Navigation sidelights & sternlight positioning

[JumbleDuck]

It is so much easier at night if you can quickly recognise what is around you. Anything other than the lights which are taught requires thinking time. Red over red, at a distance, as you propose, could be other things, or a badly lit yacht. Whatever it is, it is a distraction you don't want.

I agree. I just wondered if it was actually against the rules.

 

[Pye_End]

I agree. I just wondered if it was actually against the rules.

Well, yes, as the example I gave you was red over red. There are no doubt others.

Even if your duplication of lights did not produce the characteristics of a different vessel, it would certainly change the 'distinctive character', and 'interfere with the proper keeping of a proper lookout'.

 

[Refueler]

Well, yes, as the example I gave you was red over red. There are no doubt others.

Even if your duplication of lights did not produce the characteristics of a different vessel, it would certainly change the 'distinctive character', and 'interfere with the proper keeping of a proper lookout'.

I agree with you .... showing more than one of each light is not good and can lead to confusion ..

I feel the thread has been more than just useful about splitting the lights but also Op now knows that his deck level lights have a limitation from sail as well as height.
As I and others have suggested - splitting the two systems and KEEPING both so a choice can be made is best ... not as OP originally considered to remove one set.

 

[Buck Turgidson]

The OP has pretty much the standard set of lights with the exception that they all come on together?

Unless he's less than 7/7 in which case he could just use an all round white.


Masthead tri = doesn't meet motoring rule.

Deck level Navlights Could be obscured by foresail.

So both are required and should be used when appropriate.

note* Motorsailing with jib (who does this?) would be a problem as both the steaming light and one of the nav lights could be obscured.

He could bin the steaming light and his stern white and use the all round white when motoring.

As for is two sets at the same time within the rules? No it isn't. Red over Red. Boat is dead. (NUC)

 

[richard77777]

Thanks for the further contributions.
It's been a really helpful thread.

 

[[185615]]

We have both and they are on separate switches so we chose which to use

Me to

 

[oldmanofthehills]

You need 3 switches or even 4.

1 for tri colour
1 for steaming for steaming

Then if you have a masthead all round white - 1 for all round white on mast head as anchor*

*You could at a pinch use tricolour plus masthead when motoring. Not ideal but on a small slowish boat might be workable backup if side lights fail. We are stationary compared to that 1000 ton 18kt RoRo ferry. If they see you and are confused they will still be cautious

plus if you like even further redundancy one for stern light so you can suppress so as to use white mast head with just the side lights if motor sailing and foresail blocks steaming light or steaming light fails. Visiblity trumps exact adherence to idealised practice.

 

[Refueler]

I smile when I read some posts ....

If anyones ever sailed the Chinese or African coasts ..... and you are happily minding your own business - then you see a mass of lights ... WTF ???

If you see a Chinese inshore fishing fleet stretched across an inlet ... you will wonder if anyone ever even heard of Nav lights !!

West Africa near 50nm offshore .... hundreds of dugouts with candles in jamjars as their marker lights ...

I kid you not.

 

[richard77777]

Quick update:
My set-up has now been corrected as recommended in this thread.
Thanks again to everyone who contributed.

 

[pyrojames]

I smile when I read some posts ....

If anyones ever sailed the Chinese or African coasts ..... and you are happily minding your own business - then you see a mass of lights ... WTF ???

If you see a Chinese inshore fishing fleet stretched across an inlet ... you will wonder if anyone ever even heard of Nav lights !!

West Africa near 50nm offshore .... hundreds of dugouts with candles in jamjars as their marker lights ...

I kid you not.

Same goes for India!

 

[DFL1010]

I agree, but I'm curious ... is it actually banned? I think the applicable rule is

Obviously having a masthead and deck level stern light ain't on, as it looks like something else, but how about the masthead tricolour and pulpit bicolour my boat was built with? I have never felt an urge to use them together, but could I? I'm pretty sure I have seen ships with two sidelights, one above the other..

The reason ships have two sidelights is so that if/when one fails, there's a spare.

 

[JumbleDuck]

The reason ships have two sidelights is so that if/when one fails, there's a spare.

Good point. Thanks.

 

[Refueler]

The reason ships have two sidelights is so that if/when one fails, there's a spare.

In fact most nav lights on ships are doubled up for that reason. Saves getting the 3rd Mate out of bed to go change the bulb !!

 

[Buck Turgidson]

In fact most nav lights on ships are doubled up for that reason. Saves getting the 3rd Mate out of bed to go change the bulb !!

Same on aircraft tricky to change a bulb in flight