Anchor lighting

[Kukri]

The Davey & Co design seems to be the only really reputable non-electric lamp available, pity they're no longer made. The objection to paraffin/oil/kerosene lamps appears to be the lack of beam strength or the dioptric lens which casts only a very narrow beam.

This one (£186 from Classic Marine ) is definitely attractive, but how effective?

https://shop.classicmarine.co.uk/4-anchor-light-copper.html

They do turn up on ebay; there are a couple at the moment -

This looks a good one:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Antique-...=113821713699978a42311ed644c7b19837455b5b0b88

This one has been dropped and is missing its inner glass cone but I recall from a chat with Moray some years ago that they are get-able in this size:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-...748671?hash=item1a86256a3f:g:-PoAAOSwH7ddn2d5

 

[geem]

An anchor light in the foretriangle can be a good solution. It depends on the boat and light.

The best method is to try slowly motoring around the yacht with the tender on a calm evening and assess the visibility from different angles.

It is also worth checking the obscured arc is less than the maximum allowed by the collision regulations (I think that is 6° from memory, but please check it has been some time since I looked this up). This can done with simple trigonometry.

If it is not an approved light, it is also worth checking the brightness meets or exceeds the requirements. This is harder. Bebi are now defunct, but their website had some good details on the type and number of LEDs that were likely to meet this standard. One of the internet archives might have a copy of this.

Its not an issue for us legally, we also have a fully compliant masthead led light. This is just our extra ‘be seen in the anchorage’ light

 

[Greenheart]

They do turn up on ebay; there are a couple at the moment...

Thanks, I hadn't thought to find them there. Not cheap at any age, are they!

 

[noelex]

Its not an issue for us legally, we also have a fully compliant masthead led light. This is just our extra ‘be seen in the anchorage’ light

I think this often the best system although there are many options that can work. The certified masthead light removes any legal concerns so you dont need to bother about the lower light complying with the regulations.

 

[Poignard]

Here's mine.

The lens is more than 6" wide and my mast is 4" wide so there's a good chance of it being seen from astern.

 

[Kukri]

Quote Originally Posted by geem

Its not an issue for us legally, we also have a fully compliant masthead led light. This is just our extra ‘be seen in the anchorage’ light

I think this often the best system although there are many options that can work. The certified masthead light removes any legal concerns so you don't need to bother about the lower light complying with the regulations.

Well, I suppose this is the point where this thread deteriorates into a full on colregs barney, and it will be my fault, because I don't agree with either Geem or Noelex:

Rule 30 reads:

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 sub-paragraph (i) an all-round white light.

(b) A vessel of less than fifty metres in length may exhibit an all round white light where it can best be seen in place of the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) of this Rule.

(c) A vessel at anchor may, and a vessel of 100 metres of more in length shall, also use the available working or equivalent lights to illuminate her decks...


I respectfully submit that a white light at the top of the mast is not "where it can best be seen"

Far from it. It may be easy to see from two miles away, but from the wheelhouse or the cockpit of a vessel entering the anchorage it may be up in the sky, or lost against shore lights, or both.

"Where it can best be seen" is where the helmsbody or the look out of a vessel approaching the anchorage is going to be looking, which is a little above sea level, at or near to where the shore is.

So no, I do not think that an all round white light at the masthead of a vessel of less than fifty metres in length is "fully compliant" and I also think, having been a collision lawyer in my youth, that in the event of a collision some fault would be ascribed to the anchored vessel in such circumstances. Indeed this may be the moment to mention that under American law the anchored vessel may be alone to blame.

 

[capnsensible]

The thing Ive noticed (!) in quite a few years of rocking up at anchorages at night is that masthead anchor lights are easy to see mostly coz they bob about a bit and shore light, well, dont. In fact nearly always Ive been able to see the boats anyway because of the shore lights.......

Mebbe its because Ive discovered that lots of yachts use them and Im actually looking for them?

 

[RupertW]

The thing Ive noticed (!) in quite a few years of rocking up at anchorages at night is that masthead anchor lights are easy to see mostly coz they bob about a bit and shore light, well, dont. In fact nearly always Ive been able to see the boats anyway because of the shore lights.......

Mebbe its because Ive discovered that lots of yachts use them and Im actually looking for them?

Ah, but it’s not sailors like you that I’m afraid will hit my boat if I don’t light it at eye level.

 

[Poignard]

The thing Ive noticed (!) in quite a few years of rocking up at anchorages at night is that masthead anchor lights are easy to see mostly coz they bob about a bit and shore light, well, dont. In fact nearly always Ive been able to see the boats anyway because of the shore lights.......

Mebbe its because Ive discovered that lots of yachts use them and Im actually looking for them?

Not named 'sensible' for nothing! :encouragement:

But I once anchored on a windy night in a bay with a hill behind and a road half way up with street lights hanging from wires strung between posts. The street light were bobbing up and down in the wind!

Now I am old and wary I try to time my arrival in daylight or heave to offshore until dawn.

 

[geem]

Well, I suppose this is the point where this thread deteriorates into a full on colregs barney, and it will be my fault, because I don't agree with either Geem or Noelex:

Rule 30 reads:

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 sub-paragraph (i) an all-round white light.

(b) A vessel of less than fifty metres in length may exhibit an all round white light where it can best be seen in place of the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) of this Rule.

(c) A vessel at anchor may, and a vessel of 100 metres of more in length shall, also use the available working or equivalent lights to illuminate her decks...


I respectfully submit that a white light at the top of the mast is not "where it can best be seen"

Far from it. It may be easy to see from two miles away, but from the wheelhouse or the cockpit of a vessel entering the anchorage it may be up in the sky, or lost against shore lights, or both.

"Where it can best be seen" is where the helmsbody or the look out of a vessel approaching the anchorage is going to be looking, which is a little above sea level, at or near to where the shore is.

So no, I do not think that an all round white light at the masthead of a vessel of less than fifty metres in length is "fully compliant" and I also think, having been a collision lawyer in my youth, that in the event of a collision some fault would be ascribed to the anchored vessel in such circumstances. Indeed this may be the moment to mention that under American law the anchored vessel may be alone to blame.

The point is we are using both masthead and deck level lights and not advocating one or the other so go and get all Yank legal on the ones that think its ok to use solar garden lights!

 

[GHA]

.......

Mebbe its because Ive discovered that lots of yachts use them and Im actually looking for them?

One of you against tens of thousands of water taxis, little open fishing boats, dinghies with charterers heading back from happy hour... None looking up. Really bright LEDs low down for me

 

[capnsensible]

Ah, but it’s not sailors like you that I’m afraid will hit my boat if I don’t light it at eye level.

Just for interest, I was in the Lagoon behind Isla Culatra a couple of weeks ago, off Faro. Spent the night and the anchorage was very busy. I counted 57 other yachts and virtually every one had a masthead anchor light. shore lights there not really a problem but it does give an idea of how widespread their use is.

Of course, there was one (isnt there always ) with a strobe light.

 

[capnsensible]

Ah, but it’s not sailors like you that I’m afraid will hit my boat if I don’t light it at eye level.

Just for interest, I was in the Lagoon behind Isla Culatra a couple of weeks ago, off Faro. Spent the night and the anchorage was very busy. I counted 57 other yachts and virtually every one had a masthead anchor light. shore lights there not really a problem but it does give an idea of how widespread their use is.

Of course, there was one (isnt there always ) with a strobe light.

 

[Kukri]

Just for interest, I was in the Lagoon behind Isla Culatra a couple of weeks ago, off Faro. Spent the night and the anchorage was very busy. I counted 57 other yachts and virtually every one had a masthead anchor light. shore lights there not really a problem but it does give an idea of how widespread their use is.

Of course, there was one (isn't there always ) with a strobe light.

Oh joy...

Bad luck.

long ago, around 2004 or thereabouts, Frank Holden of this parish and I were pottering gently into the river Colne before dawn, intending to anchor in Pyefleet so a German friend who is a noted marine photographer could land on Mersea Stone point and snap the Colne Smack and Barge Match. Because it was the night before this traditional event, the anchorage was full of smacks and barges, each with her paraffin riding light hung on her forestay. We remarked on two things - it could have been a hundred years earlier, and how easy it was to see where every vessel was.

 

[Graham376]

One of you against tens of thousands of water taxis, little open fishing boats, dinghies with charterers heading back from happy hour... None looking up. Really bright LEDs low down for me

+1

Masthead lights are OK at a distance but close to it's very hard to judge distance off, with masts of varying heights.

 

[Graham376]

the ones that think its ok to use solar garden lights!

I hope you're not suggesting they don't stay on all night or that they're not bright enough to meet the regs? I suspect most who use them turn in early and get up in daylight so never see just how useless they are.

 

[GHA]

Just for interest, I was in the Lagoon behind Isla Culatra a couple of weeks ago, off Faro. Spent the night and the anchorage was very busy. I counted 57 other yachts and virtually every one had a masthead anchor light. shore lights there not really a problem but it does give an idea of how widespread their use is.

It's only really like that when the holiday / charter crowd are out and about, the cruisers generally know that the taxi /fishing boats fly through the anchorage full speed and tend to have low anchor lights. Ones that might actually get seen and hopefully do some good.

 

[noelex]

(b) A vessel of less than fifty metres in length may exhibit an all round white light where it can best be seen in place of the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) of this Rule.

I respectfully submit that a white light at the top of the mast is not "where it can best be seen"

True, but a light mounted on a yacht anywhere but the top of the mast is not an “all round white light”. It does Not have the required brightness over 360°.

I think we can let the lawyers fight that one out. I suspect they would always raise any issue that may shift the burden of responsibility to the other party. Personally, I think they would have a tough time claiming a yacht displaying a legally certified masthead anchor light fitted by the boatbuilder in the same location as every other boatbuilder fitted these was not compliant with the collision regulations (assuming it was working satisfactorily etc).

In the case of a combined anchor/tricolour light, such as mine it could also be argued that the only feasable location option is at the top of the mast. Since the the light has recieved aproval by the authorities there is an implied endorsement of this mounting position.

However, I agree that a lower anchor light illuminating the superstructure has practical benefits, and with low power draw LED lights now readily available there is little reason not to fit and display both options.

 

[GHA]

True, but a light mounted on a yacht anywhere but the top of the mast is not an “all round white light”. It does Not have the required brightness over 360°.

I.

Annex 1 9b

(b) All-round lights shall be so located as not to be obscured by masts, top masts or structures within angular sectors of more than 6 degrees, except anchor light prescribed in Rule 30 which need not be placed at an impractical height above the hull.

 

[Yellow Ballad]

I've said this before but I have a DPDT switch for a masthead anchor light and flicked the other way masthead anchor light inc deck light which lights up the boat like a cruise ship. I've also got an aquasignal 40 hanging 360 with an led bulb and enough lead to hand it in the foretriangle, off the tip of the pulpit if plugged into the vberth power or the end of the boom above the sprayhood if powered from the cabin and I want some light back there.