RE:2: running light and anchor light
- Thread starter Nathan Wagner
- Start date
I'm not sure if this is "original", but I have my red/green/stern white running lights on a two-position switch (on/off).
I put my steaming light (the one half way up the mast facing mostly forward) and my anchor light (the one at the mast top) on the three position switch, as they are not needed simultaneously.
The way I understand it is that if you're motoring the mast steaming light should be on (1/2 way up the mast) and your running lights too.
But if you are sailing the mast steaming light is off.
And if you're at anchor, the anchor light (top of the mast, visible 360 degrees)is on .... so this seems to work out OK.
(The light on the stern is not normally visible for 360 degrees, so should not be used as an anchoring light.)
Confused? Check http://nyss.com/federal#3G
Hope this helps
Peter
#1331 'Sin Tacha'
I put my steaming light (the one half way up the mast facing mostly forward) and my anchor light (the one at the mast top) on the three position switch, as they are not needed simultaneously.
The way I understand it is that if you're motoring the mast steaming light should be on (1/2 way up the mast) and your running lights too.
But if you are sailing the mast steaming light is off.
And if you're at anchor, the anchor light (top of the mast, visible 360 degrees)is on .... so this seems to work out OK.
(The light on the stern is not normally visible for 360 degrees, so should not be used as an anchoring light.)
Confused? Check http://nyss.com/federal#3G
Hope this helps
Peter
#1331 'Sin Tacha'
Another way to understand it all is this (this is for boats under 12
meters):
The side lights are visible from dead ahead through an arc of 112.5 degrees
aft, each. The stern light is visible through an arc 135 degrees, equal on
each side. Adding (2 X 112.5) to the 135 degrees equals 360 degrees. The
steaming light (half way or so up the mast) is visible through 225 degrees
Adding 135 and 225 equals 360.
OK a power boat, or sailboat under power (whether the sails are up or not),
must show the red and green sidelights and a white light visible through 360
degrees (thus the steaming light and stern light combination).
A sailboat under sail alone shows the two side lights and the 135 degree
stern light only and not white light through 360 degrees. A sailboat under
sail can show a tri-color at the mast head that meets the degree
requirements as above. A sailboat must not show the tri-color when under
power.
If you want a good book on this subject and all the rules the one we teach
from is "The One-Minute Guide to Nautical Rules of the Road" by Charlie
Wing. This book states the applicable rule and then an explanation of the
legalese. It meets the requirements for boats greater than 20 meters to
carry the Colregs on board (note that there have been court cases where a
ruling went against an operator of an even smaller boat for not having the
rules on board).
meters):
The side lights are visible from dead ahead through an arc of 112.5 degrees
aft, each. The stern light is visible through an arc 135 degrees, equal on
each side. Adding (2 X 112.5) to the 135 degrees equals 360 degrees. The
steaming light (half way or so up the mast) is visible through 225 degrees
Adding 135 and 225 equals 360.
OK a power boat, or sailboat under power (whether the sails are up or not),
must show the red and green sidelights and a white light visible through 360
degrees (thus the steaming light and stern light combination).
A sailboat under sail alone shows the two side lights and the 135 degree
stern light only and not white light through 360 degrees. A sailboat under
sail can show a tri-color at the mast head that meets the degree
requirements as above. A sailboat must not show the tri-color when under
power.
If you want a good book on this subject and all the rules the one we teach
from is "The One-Minute Guide to Nautical Rules of the Road" by Charlie
Wing. This book states the applicable rule and then an explanation of the
legalese. It meets the requirements for boats greater than 20 meters to
carry the Colregs on board (note that there have been court cases where a
ruling went against an operator of an even smaller boat for not having the
rules on board).
Nathan
An anchor light has to have 360 degree visibility. Most often at the top of
the mast but some hang a light over the cockpit or in the rigging forward or
the mast. A stern light is not legal as an anchor light.
An anchor light has to have 360 degree visibility. Most often at the top of
the mast but some hang a light over the cockpit or in the rigging forward or
the mast. A stern light is not legal as an anchor light.
An anchor light needs to be one light not the stern light in a combo with
another light. A couple things:
It doesn't have to be at the top of the mast. Actually a light at the top of
the mast is sometimes harder to see than one hung lower. I think this is
because a person is looking for boats and not the mast top. I used to use a
removable light I could hoist just above my cockpit when I was cruising.
A boat under 20 meters isn't required to show an anchor light at all if it
is anchored in a "special anchorage area as designated by the Secretary" (
COLREGS rule 30).
I found in the South Pacific half the boats didn't bother with anchor
lights. Actually more than a few didn't bother with running lights for that
matter.
another light. A couple things:
It doesn't have to be at the top of the mast. Actually a light at the top of
the mast is sometimes harder to see than one hung lower. I think this is
because a person is looking for boats and not the mast top. I used to use a
removable light I could hoist just above my cockpit when I was cruising.
A boat under 20 meters isn't required to show an anchor light at all if it
is anchored in a "special anchorage area as designated by the Secretary" (
COLREGS rule 30).
I found in the South Pacific half the boats didn't bother with anchor
lights. Actually more than a few didn't bother with running lights for that
matter.