nordic_ranger
Well-Known Member
Recently saw a yacht moored inside a designated yacht club mooring area with one of those cheap solar garden lights attached to its pushpit. In the dark it was visible at 500 metres and obviously cheap to run.
Anchor light-good idea
- Thread starter nordic_ranger
- Start date
Bajansailor
Well-Known Member
We have one on our boat in Barbados - she normally lives about 500m off the beach (at Six Mens, near the Port St Charles marina) on a swinging mooring, and the solar garden light slots very nicely into the fishing rod holder (a section of plastic pipe) lashed to the pushpit. This light is clearly visible from the shore at night, and with the tropical sunlight, it seems to last quite intensely into the small hours of the morning.
An excellent invention, and ideal as an anchor light for a cruising yacht!
An excellent invention, and ideal as an anchor light for a cruising yacht!
Swagman
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
We have one on our boat in Barbados - she normally lives about 500m off the beach (at Six Mens, near the Port St Charles marina) on a swinging mooring, and the solar garden light slots very nicely into the fishing rod holder (a section of plastic pipe) lashed to the pushpit. This light is clearly visible from the shore at night, and with the tropical sunlight, it seems to last quite intensely into the small hours of the morning.
An excellent invention, and ideal as an anchor light for a cruising yacht!
[/ QUOTE ]
I hsave to admit I've used one also (until it dropped overboard) but do wonder who would be hauled up if we were rammed at night by another when using such a lamp that does not meet specification?
Suspect I know the answer already.
JOHN
We have one on our boat in Barbados - she normally lives about 500m off the beach (at Six Mens, near the Port St Charles marina) on a swinging mooring, and the solar garden light slots very nicely into the fishing rod holder (a section of plastic pipe) lashed to the pushpit. This light is clearly visible from the shore at night, and with the tropical sunlight, it seems to last quite intensely into the small hours of the morning.
An excellent invention, and ideal as an anchor light for a cruising yacht!
[/ QUOTE ]
I hsave to admit I've used one also (until it dropped overboard) but do wonder who would be hauled up if we were rammed at night by another when using such a lamp that does not meet specification?
Suspect I know the answer already.
JOHN
KellysEye
Well-Known Member
A lot of people use them and even small strobes seem to be coming into fashion. If you value your boat please don't use one, they don't meet colregs requirements (we sail mainly at night and anchor lights are important to us). There is no need to anyway - there are lights that do meet colregs and use amazingly little power. Any good chandler should stock them but make sure you seal everything with Sikaflex, they do leak.
Note: the ones 'made in China' are cheaper than the ones 'made in America' but they are exactly the same product
Note: the ones 'made in China' are cheaper than the ones 'made in America' but they are exactly the same product
A
Anonymous
Guest
I totally agree. We often sail at night and it is a real problem. Some folks actually think that they don't need to show an anchor light in an anchorage /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
On the other hand, the original poster did say that he saw this one on swinging moorings and I think maybe this is an aid to safety as there is no legal requirement to show any lights.
On the other hand, the original poster did say that he saw this one on swinging moorings and I think maybe this is an aid to safety as there is no legal requirement to show any lights.
pappaecho
Well-Known Member
Many garden "solar lights" have a single 1.2 volt rechargeable battery rated at only 300 ma (the cheapest, nastiest they can get). If you upgrade to say 600 or 1000 mA, you will find that the light will last all night even in the winter, assuming average insolation
dickh
Well-Known Member
On the Orwell, after a yacht on a swinging mooring was hit and sunk by a ship it was recommended by the Harbour authorities that if you slept on board you should show an anchor light.
You should show an anchor light if you are anchored in a designated anchorage or elsewhere unless local custom says otherwise.
You should show an anchor light if you are anchored in a designated anchorage or elsewhere unless local custom says otherwise.
A
Anonymous
Guest
[ QUOTE ]
You should show an anchor light if you are anchored in a designated anchorage or elsewhere unless local custom says otherwise.
[/ QUOTE ]That doesn't make much sense to me. You will end up being hit by someone who does not have local knowledge /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
You should show an anchor light if you are at anchor. Period. The only exception might be an area clearly marked out by yellow flashing buoys within which boats may anchor without displaying lights - but I've never come across one.
Even inside anchorages, anchors drag, people come and go. On a dark night you need to be able to see other boats. Otherwise you'd have to be fitted with a powerful searchlight.
You should show an anchor light if you are anchored in a designated anchorage or elsewhere unless local custom says otherwise.
[/ QUOTE ]That doesn't make much sense to me. You will end up being hit by someone who does not have local knowledge /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
You should show an anchor light if you are at anchor. Period. The only exception might be an area clearly marked out by yellow flashing buoys within which boats may anchor without displaying lights - but I've never come across one.
Even inside anchorages, anchors drag, people come and go. On a dark night you need to be able to see other boats. Otherwise you'd have to be fitted with a powerful searchlight.
Slow_boat
Well-Known Member
No, please, not a searchlight, powerful or otherwise.
A
Anonymous
Guest
[ QUOTE ]
No, please, not a searchlight, powerful or otherwise.
[/ QUOTE ] Fine, then be so kind as to show the correct lights at all times. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
No, please, not a searchlight, powerful or otherwise.
[/ QUOTE ] Fine, then be so kind as to show the correct lights at all times. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
michael_w
Well-Known Member
They seem to have a yellow tinge, which looks awfully like a street light at couple of miles away.
ColinHuggins
N/A
Re: Anchor light-and the rest . . .
You inveterate night owls might larf (I have yet to) at my confusion one clear night motoring back up Chi Harbour past the club trots. Ahead were the lights of a vessel apparently under sail but I saw green, then red, then green, then red. What bloody tack was he on?
Remember that at 8 knots objects launch themselves at you p.d.q. and at my age estimating distance is particularly difficult in the dark.
I slowed down, still confused. Even more slowly, not certain. Into neutral, we're about to collide . . .
Out with hand lantern and there in the spotlight was . . a yacht which had picked up a mooring under sail. The owner was laboriously handing canvas, everything in a mess because he'd run downwind to stem the flood and the slides were jamming in the track.
Meanwhile, with his lights still on, I could see red, then green, then red as his bow swerved either side of the buoy.
Do I have any sympathy for swearing at the b.......d??
You inveterate night owls might larf (I have yet to) at my confusion one clear night motoring back up Chi Harbour past the club trots. Ahead were the lights of a vessel apparently under sail but I saw green, then red, then green, then red. What bloody tack was he on?
Remember that at 8 knots objects launch themselves at you p.d.q. and at my age estimating distance is particularly difficult in the dark.
I slowed down, still confused. Even more slowly, not certain. Into neutral, we're about to collide . . .
Out with hand lantern and there in the spotlight was . . a yacht which had picked up a mooring under sail. The owner was laboriously handing canvas, everything in a mess because he'd run downwind to stem the flood and the slides were jamming in the track.
Meanwhile, with his lights still on, I could see red, then green, then red as his bow swerved either side of the buoy.
Do I have any sympathy for swearing at the b.......d??
Lizzie_B
Well-Known Member
I use a battery powered LED all round white that meets the regulation 2miles visibility requirement.
It cost me $29.99 at Westmarine and I hoist it in the foretiangle on the spinnaker halyard.
I must say, I was sceptical at first and tested it by leaving it on continuously for 24 hours, after which it was still burning brightly.
I was finally convinced when on returning to our boat in a crowded anchorage it was one of the brightest lights being displayed - including the standard masthead lights and really stood out.
Very impressed with it.
I use the solar lamps mounted in the cockpit winches for creating a pleasant atmosphere for evening drinkies!!
/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
It cost me $29.99 at Westmarine and I hoist it in the foretiangle on the spinnaker halyard.
I must say, I was sceptical at first and tested it by leaving it on continuously for 24 hours, after which it was still burning brightly.
I was finally convinced when on returning to our boat in a crowded anchorage it was one of the brightest lights being displayed - including the standard masthead lights and really stood out.
Very impressed with it.
I use the solar lamps mounted in the cockpit winches for creating a pleasant atmosphere for evening drinkies!!
/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
Lizzie_B
Well-Known Member
You can get pure white ones if you shop around, but I wouldn't recommend them for an anchor light except maybe in a very enclosed anchorage.
Phoenix of Hamble
Well-Known Member
No way i'd trust my safety to one of the dim yellow glows that the solar lights give off.... i'd rather spend a few quid on more battery capacity and have a proper light....
Alternatively, buy a decent hurricane lamp!
Still depresses me to see how many boats never bother with an anchor light though....
Alternatively, buy a decent hurricane lamp!
Still depresses me to see how many boats never bother with an anchor light though....
Phoenix of Hamble
Well-Known Member
Re: Anchor light-and the rest . . .
Not sure that the first thing i'd do would be to switch off the nav lights if I'd just sailed onto a mooring and was struggling to get my main down.... but then again, do have some sympathy with you.... it can be awfully confusing, and some what frightening, when that kind of thing happens.....
Not sure that the first thing i'd do would be to switch off the nav lights if I'd just sailed onto a mooring and was struggling to get my main down.... but then again, do have some sympathy with you.... it can be awfully confusing, and some what frightening, when that kind of thing happens.....
Lizzie_B
Well-Known Member
Re: Anchor light-and the rest . . .
I once had a similar situation when looking to shelter in Appalachicola Bay FL from bad storm. There were three shrimp boats in there with all their deck lights on and net booms trained outboard and red and green and steaming lights on.
As they swung round I didn't know if they were about to stream their nets or what.
It was quite some time before we realised they were at anchor (couldn't see the cable cos of the brightness of the deck lights) before we dropped the hook and settled down for what was left of the night!!! /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
I once had a similar situation when looking to shelter in Appalachicola Bay FL from bad storm. There were three shrimp boats in there with all their deck lights on and net booms trained outboard and red and green and steaming lights on.
As they swung round I didn't know if they were about to stream their nets or what.
It was quite some time before we realised they were at anchor (couldn't see the cable cos of the brightness of the deck lights) before we dropped the hook and settled down for what was left of the night!!! /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
Shuggy
Well-Known Member
I agree - I think that the majority of boats I've anchored alongside in the last 5 years or so have not had anchor lights. We always show one. It's not a difficult thing to master... in the same vein, I have never seen anyone (apart from me!) hoist an anchor ball during the day. Am I just being too pernickety?
roger
Well-Known Member
A friend moors below the anchor stone on the Dart and seemed to get bumped into quite often. After acquiring a garden light of the older yellow variety he's escaped further hits. Just one sample.
One night at Brunsbuttel locj marina, the canal lock opened and a whole gaggle of yachts came straight to the marina (no traffic for little boaats at night on the Kiel canal)
They had an amazing variety of lights red over white over red, green over white over green, red over white over green. I turned to the German next door who shrugged. "charter" was his explanation.
They had all their lights on -- and one had broken his bicolour and fitted the replacement upside down!!
One night at Brunsbuttel locj marina, the canal lock opened and a whole gaggle of yachts came straight to the marina (no traffic for little boaats at night on the Kiel canal)
They had an amazing variety of lights red over white over red, green over white over green, red over white over green. I turned to the German next door who shrugged. "charter" was his explanation.
They had all their lights on -- and one had broken his bicolour and fitted the replacement upside down!!
stevebrassett
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
in the same vein, I have never seen anyone (apart from me!) hoist an anchor ball during the day. Am I just being too pernickety?
[/ QUOTE ]
No. I always do.
in the same vein, I have never seen anyone (apart from me!) hoist an anchor ball during the day. Am I just being too pernickety?
[/ QUOTE ]
No. I always do.