Height of steaming light?

[capetown]

I want to remove my allround white and trycolour from the mast top.

Getting to the top of the mast is a real pain.(or expensive)

For whatever reason a bicolour is on the pulpit, a cable going to it but no power, could have been cut when the masthead lights were fitted.

Am thinking of fitting the stern light in the centre of the pushpit.

Can the steaming light be at 2mt above deck? As long as it's more than 1mt above the nav lights.

This is so it can be reached from the deck.

Looking at other boats, the steaming is around 2/3ds up the mast, wonder why?

The boat's LOA is 8.6mt sloop, so under 12mt.

Thanks all.

 

[sailorman]

I want to remove my allround white and trycolour from the mast top.

Getting to the top of the mast is a real pain.(or expensive)

For whatever reason a bicolour is on the pulpit, a cable going to it but no power, could have been cut when the masthead lights were fitted.

Am thinking of fitting the stern light in the centre of the pushpit.

Can the steaming light be at 2mt above deck? As long as it's more than 1mt above the nav lights.

This is so it can be reached from the deck.

Looking at other boats, the steaming is around 2/3ds up the mast, wonder why?

The boat's LOA is 8.6mt sloop, so under 12mt.

Thanks all.

Min distance 1m above the side lights
mine is around 6m

 

[Poignard]

Can the steaming light be at 2mt above deck? As long as it's more than 1mt above the nav lights.

This is so it can be reached from the deck.

Looking at other boats, the steaming is around 2/3ds up the mast, wonder why?

I have often wondered why yachts have their steaming light so high and the only reason I can think of is so that it is less likely to be obscured by the jib when motor-sailing with the jib set.

 

[VicS]

yep it can be 2m. Mine is about 2m.

 

[Twister_Ken]

Looking at other boats, the steaming is around 2/3ds up the mast, wonder why?

Increased visibility

 

[prv]

Only height requirement is to be at least 1m above the side lights, although you do need to ensure it's visible over its whole arc which might be a problem for a low-down one if you ever motor with the jib set.

I have the "steaming" light almost at the masthead, with the sidelights a bit lower down just above the jib.

Pete

 

[Fantasie 19]

Looking at other boats, the steaming is around 2/3ds up the mast, wonder why?

Thanks all.

As Twister_Ken said probably visibility, but it also seems that the higher up the mast it is, the less likely it is to be "clouted" by the foresail when tacking, or when the sail is flogging/flapping?

 

[colingr]

Are you not supposed to only use the steaming lights when steaming but use the tri-colour when sailing?

So you should have both. Otherwise mobos and ferries can't tell the difference, like using your motoring cone

 

[VicS]

Are you not supposed to only use the steaming lights when steaming but use the tri-colour when sailing?

So you should have both. Otherwise mobos and ferries can't tell the difference, like using your motoring cone

Side lights ( or bicolour) plus stern light are the basic requirement when sailing. These may all be combined into a single (tricolour) lantern.

The diagram below shows the legal combinations of the commonly used lights for any vessel less than 12m

 

[Elessar]

Are you not supposed to only use the steaming lights when steaming but use the tri-colour when sailing?

So you should have both. Otherwise mobos and ferries can't tell the difference, like using your motoring cone

No Joka,

sidelights and no steaming light means a sailing boat (or a towed boat)

tricolours are less visible most of the time and only exist so that saily boats can illuminate themselves with just 1 bulb.

Now we have better batteries, efficient LEDs and better power management its time they took tricolours out of the colregs as they are a compromise that is no longer neccessary.

Some people even make LED tricolours. Talk about missing the point.......

 

[prv]

Are you not supposed to only use the steaming lights when steaming but use the tri-colour when sailing?

Nope - I don't have a tricolour.

I have sidelights like any boat, and a "steaming" light that only comes on when the engine is running.

(I put "steaming" in inverted commas because the proper term is masthead light)

Pete

 

[bbg]

tricolours are less visible most of the time

I would disagree with that. I would say they are more visible most of the time (any time you are not near a harbour), and less visible in certain circumstances.

Now we have better batteries, efficient LEDs and better power management its time they took tricolours out of the colregs as they are a compromise that is no longer neccessary.

Some people even make LED tricolours. Talk about missing the point.......

One fitting = one wire. Pulpit or bow mounted lights could be obscured by sails. A lot of cruising boats carry cruising chutes that will obscure deck-level lights.

I do think the manufacturers are potentially missing one trick with LEDs - instead of designing down to the 2 mile range and making the unit less power-hungry, they could design them brighter than required. And still make them less power-hungry than filaments.

 

[colingr]

No Joka,

sidelights and no steaming light means a sailing boat (or a towed boat)

tricolours are less visible most of the time and only exist so that saily boats can illuminate themselves with just 1 bulb.

Now we have better batteries, efficient LEDs and better power management its time they took tricolours out of the colregs as they are a compromise that is no longer neccessary.

Some people even make LED tricolours. Talk about missing the point.......

Ah thank you, in unnerstands now

 

[OGITD]

About 5’ 10” moving in an erratic pattern as I return from ashore.....

(sorry I just had to....)

 

[Elessar]

I would disagree with that. I would say they are more visible most of the time (any time you are not near a harbour), and less visible in certain circumstances.



One fitting = one wire. Pulpit or bow mounted lights could be obscured by sails. A lot of cruising boats carry cruising chutes that will obscure deck-level lights.

I do think the manufacturers are potentially missing one trick with LEDs - instead of designing down to the 2 mile range and making the unit less power-hungry, they could design them brighter than required. And still make them less power-hungry than filaments.

agree totally with you about the manufacturers, i think I disagree about tricolours.....

wiring required is the same - you need deck lights anyway. See the point about a cruising chute though.

I would definitely say wire the boat so you can use the deck lights for sailing and use them as preference unless out of sight of land or using a cruising chute.

 

[VicS]

No Joka,

sidelights and no steaming light means a sailing boat (or a towed boat)

tricolours are less visible most of the time and only exist so that saily boats can illuminate themselves with just 1 bulb.

Now we have better batteries, efficient LEDs and better power management its time they took tricolours out of the colregs as they are a compromise that is no longer neccessary.

Some people even make LED tricolours. Talk about missing the point.......

Although there are times, such as close inshore when it can be lost amongst shore lights, when a tricolour is not the best choice of light there are times when it remains a good choice.
Sailboat side lights are relatively low and can be lost from view between waves. A tricolour will not be.
A tricolour produces no back glare off mist. Side lights do
There is no reflection off rigging and stanchions that can affect vision.
A tricolour is never obscured by the sails as side lights can be.
A tricolour is not vulnerable to damage in crowded marinas as a pulpit mounted bicolour can be.


Personally I have a tricolour ( Originally fitted to conserve power it has to be admitted) and deck level lights. I can use whichever is the most appropriate.

 

[Alfie168]

tricolours are less visible most of the time and only exist so that saily boats can illuminate themselves with just 1 bulb.

Now we have better batteries, efficient LEDs and better power management its time they took tricolours out of the colregs as they are a compromise that is no longer neccessary.

Some people even make LED tricolours. Talk about missing the point.......

I don't think its missing any kind of point. With my basic setup on a yacht less than 7m long the only regulatory light required is a single white at the masthead, which doesn't help anybody much. I've put an LED tricolour up there instead which is ideal as it uses far less than the single white did and is far brighter and tells everybody my orientation into the bargain. I only have a leisure battery and solar panel so have to be parsimonius.

I note that chart never mentions yachts less than 7m, so its incomplete.

Tim

 

[VicS]

don't think its missing any kind of point. With my basic setup on a yacht less than 7m long the only regulatory light required is a single white at the masthead, which doesn't help anybody much. I've put an LED tricolour up there instead which is ideal as it Iuses far less than the single white did and is far brighter and tells everybody my orientation into the bargain. I only have a leisure battery and solar panel so have to be parsimonius.

I note that chart never mentions yachts less than 7m, so its incomplete.

Tim

"That chart" as you call it was drawn simply to illustrate and help to explain the legal combinations of the common lights that may be used by any vessel under 12 metres.

there was never any intention that it should illustrate concessions for vessels under 7m.

if you find it difficult to understand the idea of an allround white light here is a diagram of one of those too

 

[Adrian Jones]

Nav Lights Graphic

I don't think its missing any kind of point. With my basic setup on a yacht less than 7m long the only regulatory light required is a single white at the masthead, which doesn't help anybody much. I've put an LED tricolour up there instead which is ideal as it uses far less than the single white did and is far brighter and tells everybody my orientation into the bargain. I only have a leisure battery and solar panel so have to be parsimonius.

I note that chart never mentions yachts less than 7m, so its incomplete.

Tim

This graphic might help
http://www.boatlamps.co.uk/contents/en-uk/d88.html

 

[Alfie168]

"That chart" as you call it was drawn simply to illustrate and help to explain the legal combinations of the common lights that may be used by any vessel under 12 metres.

there was never any intention that it should illustrate concessions for vessels under 7m.

if you find it difficult to understand the idea of an allround white light here is a diagram of one of those too

No need for that sarcasm thanks, it wasn't a criticism of the chart, just that there are other scenarios it doesn't cover. Sorry if I offended you, it wasn't intended.

Tim