Got a question. I am about to mount a flat stern light on the top of the lazarette on the stern deck. Deck height is probably about 4 feet above the water or so. Would there be any good purpose to mounting it on a standpipe or on the stern rail, a couple of feet higher? Right now, with the light on the lazarette cover, it is not occluded by the outboard, in the well, below and can be seen the full 180 degrees it is supposed to be. Steve
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Trevor - SailboatOwners.com
Sounds like you answered your question
Hi Steve - Since you indicated that mounting it on the aft lazarette ensures it is "not occluded by the outboard, in the well, below and can be seen the full 180 degrees", that should be sufficient. I don't see any benefit by mounting it higher than that. Happy night sailing... Trevor
Hi Steve - Since you indicated that mounting it on the aft lazarette ensures it is "not occluded by the outboard, in the well, below and can be seen the full 180 degrees", that should be sufficient. I don't see any benefit by mounting it higher than that. Happy night sailing... Trevor
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Daniel Jonas
Visibility
Mounting the light higher might improve the visibility some, particularly in higher seas. Also, make sure it is actually visible through 135 degrees centered on the stern, not 180. Dan Jonas (S/V Feije II)
Mounting the light higher might improve the visibility some, particularly in higher seas. Also, make sure it is actually visible through 135 degrees centered on the stern, not 180. Dan Jonas (S/V Feije II)
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jay kent
An advantage to mounting it the way you
originally planned is that it will not cause the cockpit to be lit up when running at night. That can be totally distracting and create other problems, too. Having it mounted on the stern keeps all the light to your aft.
originally planned is that it will not cause the cockpit to be lit up when running at night. That can be totally distracting and create other problems, too. Having it mounted on the stern keeps all the light to your aft.
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tom
Is this a stern light or a 360 degree light??
My stern light is mounted below the rail and only shines to the rear for sailing. Requires a steaming light to motor. Of course the alternative is a 360 light in the rear. But I don't think that's legal for sailing. I usually use a light tied to the boom for an anchor light. It makes the boat more visable to high speed boats. Anchor lights at the top of the mast often look like stars at a distance.
My stern light is mounted below the rail and only shines to the rear for sailing. Requires a steaming light to motor. Of course the alternative is a 360 light in the rear. But I don't think that's legal for sailing. I usually use a light tied to the boom for an anchor light. It makes the boat more visable to high speed boats. Anchor lights at the top of the mast often look like stars at a distance.
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Steve
A clarification
Trevor, my question was is there any advantage to having the light a couple of feet higher, therefore being seen at maybe a mile or two further distant? By mounting it higher, WOULD, in fact, it be seen much further away? Dan... your point is well taken... it IS 135 degrees aft. Jay... it is a STERN light, not meant to light the cockpit and not desired to. Don't need a loss of night vision under sail, OR power! Point well taken. Tom: This is my stern running light... not an anchor light. I am going to get a Davidson Ultra light and hang it from the boom (perhaps NOT the halyard... you bring up a good point about the stars) and light the cockpit as well as use it for the anchor light, when the hook is down. Thanks all, so far. Steve
Trevor, my question was is there any advantage to having the light a couple of feet higher, therefore being seen at maybe a mile or two further distant? By mounting it higher, WOULD, in fact, it be seen much further away? Dan... your point is well taken... it IS 135 degrees aft. Jay... it is a STERN light, not meant to light the cockpit and not desired to. Don't need a loss of night vision under sail, OR power! Point well taken. Tom: This is my stern running light... not an anchor light. I am going to get a Davidson Ultra light and hang it from the boom (perhaps NOT the halyard... you bring up a good point about the stars) and light the cockpit as well as use it for the anchor light, when the hook is down. Thanks all, so far. Steve
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tom
limit of light brightness
is probably the limiting factor. Especially if you are worried about being seen by a larger vessel. I am assuming the larger vessel has an elevated bridge. I forget the exact numbers and I am at work and can't look it up. But standing about 6' I think the horizon is over 3 miles away and your average sternlight probably can't be seen much farther than that regardless of height. Maybe on a really clear really dark night it could be seen a little farther. The CG requirement is 2 miles?? for brightness.
is probably the limiting factor. Especially if you are worried about being seen by a larger vessel. I am assuming the larger vessel has an elevated bridge. I forget the exact numbers and I am at work and can't look it up. But standing about 6' I think the horizon is over 3 miles away and your average sternlight probably can't be seen much farther than that regardless of height. Maybe on a really clear really dark night it could be seen a little farther. The CG requirement is 2 miles?? for brightness.
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larry w.
stern light
Steve; I moved the stern light on my Bene 40 from the transom to the center of the radar arch/dingy davit so it wouldn't be blocked by the dink when it's hoisted and wouldn't disappear in large swells. The higher the better, I think.
Steve; I moved the stern light on my Bene 40 from the transom to the center of the radar arch/dingy davit so it wouldn't be blocked by the dink when it's hoisted and wouldn't disappear in large swells. The higher the better, I think.
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Terry
Steve, I would not hang it from the boom,,,
on our boat. If you had the boom out on a reach at night it could get confusing. I would leave it on the stern if it were my boat. If you are worried about being seen at night over the swells install a mast head tri-color. Terry
on our boat. If you had the boom out on a reach at night it could get confusing. I would leave it on the stern if it were my boat. If you are worried about being seen at night over the swells install a mast head tri-color. Terry
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Steve
Terry
Terry: The boom was suggested only for an ANCHOR light. I think that putting it on the starboard lazarette cover on the stern is going to do the trick... it is easy to get to for the installation and probably high enough.
Terry: The boom was suggested only for an ANCHOR light. I think that putting it on the starboard lazarette cover on the stern is going to do the trick... it is easy to get to for the installation and probably high enough.
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Tim Donley
Anchor lite visibility
Keep in mind an anchor light is required to be visible in an unbroken arc of 360 degrees. Hanging from the boom will not satisfy the USCG / COLREG requirement of this lights function. If another boat is excluded from viewing this light as a suggestion of a boom mounted light and a collision ocurred YOU will have the burden of liablity NOT the other boat as your light was not visible due to boom or mast interference. Also the distance standard is another consideration for an anchor light. Another thing everyone should look at on their own boats is the visibility of all navigation lights that they are properly displayed and not blocked in any part of the visible arc and are up to the standards for the size boat.
Keep in mind an anchor light is required to be visible in an unbroken arc of 360 degrees. Hanging from the boom will not satisfy the USCG / COLREG requirement of this lights function. If another boat is excluded from viewing this light as a suggestion of a boom mounted light and a collision ocurred YOU will have the burden of liablity NOT the other boat as your light was not visible due to boom or mast interference. Also the distance standard is another consideration for an anchor light. Another thing everyone should look at on their own boats is the visibility of all navigation lights that they are properly displayed and not blocked in any part of the visible arc and are up to the standards for the size boat.
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Steve
Tim
So you would hang it from a halyard. By hanging an ANCHOR light from the boom, I would be assuming that it would be with the sails down and the light would be OVER the furled sail on the boom, so the occlusion would be minimal. Still, however, the halyard idea would be less apt to be blocked. I don't think the thickness of my mast would totally occlude the light in any direction unless you were VERY CLOSE, directly behind the mast. Steve
So you would hang it from a halyard. By hanging an ANCHOR light from the boom, I would be assuming that it would be with the sails down and the light would be OVER the furled sail on the boom, so the occlusion would be minimal. Still, however, the halyard idea would be less apt to be blocked. I don't think the thickness of my mast would totally occlude the light in any direction unless you were VERY CLOSE, directly behind the mast. Steve
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Tim Donley
ABYC standard
As the standard is written ABYC A-16.5.a , states an exception that reads "in accordance with the COLREGS and Inland rules, all around lights may not be obscured by masts, top masts or structures within angular sectors of more than 6 degrees except anchor lights which need not be an impractable height above the hull" With that being said I would think by the time you hang the light above the boom (sails stowed of course)you are well distanced from the mast so you should be well beyond the occlusion of the mast. At least you are paying attention to the visibility issues. I live on the mooring field in Stuart and I see every example of miss-used lighting you can imagine,yes it is usually all the runabouts,Sea Rays,and other powered idiots whom are clueless that depend on their gold necklaces and rolexs to reflect (ignorance) knowledge. I watch one guy each week run down the river at night with a spotlight on and others with any combination of lights. Note to Phill@SAILBOAT OWNERS.COM :Lets have a quiz on navlites to bring everyones awareness up to par. Also in closing, when you are in an anchorage you still need to display lighting on the tender underway. I am amazed at the number of people who think its ok or maybe think its not required,you may be dead wrong.
As the standard is written ABYC A-16.5.a , states an exception that reads "in accordance with the COLREGS and Inland rules, all around lights may not be obscured by masts, top masts or structures within angular sectors of more than 6 degrees except anchor lights which need not be an impractable height above the hull" With that being said I would think by the time you hang the light above the boom (sails stowed of course)you are well distanced from the mast so you should be well beyond the occlusion of the mast. At least you are paying attention to the visibility issues. I live on the mooring field in Stuart and I see every example of miss-used lighting you can imagine,yes it is usually all the runabouts,Sea Rays,and other powered idiots whom are clueless that depend on their gold necklaces and rolexs to reflect (ignorance) knowledge. I watch one guy each week run down the river at night with a spotlight on and others with any combination of lights. Note to Phill@SAILBOAT OWNERS.COM :Lets have a quiz on navlites to bring everyones awareness up to par. Also in closing, when you are in an anchorage you still need to display lighting on the tender underway. I am amazed at the number of people who think its ok or maybe think its not required,you may be dead wrong.
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Jim Quibell
Ye Gads! More discussion on nav lighting???
Methinks some of you should do some research in our archives on this very topic. It has been thoroughly and carefully covered in hundreds of postings. Cheers,
Methinks some of you should do some research in our archives on this very topic. It has been thoroughly and carefully covered in hundreds of postings. Cheers,
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