LED Anchor Light?
- Thread starter nigelmercier
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Maine Sail
Well-Known Member
V
Vonasi
Guest
Oh dear, American lawyers are involved now, that should put a stop to any common sense in this discussion!
mitiempo
Well-Known Member
Pretty hard to tell what is is and what direction it's heading in if all it has is flashing white lights on it. Illegal and dangerous for good reason everywhere.
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VexedIllologist
Active Member
LEDs in anchor lights
Interesting thread.
Seems to me that it is possible to have your cake and eat it by using 2 anchor lights with quality LEDs. This guarantees low consumption and all round visibility.
The COLREGS say that the forward anchor light has to be at least 4.5m (say 15 feet in old money) above the after anchor light, so even in a smallish yacht the forward light is going to be at least 18 to 20 feet above the water.
With the best LED lights' power consumption so low, running two instead of one makes sense.
I am currently in New England (and saw a lot of unlit yachts at anchor on the way here from Europe) and using two anchor lights fitted with USCG certified 2M single LED fittings (they have a fancy parabolic reflector), so we burn minimal power, have bright lights and are also 'covered' from the legal standpoint.
The legal issue is not at all far-fetched. Insurers have been know to try to deny claims on the flimsiest of pretexts, both afloat and ashore. By way of an entertaining example, a parked motorcycle, flattened by a truck reversing over it resulted in a loss adjuster checking the tyre tread and tax disc of the motorcycle; a desperate and unsuccessful attempt to baulk a legitimate claim. Think they won't try it afloat? They most certainly will!
So, for what it is worth, my tuppence is: two anchor lights and certified LED fittings in them, placed in accordance with Rule 30. A little more expensive than the cheaper LEDs, but peace of mind is worth that.
I use an anchor ball, too.
Interesting thread.
Seems to me that it is possible to have your cake and eat it by using 2 anchor lights with quality LEDs. This guarantees low consumption and all round visibility.
The COLREGS say that the forward anchor light has to be at least 4.5m (say 15 feet in old money) above the after anchor light, so even in a smallish yacht the forward light is going to be at least 18 to 20 feet above the water.
With the best LED lights' power consumption so low, running two instead of one makes sense.
I am currently in New England (and saw a lot of unlit yachts at anchor on the way here from Europe) and using two anchor lights fitted with USCG certified 2M single LED fittings (they have a fancy parabolic reflector), so we burn minimal power, have bright lights and are also 'covered' from the legal standpoint.
The legal issue is not at all far-fetched. Insurers have been know to try to deny claims on the flimsiest of pretexts, both afloat and ashore. By way of an entertaining example, a parked motorcycle, flattened by a truck reversing over it resulted in a loss adjuster checking the tyre tread and tax disc of the motorcycle; a desperate and unsuccessful attempt to baulk a legitimate claim. Think they won't try it afloat? They most certainly will!
So, for what it is worth, my tuppence is: two anchor lights and certified LED fittings in them, placed in accordance with Rule 30. A little more expensive than the cheaper LEDs, but peace of mind is worth that.
I use an anchor ball, too.
grafozz
Well-Known Member
yes I have one , cost £49 and its the mutts nuts ! why buy a bulb you still have connection corrosion whatever type of bulb it is . this nasa light is very bright and completely sealed .
misterg
Well-Known Member
Very similar to what you quoted: Annexe I of the IRPCS - start at section 7.
(The clue is the "I" in IRPCS
)Andy
NormanS
Well-Known Member
Quote:
The COLREGS say that the forward anchor light has to be at least 4.5m (say 15 feet in old money) above the after anchor light, so even in a smallish yacht the forward light is going to be at least 18 to 20 feet above the water.
End quote.
That may be the case if your boat is more than 50 metres in length. (What kind of boat do you have)? But back in the real world of boats under 50 metres, the only legal requirement is for an all round white light, where it can best be seen. You can, of course leave on as many lights as you like, and as long as they are not flashing ones which could be mistaken for nav buoys, it doesn't matter where they are.
The COLREGS say that the forward anchor light has to be at least 4.5m (say 15 feet in old money) above the after anchor light, so even in a smallish yacht the forward light is going to be at least 18 to 20 feet above the water.
End quote.
That may be the case if your boat is more than 50 metres in length. (What kind of boat do you have)? But back in the real world of boats under 50 metres, the only legal requirement is for an all round white light, where it can best be seen. You can, of course leave on as many lights as you like, and as long as they are not flashing ones which could be mistaken for nav buoys, it doesn't matter where they are.
Salty John
Well-Known Member
In Europe, navigation lights will carry a CE mark that confirms that the light conforms to the applicable European standard. The manufacturer or supplier of the light will be holding an EC Declaration of Conformity supporting that CE mark.
For recreational vessels under 20m the standard is Colregs 72 (for which the required luminous intensity, colour spec and other factors are published therein, as stated above) and for other vessels it will be EN 14744:2005 (E).
If you have a light with a CE mark and you alter it by, for instance, changing the light source, then the manufacturers EC Declaration of Conformity will no longer apply and the light may or may not meet the required standards. Theoretically, if you want to change your light bulbs for LED clusters you should have the resultant light tested for conformity.
I suspect, however, that in a court case you would be asked to submit lights for testing, if they survived, to prove that at the time of the accident they conformed with Colregs. And even then there may be disputes over whether the lights were even turned on. So, the answer is to sail and anchor defensively, keep a lookout, have good quality nav lights and maintain them in good condition to avoid the collision in the first place.
For recreational vessels under 20m the standard is Colregs 72 (for which the required luminous intensity, colour spec and other factors are published therein, as stated above) and for other vessels it will be EN 14744:2005 (E).
If you have a light with a CE mark and you alter it by, for instance, changing the light source, then the manufacturers EC Declaration of Conformity will no longer apply and the light may or may not meet the required standards. Theoretically, if you want to change your light bulbs for LED clusters you should have the resultant light tested for conformity.
I suspect, however, that in a court case you would be asked to submit lights for testing, if they survived, to prove that at the time of the accident they conformed with Colregs. And even then there may be disputes over whether the lights were even turned on. So, the answer is to sail and anchor defensively, keep a lookout, have good quality nav lights and maintain them in good condition to avoid the collision in the first place.
boy boater
Active Member
In the January 2010 issue of PBO reference is made to an LED masthead light which "gave off significant radio interference, cutting out our VHF".
Does anyone have experience of this?
Is it a common problem with LEDs?
Would cabin lights have the same effect?
Does anyone have experience of this?
Is it a common problem with LEDs?
Would cabin lights have the same effect?
fergie_mac66
Well-Known Member
i have several anchor lights possible: led hoistable, masthead(top of the mast!) hurricanelamps (2 different parrafin) plus a colemans dual fuel, I only use unleaded with it.I even have a solar powered garden light quite faint but ok to leave on all the time up sluice creek in wells clse quarter moorings.
with no thro traffic
I use them depending on conditions and place where anchored. The best is the colemans gives of 200 Watt I have fittings to hoist safely around 3/5 meters in foretriangle with a downhaul So bright it could be seen from 6 or seven miles it burns for 2 night on 1 fill of petrol .. Believe me it would be hard to miss but If I got stuck/had to anchor in in a channel it would be my first choice so bright you cannot look directly at the mantle.
I believe you need options as some options might not work in certain conditions
the 6 degree masking the light thing : boats move sway at anchor if a hurricane lamo is hung in the fortriangle it swings a bit and can always be seen for what it is.
with no thro traffic
I use them depending on conditions and place where anchored. The best is the colemans gives of 200 Watt I have fittings to hoist safely around 3/5 meters in foretriangle with a downhaul So bright it could be seen from 6 or seven miles it burns for 2 night on 1 fill of petrol .. Believe me it would be hard to miss but If I got stuck/had to anchor in in a channel it would be my first choice so bright you cannot look directly at the mantle.
I believe you need options as some options might not work in certain conditions
the 6 degree masking the light thing : boats move sway at anchor if a hurricane lamo is hung in the fortriangle it swings a bit and can always be seen for what it is.
mitiempo
Well-Known Member
Many led lights will interfere with radio reception. Here's a link to a Sailnet thread discussing it with reasons and solutions. http://www.sailnet.com/forums/gear-maintenance/59648-leds-causing-interference-vhf.html
VexedIllologist
Active Member
Two lights or one - both are legal options in the 'real world of boats under 50 m'
Norman, whether there are two anchor lights or one, both options are absolutely legal in accordance with Rule 30 for a vessel under 50 metres in length.
The suggestion of using two was made in response to points about the very 'real world of boats under 50 metres' where anchor lights at the masthead are sometimes difficult to see.
My point was simply that if two are carried it is easy enough to achieve the vertical separation required by the Annex to the Rules, bringing the dual benefits of having all-round visibility and (no blind arcs) and a better chance of being seen.
If, as seems obvious from some posts, there are difficulties in seeing anchor lights that are placed very high, then it would appear that these are not where they may best be seen.
I was just trying to be helpful.
Merry Christmas!
Norman, whether there are two anchor lights or one, both options are absolutely legal in accordance with Rule 30 for a vessel under 50 metres in length.
The suggestion of using two was made in response to points about the very 'real world of boats under 50 metres' where anchor lights at the masthead are sometimes difficult to see.
My point was simply that if two are carried it is easy enough to achieve the vertical separation required by the Annex to the Rules, bringing the dual benefits of having all-round visibility and (no blind arcs) and a better chance of being seen.
If, as seems obvious from some posts, there are difficulties in seeing anchor lights that are placed very high, then it would appear that these are not where they may best be seen.
I was just trying to be helpful.
Merry Christmas!
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emnick
Well-Known Member
LED Anchor light
Bought one from Ultra LEDs would not but again. Bulb was on for maximum 20 hours in one season.
The inside of the tricolour had condensation in it which I mentioned to the guy who sells them. Was told that they should not be used in a damp enviornment!!!
Would not by an ultraled again.
Bought one from Ultra LEDs would not but again. Bulb was on for maximum 20 hours in one season.
The inside of the tricolour had condensation in it which I mentioned to the guy who sells them. Was told that they should not be used in a damp enviornment!!!
Would not by an ultraled again.