Anchor light off when running at night?

JohnEGraham

JohnEGraham

Active Member
Aug 5, 2008
1,013
Long Island, NY.
Boat Info
250 Sundancer 1998 5.7.
Engines
350 Merc / Bravo 3
Hi, I am in the middle of my Radar arch install. I was wondering if it is against the rules to run at night with both the stock Stern light on and the new L.E.D anchor light I am thinking of installing on my radar arch. I really would like some more visibility while out at night ( my first time to come)
Questions: Will the light ruin my night vision? and is it against the rules?
I have read the rules every thing says to do a,b,c nothing about don't do a,b,c...
Thanks. John E G
 
There is a reason it is called an anchor light and not a running light. Yes. It is against the rules and you will very likely be cited if you have active law enforcement where you boat. The Coasties would be all over you if you ran with improper running lights around here. It's also very confusing to other boaters who relie on lights to determine which way boats are traveling at night. In the event of an accident you would be cited for having improper lighting characterisitcs.
 
No "anchor" light at night. Oooops, didn't see you were in a smaller boat. The link below that Warren posted is the best guide. Have you taken a safe boating course?
 
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Hi, Thanks for the quick response. Ok, I am trying to increase safety not be a hazard. So, I do think I have seen other boats with two light poles on top of there arches / fly bridges. I assume one running and one anchor?
Can i run with just a white running light on top (added visibility ) and don't install the rear white light? I will research the type (yes or no to all around ect...)
Thanks again. John G
 
When you are running, you need your bow lights (of course) and an all around light (360*). Call it a stern light, call it an anchor light, call it whatever you want. Either one of your white lights will satisfy CG reg's... But, do not run both of those lights at once.

When you're at anchor (outside of a designated mooring area), only the white, 360* light should be on.

EDIT: Just make sure your tower light satisfies the the 2NM (I think it's 2, right?) visibility rule.
 
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John, to be in compliance while underway, you need to have the red & green running lights and a white light at least 1m above them visible from the front, and a white light visible from the rear. If your boat is less than 12m in length, you can get away with having the "anchor" light be that light (actually described as an "all around" light in Chapman). You can not have both the all around and the stern nav light on at the same time. I believe that if you remove the bulb from the stern light, you are fine. You will have the necessary 1 white showing from astern, and the running lights and white light showing from the front. Just make sure that the all around is 1m above the running lights.

Somebody please read the regs and double check my interpretation...
 
Lazy Daze said:
When you are running, you need your bow lights (of course) and an all around light (360*).
Click to expand...

I believe one 360° light is allowed on motor vessels not longer than 12 metres ( about 40') otherways you must have one 225°mast light and one 135° stern light)
 
Ok, Great. Thanks for the info.
I am running a separate set of wires for the Arch Anchor / Running light. I will keep the stock stern detachable light on board as a back-up to my new light.
I will have to look at my set-up of switches to see is the original stern light can be turned on as an anchor and turn my front navigation light off.
John G
 
Uhummm:smt021 ok. clear as mud
Rule 21​
Definitions​
(a)"Masthead light" means a white light placed over the fore and aft centerline of the vessel showing an unbroken light over an arc of horizon of 225 degrees and so fixed as to show the light from right ahead to 22.5 degrees abaft the beam on either side of the vessel.
(b) "Sidelights" means a green light on the starboard side and a red light on the port side each showing an unbroken light over an arc of horizon of 112.5 degrees and so fixed as to show the light from right ahead to 22.5 degrees abaft the beam on the respective side. In a vessel of less than 20 meters in length the sidelights may be combined in one lantern carried on the fore and aft centerline of the vessel.
(c) "Sternlight", means a white light placed as nearly as practicable at the stern showing an unbroken light over an arc of horizon of 135 degrees and so fixed as to show the light 67.5 degrees from right aft on each side of the vessel.
(d) "Towing light" means a yellow light having the same characteristics as the "sternlight" defined in paragraph (c) of this Rule.
(e) "All round light" means a light showing an unbroken light over an arc of horizon of 360 degrees.
(f) "Flashing light" means a light flashing at regular intervals at a frequency of 120 flashes or more per minute.
Rule 22​
Visibility of Lights​
The lights prescribed in these Rules shall have an intensity as specified in Section 8 of Annex I to these Regulations so as to be visible at the following minimum ranges:
(a) In vessels of 50 meters or more in length:

  • a masthead light, 6 miles;
  • a sidelight, 3 miles;
  • a towing light, 3 miles;
  • a white red, green or yellow all-around light, 3 miles.
(b)In vessels of 12 meters or more in length but less than 50 meters in length;

  • a masthead light, 5 miles; except that where the length of the vessel is less than 20 meters, 3 miles;
  • a sidelight, 2 miles;
  • a sternlight, 2 miles, A towing light, 2 miles;
  • a white, red, green or yellow all-round light, 2 miles.
(c) In vessels of less than 12 meters in length:

  • a masthead light, 2 miles;
  • a sidelight, 1 miles;
  • a towing light, 2 miles;
  • a white red, green or yellow all-around light, 2 miles.
(d) In inconspicuous, partly submerged vessels or objects being towed;

  • a white all-round light; 3 miles.
Rule 23​
 
My, Stern light is not in the center line. ( starboard side) So I guess I cant put up a Mast light. now the crappy stern light is a 365 Degree light not 135 degrees.
The Stern Light is not fixed. I have to install it, so I don't have to remove the bulb
The boat is 25ft.
JG
 
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Oops forgot Rule 30!

Rule 30​
Anchored Vessels and Vessels Aground​
(a) A vessel at anchor shall exhibit where it can best be seen:

  • (i) in the fore part, an all-round white light or one ball;
  • (ii) at or near the stern and at a lower level than the light prescribed in subparagraph (i), an all-round white light.
(b) A vessel of less than 50 meters in length may exhibit an all-round white light where it can best be seen instead of the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) of this Rule.
(c) A vessel at anchor may, and a vessel of 100 meters and more in length shall, also use the available working or equivalent lights to illuminate her decks.
(d) A vessel aground shall exhibit the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Rule and in addition, where they can best be seen;

  • (i) two all-round red lights in a vertical line;
  • (ii) three balls in a vertical line.
(e) A vessel of less than 7 meters in length, when at anchor not in or near a narrow channel, fairway or where other vessels normally navigate, shall not be required to exhibit the shape prescribed in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Rule.
(f) A vessel of less than 12 meters in length, when aground, shall not be required to exhibit the lights or shapes prescribed in subparagraphs (d)(i) and (ii) of this Rule.
 
Oh, just remembered one thing that will make this even simpler for you. Technically, the 360* light must be the highest thing on the boat (when using one light for this purpose, as opposed to one forward shining and one aft shining). Otherwise, it wouldn't be visible from 360*.

If your tower is higher than your bimini, there's a good chance your OEM stern light is not high enough. Meaning, you CAN NOT legally use your OEM stern light at night.
 
Great, works for me. even though my OEM stern white light was very short ( 3 ft above the gunnel wall) actually on plane the bow of the boat where the lights are located are much higher that the rear stern light. Hence where this all started to increase safety :)
 
JohnEGraham said:
Great, works for me. even though my OEM stern white light was very short ( 3 ft above the gunnel wall) actually on plane the bow of the boat where the lights are located are much higher that the rear stern light. Hence where this all started to increase safety :)
Click to expand...

Gotcha. What probably happened with that short stern light is the PO replaced it at sometime and bought the wrong one. 'Course, this is assuming you have bimini's.
 
You know what I hate about these reg's? I'm an educated man, and well read, but when I read those, I can't figure out what I need. I need to light my dinghy for legal night travel. It's 9'6" and has an 8HP Yamaha. So, it's the minimum size, but is all of that lighting required?
 
I know what you mean, I also have a dingy and ended up buying the cheap battery Navigation operated lights for it. I guess I could always use them if my boat lights go out. Don't forget the Can air horn and some kind on anchor. Well I here in NY and the state is broke and the would love to give us fines worth more that the damn dingy is worth.
 
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