Masthead light - steaming or anchor (or both)?

BenMurphy

BenMurphy

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A bit of a noob question perhaps. I have just bought a boat that has a single all-round masthead light that’s marked as “Steaming Light” on the switch board.

Now from my limited understanding a masthead light Would actually typical be an anchor light and a steaming light would be attached about 2/3 way down the mast.

My question is, in reality, is there any reason why this single masthead light cannot function as BOTH a steaming and anchor light given the context will be different in those situations (I.e. masthead and nav lights = steaming / masthead alone = at anchor)?
 
Need to be careful about the use of terms.....
IRPCS refers to a “masthead” light as “a white light on the centreline of the vessel showing from right ahead to 22.5 degrees abaft the beam on either side of the vessel.”
And an all round light is self explanatory.
When motoring, you should display side lights, a masthead light and a stern light, so your all round light at the top of your mast shouldn’t be used as it doesn’t have the required cut out to the stern.
 
Welcome to the forum. You are correct that a white all round masthead light is typically an anchor light. Sounds like it is wrongly labelled.
A steaming light is generally half way up the mast - but importantly is not all round, but shows in the same arc as the red and green nav lights (ie in front and slightly aft of abeam)
Different lights - but somebody will have used a wrongly labelled switch for convenience and forgotten to warn you.
 
There are many good graphic based sites showing what boat needs which light and when.
.

e.g.

Lights, buoys - aids to navigation.



If you want a specific answer, you need to tell us the type (sail or motor) and the length of the vessel and how she is being used. The complexity of lights is there to make sure as far as possible, that a submarine on the surface is not mistaken for a seaplane taxying, or a rowing dinghy at half a cable is not a fishing trawler hauling nets at a mile.
 
I've not checked the regs recently but as I recall, a small boat can show an all round white when under way. But a steaming light should be shown in conjunction with port, starboard and stern lights. Steaming lights face forward with a 120° arc. Mixing and matching lights could be confusing to other vessels.
If any of my recollections are incorrect, please feel free to correct me. (I'm sure I don't need to say that)
 
BenMurphy said:
A bit of a noob question perhaps. I have just bought a boat that has a single all-round masthead light that’s marked as “Steaming Light” on the switch board.

Now from my limited understanding a masthead light Would actually typical be an anchor light and a steaming light would be attached about 2/3 way down the mast.

My question is, in reality, is there any reason why this single masthead light cannot function as BOTH a steaming and anchor light given the context will be different in those situations (I.e. masthead and nav lights = steaming / masthead alone = at anchor)?
Click to expand...
An anchor light is much better at low level on a boat in an anchorage imho. There are plenty of threads on this forum on the subject!
 
duncan99210 said:
Need to be careful about the use of terms.....
IRPCS refers to a “masthead” light as “a white light on the centreline of the vessel showing from right ahead to 22.5 degrees abaft the beam on either side of the vessel.”
And an all round light is self explanatory.
When motoring, you should display side lights, a masthead light and a stern light, so your all round light at the top of your mast shouldn’t be used as it doesn’t have the required cut out to the stern.
Click to expand...

Ok thanks - to clarify then I have an all-rounder light atop my mast.

I’m aware of the COLREGs, but I’m wondering if there’s flexibility in practise (the same way, for example, that no one ever really uses a steaming cone shape).

Interestingly the RYA website itself offers this advice about anchoring:

“An all-round light at the top of the mast may conveniently double as a masthead (steaming) light and stern light on “power-driven” vessels of less than 12m in length.“
 
Ben, that illustrates my point in post #5. Such a light would not be legal in a motor driven vessel over 150ft under way.

The lights are there to identify type of vessel, size, direction, activity and status. They are all very different fish kettles.
 
Welcome to the forum.

it is allowable for a vessel under 12m to have the steaming and stern lights combined as one all round white light at the masthead.

If this can be switched separately then it could also be used as an anchor light and indeed this was the arrangement of my previous Jaguar 24 and is on many other smaller boats.
 
sarabande said:
There are many good graphic based sites showing what boat needs which light and when.
.

e.g.

Lights, buoys - aids to navigation.



If you want a specific answer, you need to tell us the type (sail or motor) and the length of the vessel and how she is being used. The complexity of lights is there to make sure as far as possible, that a submarine on the surface is not mistaken for a seaplane taxying, or a rowing dinghy at half a cable is not a fishing trawler hauling nets at a mile.
Click to expand...

Good point - I should have mentioned she’s a 27 foot sailboat (Hunter Horizon 27).
 
shaunksb said:
Welcome to the forum.

it is allowable for a vessel under 12m to have the steaming and stern lights combined as one all round white light at the masthead.

If this can be switched separately then it could also be used as an anchor light and indeed this was the arrangement of my previous Jaguar 24 and is on many other smaller boats.
Click to expand...

I like this reply!! My steaming light has been knocked off twice by being hooked by lines. I have been using the mast head as a' better than nothing' does it now transpire that I dont need to replace the steaming light again?
 
pcatterall said:
I like this reply!! My steaming light has been knocked off twice by being hooked by lines. I have been using the mast head as a' better than nothing' does it now transpire that I dont need to replace the steaming light again?
Click to expand...
So long as you can switch off your stern light.

On some boats it's better to use an all-round masthead white, because the stern light glints on pushpits or other hardware, lights up the tender or whatever.
And if you're motor sailing, the steaming light can be hidden by the genoa.
 
lw395 said:
So long as you can switch off your stern light.

On some boats it's better to use an all-round masthead white, because the stern light glints on pushpits or other hardware, lights up the tender or whatever.
And if you're motor sailing, the steaming light can be hidden by the genoa.
Click to expand...

This makes sense as my Hunter Horizon doesn't appear to ever have had a stern light fitted - so it would suggest that the previous owner has always sailed with the bow bi-light navs and the masthead all-rounder.
 
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