring and not sailing.

Counterintuitive as it may be, the “masthead” light is actually the steaming light. See Rule 21.a of the USCG rules at https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/navRules/Rules20-31.pdf. The masthead light is traditionally named for a motor vessel’s light mast, where what we call a steaming light would be mounted. The 360 degree anchor light usually at the top of a sailboat mast is separately defined as an all-around light in part e.

 

[degas]

The masthead light [at the top of the mast] is an all round white light for anchoring only.
...

Thanks for the clarification.

For what it's worth and for posterity, I'm using Transport Canada's terminology mixed with what my boat actually has installed.