navigation lights <12m yacht

Alastairdent

Alastairdent

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I have 3 books showing the required nav lights, and on small details they disagree with each other.

I know I need 1 all-round white when at anchor.

However, what do I need when sailing, sail+power, power alone?

Can I get away with combined port/starboard + all-round white (where must it be mounted)?

Or do I need:
Separate port/Starboard

Masthead white forward (135degree beam) for under sail.

Plus stern 134degree (for under power)

Plus all round white for anchoring.
 
Very much depends on actual siz of boat. at less than 7 mts my boat requires only a masthead trycolour when sailing, an all round masthead white for anchoring which doubles as steaming light when under power. this can be purchased as a single combined unit cost from around £62 by Lazias or more expensive unit from aquasignal. if you are in any doubt consult the colregs for definative answer a copy of which in my oppinion is a must for any boats bookshelf or nav bag.

/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
 
I know it depends on size - that's why I said "<12m" in the title. The boat is 28ft, hence over 7m and under 12m.

I have a copy of the regs book, and it isn't clear. It doesn't say whether the port/starboard can be at the masthead when under power, it shows them as being separate.

It shows a forward white + port/starboard for under sail. to this must be added a stern white if under power.
 
[ QUOTE ]
It shows a forward white + port/starboard for under sail. to this must be added a stern white if under power.

[/ QUOTE ]

i don't think so. Under sail you need side lights plus stern light. No 'steaming light'. <12m they may be all combined into a masthead tricolour.

Under power you need forward white plus stern white (which may be combined into an all round white <12m) plus side lights. I think sidelights may be combined into a bicolour on the centreline but I can't recall the length cutoff that allows that. Someone will tell you soon!
 
The minimum requirement is

1. combined port/stbd
2. stern light
3. all round white (doubles as steaming light with stern light off)
 
Under sail alone: Either a tri-colour at the mast head or port, stbd and stern lights.

Motor sailing or motoring you must use port, stbd and stern lights together with a 'steaming light' (white light above and behind the port/stbd light, normally on the mast at about spreader height.)

At anchor an all round white light, this can be at the mast head or as many people do just suspended above deck with a trailing lead.

The port and stbd lights are sometimes combined in a single light on the center line, individual or combined the choice is yours.

Hope that helps

Yoda
 
The colregs definitely state the combinations of lights which should be displayed.
Read it very carefully.
1.Under sail ...either mast head tricolour or deck/low mounted forward visible red and green lights and a white stern light.
2.Under power (Also includes motor sailing) a white light above the lights in 1 viisible from ahead to 11.25 degrees abaft the beam.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I know it depends on size - that's why I said "<12m" in the title. The boat is 28ft, hence over 7m and under 12m.

I have a copy of the regs book, and it isn't clear. It doesn't say whether the port/starboard can be at the masthead when under power, it shows them as being separate.

It shows a forward white + port/starboard for under sail. to this must be added a stern white if under power.

[/ QUOTE ]
incorrect. sailing port starboard and stern lighte req may be combined at the mast head. under power you need allround steaming light rather than fore and aft white and side lights which for under 12m may be combined into a single bicolour on the ships centre line forward of and below the allround white
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Thanks, Franky. I had read that description, it just didn't seem to tally with the pictures.

From '2', it seems to me that even if I had a tricolour, it wouldn't be valid to use that under power, as the white part wouldn't be ".. above the lights in 1 .."

So could I fit port/starboard low down, and a single all-round white, and cover all situations?

Or MUST I have separate stern and forward/masthead white light for use under power?

Whipper_snap and bedouin both seem to think that I just need an all round white (for anchor and use under power), p/s and stern (the last two for use under sail.
 
For completeness I could say that

1. Tri
2. All Round White
3. combined port/stbd

also covers all requirements
 
and is a very common combination, providing not only cover for all scenarios, but also backup P&S lights, and also (when wired appropriately) allows for the selection of low or high altitude P&S lights to suit conditions.... (but would also need a stern light to make it easy!)
 
[ QUOTE ]

Whipper_snap and bedouin both seem to think that I just need an all round white (for anchor and use under power), p/s and stern (the last two for use under sail.

[/ QUOTE ]

That is true.

In practice most small yachts use a separate forward facing mast white - what I call a steaming light and stern light. If you also have a masthead tri plus a bicolour on the bow you then have lots of flexibility in the event of bulb failre, and the visibility of masthead and deck-level lights is different under different circumstances.


At anchor a separate white light hoisted in the fore triangle is simpler, cheaper and better IMHO.
 
[ QUOTE ]
... Motor sailing or motoring you must use port, stbd and stern lights together with a 'steaming light' (white light above and behind the port/stbd light, normally on the mast at about spreader height.) ...

[/ QUOTE ] Is it mandatory for the masthead light to be both above and behind the side lights? Many are, but I've seen plenty of installations where the side lights are behind the masthead light.
 
Tony, good question. There isn't anywhere convenient to mount them forward of the mast, unless I go for a combined unit and put it on the bow railing.
 
The answer to my own question can be found at:

www.dcmnr.gov.ie/files/marleisAppendices.doc

clearest pics I have come across.

From this doc, I need:
for sailing
Stern white
Port and starboard

(these can be combined in a tricolour)

For motoring or motor sailing
All round white
Port and starboard

(P/S must be lower than white light, but can be either forward or aft of white light.)
 
I cannot believe that this can be debated. It is perfectly clear in the regs and here is A link to them on the coast guard website
There are some options regarding bicolours and tricolours and about all round whites in place of "masthead" and stern lights but it is all spelled out in the regs. Just be aware of the difficulty of seeing lights at the mast top against against shore lights from a ship's bridge.

Remember "masthead" in the regs does not necessarily mean at the top of the mast hence the popular use of the term "steaming light" instead of "masthead light"

Al the requirements regarding vertcal spacing are in the annexes to the regs.

Some options but no debate it is all spelled out in the regs!

IMHO it is best to fit:
Side lights (or Bicolour)
Stern light
Steaming light (Masthead light)
Tricolour + allround white

Then you have some options open to you in case of bulb failure, you can use high level lights when away from shore lights and low level lights when close inshore.

Every Yachtsman should have a copy of the RYA booklet G2. That includes explanatory notes on all the regs
 
Re: navigation lights &lt;12m yacht

Under 12m use port starboard at pulpit when sailing, plus stern light.

When motoring, add steaming light on mast not visible from astern.

Do not use in combination with a masthead tricolour - you could be confused with a trawler, fishing boat or pilot vessel.
 
[ QUOTE ]
For completeness I could say that

1. Tri
2. All Round White
3. combined port/stbd

also covers all requirements

[/ QUOTE ]
agreed that is just as i said in earlier response
/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
 
Re: navigation lights &lt;12m yacht

[ QUOTE ]
Under 12m use port starboard at pulpit when sailing, plus stern light.

When motoring, add steaming light on mast not visible from astern.

Do not use in combination with a masthead tricolour - you could be confused with a trawler, fishing boat or pilot vessel.

[/ QUOTE ]

this does not include your requirement at anchor
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That would be my ideal lights set as well...

Only caveat.... i'd want it wired up in such a way that I couldn't put the tricolour and the sidelights on at the same time, or the stern light and the allround white either, to avoid accidentally showing the wrong lights
 
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