Combination Light for Yachts under 12m

[Guest]

Folks, just some information, I am in the process of rewiring an old Hurley 22 and bring the nav lights up to standard i.e. trilight, anchor light and steaming lights. I was expecting to replace the existing trilight with a combined tri light/anchor light (£54) plus one stern light (£8.00), one red/green bilight (£8.00) and a white masthead light (£8.00)plus all the associated cabling throgh deck fittings was becoming quite expensive. However Lazilas have done us proud they have developed a combined light for boats under 12m, it gives steaming and trilight and by running a 4 core cableup the mast and the clever use of switches also provides the anchor light for the princely sum of £25.99 (Alladin) all the lights will mounted on the top of the mast for every one to see, one cable, one thru deck fitting, can't be bad.

 

[Guest]

Re: Can\'t be done

I'm afraid that, if you have an engine, there is no way to combine all your requirements into a single unit. It is not permitted to use the tricolour light when steaming.

Therefore you will always need combined sidelights at deck level as well. Apart from that any combined tri-colour/anchor will provide all other necessary combinations - under sail you use the tricolour, steaming the 'anchor' light serves as combined stern light and masthead light (in combination with the deck level side lights).

 

[Guest]

You do not necessarily need to lights at deck level.

I have a bicolour half way up the mast and use the all round white at mast head plus the bi colour when steaming. Under sail I use the tricolour.

There are various schools of thought as to the legality of this arrangement but I was assured by the importers 2 years ago that this was ok. Personally I do not like it and may well be rewiring to the conventioanl arrangements ie forward facing white halfway up mast rear white on stern and bi colour on bow.

 

[Guest]

The requirement laid down in Annex 1, Rule 2(d) of the IRPCS is that the masthead light (i.e. 'steaming' light) shall be at least 1 metre higher than the side lights. To follow this requirement with a single light fitting means that the fitting would need to be more than a metre long. Is it?

 

[Guest]

Re: You do not necessarily need to lights at deck level.

What you are doing is not legal. You should get the proper spec. from the RYA or look in back copies of PBO as I am sure that this subject has been covered.

 

[Guest]

I dont think this can be done,,, there must be a minimum distance (I believe 1 mtr) between your red/green and all round white, when steaming. You can't get this in one unit. If I were you I would stick to your original intentions.

 

[Guest]

Re: You do not necessarily need to lights at deck level.

If it isn't then nearly all french production yachts under 12 m are illegal as well. I discussed this at the time of purchase and was assured it was. I know many experts disagree but as yet I have failed to find real evidence as to the right or wrong, I will have a look at the RYA site.

 

[Guest]

Re: You do not necessarily need to lights at deck level.

Look in the Official Rules for the prevention of Collisions at Sea .... they are the Bible, not a seller of items, nor the RYA.... You are allowed a lot of leeway under 12m with lights, despite what many say .... deck-level, masthead etc. etc. doesn't actually matter as long as you keep to what the Rules say and also what is visible to others ....

The Book of Rules also is handy for not hitting others !!!! Meant as a Joke - sorry.

 

[Guest]

Re: Can\'t be done

THANKS, FOR THE INFORMATION, I WILL ADD A SEPERATE BILIGHT ON THE PUSHPIT, I KNEW IT WAS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, YOU CANT TRUST PACKAGING.

THANKS

SHANE

 

[Guest]

I thought it was illegal for a sailing boat to have an all round white when motoring. It should have two white lights with the stern light low down.

 

[Guest]

All-round white

If it's motoring, then it isn't a sailing vessel, it's a power vessel. Then Rule 23 (c) (i) says: "A power-driven vessel of less than 12 metres in length may, in lieu of the lights described in paragraph (a) of this rule, exhibit an all-round white light and sidelights." Annex 1, Rule 2 (d) says that this all-round light must be at least 1 metre higher than the sidelights. So it is permissible

 

[Guest]

But if it\'s under 7m...

a 22-footer is just under 7m which means you can motor with just an all round white and no sidelights so you can get away with a comined tricolour/alround white requiring 2 bulbs & a 3-core cable!

 

[Guest]

Re: All-round white

Glad you said that Peter, otherwise our clubs launches would be running illigaly, we have all round white on mast head and bicolour on mast 1 metre down

 

[Guest]

Re: But if it\'s under 7m...

by my reckoning 7 mtrs is roughly 22' 9" so I would be real careful about running without side lights

 

[Guest]

Re: But if it\'s under 7m...

And don't forget the last bit of that rule: "and shall, if practicable, also exhibit sidelights". Is it impracticable to fit sidelights or a bicolour?