Tricolor vs Anchor Light Only

sailaway78 · Dec 13, 2009

IMHO

I think it depends upon your sailing area somewhat. If you sail more in confined waters, then I would stay with the lower mounted nav lights. On the other hand, if you sail more offshore, and in larger waters I would think the masthead tri color would be preferred. My reasoning is that I think that at closer ranges, the mast head light is not as readily seen. Most of us do not look up for nav lights. When offshore, the masthead light would certainly be visible from a longer distance, particularly if the seas are large enough to cause the hull to be below the tops of some waves. I also heard someone claim once that depth perception was somewhat screwed up by the masthead mounted lights, although I don't know whether I agree with that or not. You can of course, change out the existing nav bulbs with LED's, and get the energy savings. Guess it will all come down to your own preferance, as I have absolutely no proof that anything I have said is true.

Tim D. · Dec 13, 2009

Keep in mind that you cannot use just a mast tri-color with a steaming light if you are motoring at night.

TheCaptainJames · Dec 13, 2009

I'm new to sailing. Can you help me define the lights on our Hunter 260? We have a white light on the mast top. A red/green light on thw bow and a white light on the stern. Thanks.

Tim D. · Dec 13, 2009

TheCaptainJames said:
I'm new to sailing. Can you help me define the lights on our Hunter 260? We have a white light on the mast top. A red/green light on thw bow and a white light on the stern. Thanks.

See links;

http://www.boatus.org/onlinecourse/reviewpages/boatusf/project/info2c.htm

http://www.boatingsafety.com/colregs.htm

TheCaptainJames · Dec 13, 2009

Thanks Tim. I'll check out the links you provided.

Stu Jackson · Dec 13, 2009

Nice described it pretty well. You can't run the regular running lights with the tricolor, And another way to say that is that if you're in "restricted waters" the tricolor is not what other boats would be looking for, so you use your regular deck lights for sailing (and the steaming light when motoring) in conditions where people wouldn't be looking UP for your running lights - like in a harbor, or sailing on San Francisco Bay - once outside in the ocean, sure use the tricolor. Most folks have wired them so they can't come on at the same time. There was a joker in an adjacent marina who'd use his Pacific Seacraft twice a year and both would be at night and he'd run both his tricolor and his running lights -- I nearly hit him both times. He may well have sailed across oceans, but he didn't know his lights. The anchor light's the anchor light and you already know when to use that.

Roger Long · Dec 13, 2009

The big ships aren't going to see you anyway, or at least you should assume that they don't. You've got to have deck level (or at least separate) lights for use under power. Why add weight and windage in the worst place, on top of the mast, and the extra complexity?

If you are in a situation where you need a ship to see you and you don't think they do, turn on your spreader lights for a while and light up your sails. You shouldn't get into a situation where you are expecting them to see you. You must look for them and know where they are.

Rick D · Dec 13, 2009

I was considering the same as you, especially after doing a bunch of overnighters in a large regatta and having seen the better visibility of a masthead unit. However, I changed my mind after considering the weight, cost and most importantly, almost smacking a guy in the bay who was running his masthead instead of his lower lights. I saw him turn away from us but none of us ever saw him tack back because we were not looking UP.

John Nantz · Dec 13, 2009

Consider the next larger (output) lights

If one sails, or boats, in an area with a number of other boaters, buoys, and lots of lights on the shoreline, it would be good to consider going with the next larger output lights for better visibility.

Remember the guy who was T-boned by a speedboat on Clear Lake and hauled into court? One of the problems that came out during the trial was the difficulty of being seen amongst all the shoreline lights. White house lights, red and green traffic lights, etc.

Another consideration is the cost of a replacement lens. These lenses become severely crazed from UV over the years and visibility, even though the bulb(s) output meets spec, has to be severely reduced. By going with a higher output light this should help compensate.

One advantage with deck-level running lights is one could have covers for them for when the boat isn't being used that would help protect the lens from crazing.

As long as you're thinking about these things, this is one more thought to add to the pot.

capejt · Dec 14, 2009

The first response here from Nice N Easy hit it all right on the head! On my H33 I have both the masthad and the deck level light arrangements. What I did to simplify use is add a two way toggle powered of the Running Lights breaker. One side is "Power" and the other is "Sail". Under sail, only the masthead is lit, and under power the steaming light and "deck level" lights are lit.
Also, as previously eluded to, don't get the anchor light and stern light confused when using the masthead set up.

Patrick17430 · Dec 14, 2009

I would think the tri-color mast-head is a good choice if you are a cruiser or sail off shore alot. It also lights up your Windex from the underside nicely at night.

Capn Bill · Dec 14, 2009

jsalley said:
Just had my mast unstepped for the winter while the boat's on the hard to find/fix a leak at the step. While it's down, I plan to replace the masthead anchor light with an LED unit. I'm debating between a white anchor light and a combination tricolor/anchor light. Is there any reason not to use a tricolor instead of the standard deck-level running lights (other than the obvious issue of acquisition cost)? Advantages I see are replacement of three incandescent units with a single LED unit, better visibility (especially at ship's bridge level), no concerns about blocking the transom-mounted stern light by the dinghy, and much lower power consumption. Thanks.

We installed a masthead tri-color light a few years ago. It isn't needed on the Great Lakes - but we feel it gives an extra measure of safety. We like it! Capn Bill on STARGAZER

Plumper II · Dec 14, 2009

There is a specific light for the mast head for sailboats. It can be run at the same time as the running lights (only when under sail). It is the 360 degree red over green light. "Red over green, sailing machine."
I had one on my boat and I often received comments after offshore races that that was the only light the other boats regularly saw. It has the advantage of instantly identifying you as a sailboat and it shines 360 degrees. It is made for the job of being a masthead light. Look it up in the Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS). It is the right light to have.

capta · Dec 14, 2009

In my opinion the mast head tri-color is very dangerous.
Obviously the confined waters comments above are very on point. Who looks up at night when you are trying to find a nav mark or boats against the background lights of a harbor.
However offshore they are even more dangerous. As master of a freighter I was sailing south through the Anguilla Passage and spotted a (red or green, I don't remember) light from the bridge wing. From 50 feet (some ships the bridge is 80 feet or more) it looked as though the boat was a couple of miles away. I walked back into the bridge to check the radar and noticed the light go by the bridge wing only moments after determining that the boat was some miles off. I ran out & saw that we had only missed the sail boat by a few feet & was horrified!
From the bridge of a ship, a mast head tri-color gives no distance perspective & shines no light on any part of the boat or her sails.
Please note that I am a sailor & a sober, attentive watch stander, unlike so many at sea on commercial ships.
Not only would I recommend that you NOT install the tri-color, I would really like to see them banned.

SV Camelot · Dec 14, 2009

If you are considering a Masthead Tri Color you should be thinking of the type of sailing you are doing. If you are sailing lakes and bays, Tricolors are not necessary. If you are sailing coastal or ocean passages then a Tricolor is an absolute necessity.

When you are in conditions were the waves higher than your running lights, the fact is no one will be able to see you. This type of condition is what Tricolors were designed for.

You can factor in the curvature of the earth as well, but recreational Tricolors are usually rated at 2 nautical miles so see over the horizon isn't an issue.

As far as weight the new LED Tricolors are very light and require lighter gauge wire. The theory of too much weight aloft is silly when you are considering somewhere between 10 and 16oz of total weight for the light fixture and wire weight.

Do not replace your running lights with a Tricolor. For the reasons previously stated. Use the Tricolor as a supplemental lighting system.

I live fulltime on my boat and doing a non-scientific survey last summer discovered about 2/3 of the sailboats and about 25% of power boats travel with the wrong navigation lights.

Remember:

Sailboats:
Running Lights for sailing
Running Lights and Steaming Light for motoring
Anchor Light for anchoring
Tricolor for sailing only "The regs require the steaming light to be above the running lights. This can't happen when you use the tricolor"
Only use one set of running lights. Don't think more is better and try using the Tricolor and running lights in combination. Using more than one set of running lights can be confusing to approaching vessels who may see two boats, not to mention is is illegal.
Stobe Lights are for emergencies only. It is illegal to sail with a mast head strobe running.

Power Boats
Running lights and Steaming lights when moving
Anchor light for anchoring
More lights is not better.
Those pretty colored underwater lights should not be used while moving, unless you are handling an emergency and want people to see you

Fair winds...

Tom Jeremiason
S/V Camelot
C470-145
Alameda, CA

Scarlet Sails · Dec 14, 2009

Know the Laws...

I think a tricolor masthead light is an excellent choice and should be run under sail. The reason being is a vessel under sail has specific rights that other boaters should recognize. Also, there are very well defined and detailed rules (LAWS) established for all sailing vessels and vessels under power (including a sailboat with sails raised while under power). The rules vary somewhat for inland and coastal and one would be wise to know these rules by heart and not just take what someone says on a forum as true. We are talking potential life and death. With that said I've been sailing for over 35 years and I've never had a problem spotting masthead lights. You are suppose to look for them as well as the elevated lights on ships and other vessels.

NotCook · Dec 14, 2009

If you replaced your all around white masthead anchor light with a tri-color, you would also have to come up with a new anchor light, as you can't burn the tri-color at anchor.

capta · Dec 14, 2009

A bit off topic but eusebius brought up an important point. Sure there are laws, but it's pretty important to remember that you are on a pleasure vessel & you may not, under any circumstances, interfere with the operation of commercial vessels, be you under sail or not. Most importantly, is that watch stander on the bridge of the approaching vessel even awake?
Do not put your life or the life of your crew in jeopardy by expecting the other vessel to do the right (legal) thing & remember the nav rules have changed; there is no longer a "right of way" for any vessel. The last vessel which CAN avoid a collision SHALL avoid a collision, lights or no lights or whatever, period!