Nav. lights for a small boat.

[VicS]

[ QUOTE ]
yet to figure out which one it is

[/ QUOTE ] Clicky piccy
<span style="color:white"> ................................................. </span>

 

[snowleopard]

The diagram is for boats 7-12m in length. For under 7m (and less than 7 knots) the rule says you are only obliged to have an all-round white but should also have sidelights if practicable.

Any boat may have lights of a higher spec than required for her length as long as only legal combinations are shown, e.g. no tricolour over white for steaming.

So You must have at least an all-round white. A

 

[Pye_End]

[ QUOTE ]
Thanks everyone. Maybe the best way to go is get my SSR length corrected, then replace the tricolour with an all round white light. Then I can use this for sailing, steaming and anchoring.. I think..

[/ QUOTE ]
If you intend going out at night it might be better to finding a way of fitting appropriate lights. It is not just a matter of conforming to the rules - your life may one day (night!)depend on the interpretation by another vessel of what is going on.

 

[majdrew]

Yes, true.. interpretation.. life... etc..
If I could attach sidelights to my mast low down, and get an all round white to add above the tricolour, that would cover me I believe.
It has been added to my to do..
Cheers everyone!

 

[VicS]

[ QUOTE ]
If I could attach sidelights to my mast low down, and get an all round white to add above the tricolour

[/ QUOTE ] The snag is that you would not have low level lights that you could use when sailing and even under power you would only have the light atop the mast as a stern light, risking being invisible to the ferry following you into harbour.

 

[majdrew]

ahh.. yes true.
Ok. So really I suppose I should add a stern light.
Low level sidelights on mast, sternlight, anchor light, to complement the tricolour.
Just realised, can't put on mast low level port/star lights.. sails will obscure the view.. hmm..

 

[Seanick]

Ahh thats you then!

Do you have one of those fancy diagrams for boats over 12m?

 

[Sixpence]

According to your bio you have a Hunter Shuffle 24 which looks like this

Looks like a raised section over the cockpit area, which gives you vertical side walls each side. If you want to go the whole hog and fit pt/stbd red green lights, this is where I would fit them. Personally, I would go for this if I could.

 

[majdrew]

Yes! That's my boat! Your suggestion seems obvious now... why didn't I think of that? yes.. on the walls of the doghouse, as long as they don't interfere with my night vision..
Thanks, i'll take a look at that.

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

They would play havoc with your night vision that close to the helm..... and further more, your genoa would obscure them..... they need to be either forward of the forestay, or virtually outside of the rails....

 

[Sixpence]

Good point re the night vision, but can't think of another way of doing it that wouldn't cause the same problem.

 

[majdrew]

Well.. at least I'm narrowing down my options.. I really don't want to be drilling holes in my foredeck though..
Has anyone ever come across battery operated red/green light I could use at the bow for just when I'm steaming? That would do the job..

 

[DaveS]

You can get "emergency" nav lights, red green and white, which each work with a single "D" cell. I inherited a set with my first boat 20 odd years ago, still have them, but have yet to use them in anger. I think they're Plastimo.

 

[Sixpence]

I'm not going to get involved in a discussion over LED nav lights, but these seem to be what you're after
http://www.duckworksbbs.com/hardware/electrical/il-560-111x/index.htm

 

[majdrew]

Thanks guys! Just what I needed. Those lights are perfect! They'll do me for the time being, all I need to do then is fit an anchor light and I'm away! Problem solved!!
Time for some rum.methinks.. thanks for all your help, cheers!

 

[Sixpence]

I would still be more inclined to go for hard wired lights though, mine are fitted to the top rail of the pullpit with the wiring running through the rail then through a deck hole inside the protection of where the rail is sealed to the deck. Just a thought though, obviously it's your choice

 

[Twister_Ken]

As someone else said earlier, purpose of having lights is not to comply with regs, but to avoid getting run down. Fit appropriate lights - the brightest you can find, not the dimmest you can get away with. One day you may be glad you did.

 

[majdrew]

I'll take a look this weekend to see how difficult a job it would be to lift the pulpit and drill a hole underneath.. sounds simple, but I just know there'll be complications.. you know, the way there always are.. haha!

 

[VicS]

[ QUOTE ]
Do you have one of those fancy diagrams for boats over 12m?

[/ QUOTE ] No but it was only drawn using Microsoft Paint IIRC. I did it originally to answer a question on the Owners Association forum, having failed to get through in words.

Over 12metres the all round white in lieu of the steaming and stern lights is not allowed and over 20 metres the bicolour and tricolour are not allowed.

Also the required visible ranges increase as the vessel size increases

 

[Sixpence]

Oh I never said it would be easy, and I certainly don't want to bore anyone with the story of my 'little' renovation project, but as Ken says, it's well worth going well beyond what is required as a minimum just based on the size of your boat. Mine is fitted with as many lights as anyone could think of fitting, and I also have a very powerful torch at the ready to light up the sails if needed.
Go bright, go safe, light up at night or the sea will bite