Lights - running and ?

[EASLOOP]

Hello out there,

Is there a difinitive statement on the lights rquired for an 8.5 metre sloop with a diesel inboard. I have read various rule books but they seem to be ambiguous. "If the boat is over 20m, or under 12 m, or under 20m (which 12m is !) then have this or that or ???"
You may call me 'Pooh Bear' ( a bear of little brain) but I seem to have a problem getting my head around it all. Your help would be most appreciated.

Happy sailing (in the dark?)

John

 

[wayneA]

Hi John

You need a red and green on the bow, a stern light on the transom, a steaming light (for when your under power) halfway up the mast and some form of anchor light.

Some yachts also have a tri-colour set of lights at the masthead as well those metioned above - using the tri for when under sail and use the lights mentioned above when under power. You shouldn't use both sets of lights at the same time, if you also have the tri-colour fitted.

Hope that helps

Wayne

 

[bedouin]

NB For a boat of 8.5m the port and starboard (red and green) lights at the bow are usually combined into a single unit.

Another point that may cause confusion - the "steaming" light is also known as a "masthead" light, even though on a sailing boat it is not mounted at the top of the mast.

The two simplest set-ups that have eveything you need are

(A)
(i) Bicolour (red/green) mounted on bow
(ii) White mounted on stern
(iii) White masthead/steaming half-way up mast
(iv) All round white at top of mast

or (B)
(i) Bicolour on bow
(ii) All round white at masthead
(iii) Tricolour at masthead

(B) has the advantage of requiring only two units (as you can buy combined tricolour/all round whites) but is more confusing, therefore most people would recommend set up (A).

If you are intending to do a lot of sailing (as opposed to motoring) at night then you could consider adding an optional tri-colour to the lights in (A), but there is a lot of debate as to whether tricolours are as good as lights mounted at deck level.

 

[EASLOOP]

Thanks for your input folks. Makes things clearer. Just hope I don't look like a Xmas tree when I am done.
rgds
John

 

[EASLOOP]

Re: Lights - etvc

Thanks for your input folks. Makes things clearer. Just hope I don't look like a Xmas tree when I am done.
rgds
John

 

[hutch]

Re: Lights - etvc

The West Marine Catalogue gives little pictures of what is required! Simplicity itself!

 

[petery]

Steaming light or all round white

I was forced to dispense with my 'steaming light' halfway up the mast when I had to squeeze a few more cables down a small conduit. Your example B doesn't include one. When motor sailing do I show my tri-colour and the masthead all round white - thats what I have been doing.

 

[peterb]

Re: Steaming light or all round white

Very definitely not. The tricolour is illegal when under power.

But you don't need the usual steaming light. Instead, the all-round masthead white doubles up, combining the functions of the steaming light and the stern light. So when under power all you need (provided that you are less than 12m long) is sidelights (or a pulpit bi-colour) and the masthead all round white.

 

[Guest]

Re: Steaming light or all round white

Don't worry mate the world is full of people forced into showing (or not) illegal/incorrect nav lights.

The Lash

 

[petery]

Re: Steaming light or all round white

Many thanks. I have a bicolour pulpit light that I was going to leave unconnected - but I will now wirw it up

 

[Mirelle]

One More Thing

In the approaches to a port (eg the Solent!) commercial ships find it quite hard to pick out masthead lights against the shore lights in the background, owing to the height of their wheelhouse above the sea.

In such places, it is best to use low down sidelights and a sternlight, rather than a masthead tricolour.

 

[petery]

Re: Steaming light or all round white

I have wired up my lights based on the advice in this thread.

At deck level I have port, starboard and a stern light .. on the mast I have a tricolour and all-round white - which I will use as a steaming light. ...but will it be confusing ( or illegal) to show the stern light and the all-round white when I am under power? I will have to put in a separate switch for the stern light if it is.

 

[peterb]

Re: Steaming light or all round white

Yes, you should not show both the stern light and the all-round white. Fit the extra switch for the stern light.