Anchor lights?

[Duffer]

I usually use a masthead mooring light or a solar light in the rigging when anchored. What does the panel think about using both at the same time when anchored near a fairway (and therefore you want to be as visible as possible)?

In some circumstances a masthead light can disappear in fog and in others the solar light can run out of juice. Would it be confusing/misleading/impermissible to use both or do you think in some situations you should make yourself as visible as possible?

 

[Twister_Ken]

Be as visible as poss, if you are worried about being run down. Myself, I fancy fairy lights up the forestay and backstay!

 

[Bajansailor]

If the big cruise liners can run a continuous row of fairy lights (albeit all white) from stem to stern via their masts, I am sure that little yachts should be allowed to do the same.....

 

[Slow_boat]

Using two is against the rules and from a distance you could be confused with being a power driven vessel under way.

I like the idea of a solar powered light but doubt that a garden light would be bright enough to comply with regulations.

How about a masthead anchor light and deck lights?

PS I saw a yacht enter a marina with masthead tri-colour, masthead anchor light and steaming light all on. As SWMBO said, at least we saw him (and heard him, as he rammed the pontoon!)

 

[Lizzie_B]

I have a nice little battery LED all round white that I hoist in the fore triangle as an anchor light.Cost about £15. Before I used it in anger, I tested it and found with fresh batteries it retained the required brightness for over 48 hours.
It is considerably brighter than the standard 12 volt masthead lights I see in the anchorages, and being lower down and unobstructed by the mast it also illuminates the foredeck.

If greater illumination is required then you could also switch on your deck light and cockpit light (if you have one).

That was normal practice when at anchor in the RN (we called them police lights) and also what a lot of commercial fishing boats do, although they sometimes forget to switch off their nav lights and cause confusion that way.

 

[Slow_boat]

[ QUOTE ]
I have a nice little battery LED all round white that I hoist in the fore triangle as an anchor light.Cost about £15. Before I used it in anger, I tested it and found with fresh batteries it retained the required brightness for over 48 hours.
It is considerably brighter than the standard 12 volt masthead lights I see in the anchorages, and being lower down and unobstructed by the mast it also illuminates the foredeck.



[/ QUOTE ]

Where can I get one? More info please!

 

[Krusty]

''Masthead... or solar light...'' suggests that you have not yet installed that invaluable feature, a 12v socket near the companionway.
That allows you to hang a proper anchor light/riding light from the topping lift or main haliard above the boom, well aft. From there it also functions as deck/cockpit illumination and gentle floodlight of the mast and mainsail cover (preferably white canvas, not blue).
You are then unmistakably a yacht at anchor.

 

[raven]

I use a small hurricane lamp fuelled with lamp oil hung from the backstay. It provides a nice all round white light and doesnt drain the battery. Set low it uses a couple of thimble-fulls of oil per night

 

[jimbaerselman]

[ QUOTE ]
Using two is against the rules

[/ QUOTE ] Not true. The requirement is to show two all round white lights, with the after light lower than the forward light. Vessels less than 50m length may choose not to show the after light, but that's an option, not a requirement.

 

[Slow_boat]

At the moment I use a hurricane lamp hanging fron the forstay (the regs say it should be in the fore part of the vessel) but I'm not sure it's bright enough. I like the idea of this battery powered LED, if it is bright enough.

 

[NealB]

I bought an led lamp from.....

Decathlon for £9.99.

It gives a very bright, all round white light.

Definitely one of my better purchases.

 

[jimbaerselman]

[ QUOTE ]
hurricane lamp . . . but I'm not sure it's bright enough

[/ QUOTE ] Visible from 2nm?

 

[NealB]

This is the light I bought....

See it at:

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/EN/Product_ar...0578/index.html

 

[Rabbie]

Exactly what I have. It doubles as a nice gentle light for 'sundowners'.

 

[Lizzie_B]

http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|65136|295769|320397|853116&id=853095

This is the one.
They are designed as all round white nav light for under 7m boats - minimum visibility requirment 2nm - which also happens to be the visibility requirement for an anchor light for boats under 20metres.
Note what yanks refer to as 'masthead' light is what we call steaming light, NOT, tricolour or anchor light. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/sto...nLightRules.htm

Be sure you get the Aqua - Signal one not the very similar looking Perko one which does'nt carry a guarantee for the minimum visiblity requirement. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Be sure you get the LED version NOT the old style ordinary bulb version!

I would have thought you could find them in a UK on line chandlery, but if not both Defender and West Marine ship mail order to UK or I could bring you one back at the end of September.
/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Having viewed from shore over a crowded anchorage I can vouch that their brightness outdoes the normal 12 volt masthead you see on most yachts.

I hang ours upside own from a spare halyard with a piece signal halyard made off to a cleat on the foredeck.
/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Slow_boat]

Re: This is the light I bought....

Thanks.

 

[charles_reed]

Further on Aquasignal copies

Saw a very glum Netherlander in Malta, replacing ALL his lookalike nav lights, 18 months old, with the proper Aquasignals.

All the bulbholders had corroded away.

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

[ QUOTE ]
At the moment I use a hurricane lamp hanging fron the forstay (the regs say it should be in the fore part of the vessel)

[/ QUOTE ]Just a teensy correction... they also say "...... or where it can be best seen"... so you can hang it elsewhere if it makes sense.......

 

[alec]

I use a remote LED torch ties to the fore stay. Works pretty well.

I think the best anchor light was the John Goode tip which I have used many times. Although I think he meant it as an emergency.

You hoist a white fender up the forestay using a halyard and line. Position it a bit higher than the steaming light. Leaving the steaming light on, you get an amplified dancing white light that is not too far up.

 

[Richard10002]

I've taken to using 2 of the Decathlon LED lights - one up forward hung under the anchor ball, and one hung under the back end of the boom.

makes it easy to recognise her when dinghying back in the dark and, on the ocassions we have had line of sight, easily visible from 2 or 3 miles.