Peaceful Nights?

NotCook · Jun 1, 2009

Faulty Interpretation - whose?

I happen to agree with the posts that a masthead light may not be the most effective, for the reasons stated, and more lights make sense. From experience at trying to pick out our boat from the shore clutter (only boat in the area...) even with a regulation 2 mile visibility LED light hanging from the boom, an unobstructed from the direction of my approach, it is hard enough to pick out. The simple fact is, a two mile visible light doesn't mean it is bright - it means you can see that there is a light - if you are looking for it. I want both the masthead light for assured 360 deg coverage (including dead ahead), and I also want at least one other light at or near deck/eye level which is more likely to be noticed as you approach.

Even "legal" isn't always what is best. Better to be both legal AND safe.

[Cool idea Neil! clean and elegant approach. Do you think it will stay put when it is getting whipped back and forth? I want one...]

NotCook · Jun 1, 2009

jibes138 said:
Anchor lights at deck level attract bugs. Many of these bugs are hazardous to humans spreading all kinds of horrible diseases. Putting a light at the end of the boom will guarantee putting all kinds of screens in your hatches and companionway crawling inside and hiding from the critters. maybe some pet bats will help? A separately powered anchor light can be hoisted up a halyard to near masthead to keep the light and bugs away from the deck.

Up there were the really-hard-to-get-to spiders are located...

Maine Sail · Jun 1, 2009

I switched

I actually switched from a certified LED bulb for my AquaSignal series 40 all round to a non-certified bulb because:

1) It's brighter than both the factory incandescent bulb and the Dr. LED Polar Star 40.

2) It has a significantly warmer "light bulb" color than the Dr. LED Polar Star 40 so it does not look like a distant planet and looks more like an anchor light.

After I almost hit my own boat on a hazy/foggy night because the bluish tint of the Polar Star 40 threw my depth perception off I went to this Marine beam bulb.

Brighter and warmer! But no, not certified...

sailingdog · Jun 2, 2009

Actually, he would have had a night-time collision with a certified anchor light, which is why he switched to a non-certified bulb, to make it easier to see his boat, not harder...

Neil McDonald said:
I am positively drooling at the thought of the headline on several internet nautical forums "Maine Sail has night time collision with own boat using non certified anchor light"!!
:stirthepot:

Witzend · Jun 2, 2009

Wow, if we could use the colective mental power that went into this thread and give it to congress they might have a chance of solving some of the really serious problems our country faces, and yes I recognize the subject matter of this thread dosen't involve politics. But seriously it amazes me that the simple concept of lighting your boat so someone won't run into it wells up such detailed response.

Ross · Jun 2, 2009

Witzend said:
Wow, if we could use the colective mental power that went into this thread and give it to congress they might have a chance of solving some of the really serious problems our country faces, and yes I recognize the subject matter of this thread dosen't involve politics. But seriously it amazes me that the simple concept of lighting your boat so someone won't run into it wells up such detailed response.

If you ask me what the time is, I will explain how a watch works and how we derived the concept of time.