Lights - Cruising at night

[WChapelle]

What are the requirements for lights when cruising at night? I know you use your nav. lights but I've seen some people with what appears to be their "at anchor" light on as well.

Is that ok?

 

[mquiet]

I believe that your mast/anchor light will be lit when your nav lights are on. The anchor light will only light your mast light. If it is like planes, the additional of the mast light for nav allows better understanding of a vessel's direction. If I'm wrong, I'm sure someone here will help and correct me.

 

[out-n-aboat]

you dont need the anchor light on for navigation. You have a stern light that is required to be on instead.

 

[Tonka Boater]

you dont need the anchor light on for navigation. You have a stern light that is required to be on instead.

Correct me if I'm wrong but on cruisers the anchor light serves as your stern light. The stern light is required to be higher than the highest point of your boat for visibility. On my 240SD the stern light was pretty tall so it would clear my bimini. As previously stated, on cruisers the anchor light automatically turns on with the navigation lights.

 

[ChuckW]

http://www.boatingbasicsonline.com/content/general/4_2_b.php

 

[Henry Boyd]

Correct me if I'm wrong but on cruisers the anchor light serves as your stern light. The stern light is required to be higher than the highest point of your boat for visibility. On my 240SD the stern light was pretty tall so it would clear my bimini. As previously stated, on cruisers the anchor light automatically turns on with the navigation lights.

The situation is kind of confused because Sea Ray uses a mast light that meets the requirements for all size of boats. If you look closely at it you will see that there are actually two bulbs. ALso they do not illuminate two 180 degree arcs, but what looks like a 270 degree arc (forward) and 90 degree arc (aft).

So technically there is a "stern" light as well as a forward facing white light. And when needed, there is a 360 degree all around white light.

If you go to buy a replacement light you will end up with a single bulb 360 degree light.

Henry

 

[Tonka Boater]

Great link for clarification, Chuck. Our cruisers use the method in Figure 2 from the factory but Henry is also correct in that our mast lights have 2 bulbs allowing the option of Figure 1. We could remove the aft facing bulb and use a supplementary stern light with a 90 degree arc to accomplish Figure 1.

Figure 1:

Figure 2:

 

[Gofirstclass]

What are the requirements for lights when cruising at night? I know you use your nav. lights but I've seen some people with what appears to be their "at anchor" light on as well.

Is that ok?

Please don't take offense at this, but if you need to ask a question like this I believe you need to take a USCG Auxilliary or USPS Boating Safety Course. It will answer this question as well as many others you haven't even thought of yet.

 

[AKBASSKING]

Please don't take offense at this, but if you need to ask a question like this I believe you need to take a USCG Auxilliary or USPS Boating Safety Course. It will answer this question as well as many others you haven't even thought of yet.

Although I agree taking the USCG course is a good move, WChapelle was just asking a question. Take it easy on the guy...

I have both a stern light and an anchor light on mine.

Keep those questions coming.:smt038

 

[sbw1]

The front side of the "anchor light" is illuminated when the nav lights are turned on. Both sides of the anchor light illuminate when the anchor light is turned on and none others.

 

[Pseudomind]

Maybe this link will help, boat size plays a part in this issue to a degree.

Navigation Lights

 

[Tonka Boater]

The front side of the "anchor light" is illuminated when the nav lights are turned on. Both sides of the anchor light illuminate when the anchor light is turned on and none others.

Not in my case. Front and back are illuminated when my nav lights are on. I just changed both bulbs last weekend and checked both scenarios to make sure the bulbs worked. I don't have a separate stern light.

 

[sbw1]

Not in my case. Front and back are illuminated when my nav lights are on. I just changed both bulbs last weekend and checked both scenarios to make sure the bulbs worked. I don't have a separate stern light.

Then that is why your anchor light illuminates 360 degrees. Only the front lights if you have stern light.

 

[tobnpr]

I don't understand why any boat builder would use a separate masthead light and stern light instead of an all-around, unless the masthead is mounted forward of the helm on the windhsield. That's the only location where a rear-facing light would interfere with visibility from the helm.

On a typical arch or hardtop installation, an all-around is just a simpler way to go.

 

[Henry Boyd]

I don't understand why any boat builder would use a separate masthead light and stern light instead of an all-around, unless the masthead is mounted forward of the helm on the windhsield. That's the only location where a rear-facing light would interfere with visibility from the helm.

On a typical arch or hardtop installation, an all-around is just a simpler way to go.

The rules are kind of arcane, and I think it comes down to having simplicity in their production plan. Its part quality theory (KISS), and part economy. Granted some of the SR product line may not be exactly in compliance, but 95% is, so they are happy with that.


Henry

 

[fc3]

Great link for clarification, Chuck. Our cruisers use the method in Figure 2 from the factory but Henry is also correct in that our mast lights have 2 bulbs allowing the option of Figure 1. We could remove the aft facing bulb and use a supplementary stern light with a 90 degree arc to accomplish Figure 1.

No, this is an incorrect assumption based upon not reading the text of the rules. Separate masthead and stern lights are required on vessels of 12 meters or greater. If one were to operate both the nav lights and the anchor lights on a vessel with a duel bulb masthead light, then one would be showing two white lights to the stern, which would indicate a vessel great than 50 meters, I believe.

Chapman Piloting should have the rules. Everyone should have a copy. It's not optional to illuminate your boat in any manner or color of lights, even if guys on the dock all agree that it's one heck of a cool mod.

 

[WChapelle]

Thanks everyone. Since I do have a stern light too I'll check to see what options I have when then I turn the nav lights on. I've not been out after dark and I wanted to make sure my light scheme was correct.

Enjoy the 4th.

 

[Woody]

Great link for clarification, Chuck. Our cruisers use the method in Figure 2 from the factory but Henry is also correct in that our mast lights have 2 bulbs allowing the option of Figure 1. We could remove the aft facing bulb and use a supplementary stern light with a 90 degree arc to accomplish Figure 1.

No, this is an incorrect assumption based upon not reading the text of the rules. Separate masthead and stern lights are required on vessels of 12 meters or greater. If one were to operate both the nav lights and the anchor lights on a vessel with a duel bulb masthead light, then one would be showing two white lights to the stern, which would indicate a vessel great than 50 meters, I believe.

Chapman Piloting should have the rules. Everyone should have a copy. It's not optional to illuminate your boat in any manner or color of lights, even if guys on the dock all agree that it's one heck of a cool mod.

This could be done but the stern light would have to cover 135 degrees not 90.

Vessels under 50 meters can have dual mast lights(optional) in neither case should they be seen from aft on a moving vessel.
I think these definitions will help clear this up. Imagine what you see and how these lights work together. Here are excellent illustrations with links to the rules.http://www.bosunsmate.org/seamanship/lights.php

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.

 

[out-n-aboat]

I did not know you needed your mast light on at night. I have been boating for 20 years, and I think I might take a refersher safety course next spring.

 

[Tonka Boater]

We could remove the aft facing bulb and use a supplementary stern light with a 90 degree arc to accomplish Figure 1.

No, this is an incorrect assumption based upon not reading the text of the rules. Separate masthead and stern lights are required on vessels of 12 meters or greater. If one were to operate both the nav lights and the anchor lights on a vessel with a duel bulb masthead light, then one would be showing two white lights to the stern, which would indicate a vessel great than 50 meters, I believe.

Chapman Piloting should have the rules. Everyone should have a copy. It's not optional to illuminate your boat in any manner or color of lights, even if guys on the dock all agree that it's one heck of a cool mod.

I agree, everyone should have a copy of Chapman's (which I do) and I don't think that I said anything incorrect. Notice that I said you could remove the aft facing bulb (in reference to the masthead light) plus use a stern light. My point was that you would have 270 degrees on the mast and 90 on the stern.

The rules state "Motorboats of less than 12 meters (39 feet 4 inches) in length, may show the lights in either Figure 1 or Figure 2."