Need Some Light On This?

[Talbot]

My yacht has a strange navigation light set up, which I believe is common for Privilidge catamarans of its age.

The tricolour provides stern/port/stbd as normal

There is an all round anchor light below the tricolour
(mine is actually a Hella LED fitting)

There is a port/stbd light fitting half way up the mast for use when not using the tricolour. The assumption is that these lights will only be used when under engine power, so the all round anchor light is used (in conjunction with these nav lights) to provide the steaming light and the stern light.

A fairly elegant and cheap solution, but it means that there is no low down stern light to identify the boat to overtaking vessels. The PO fitted an additional stern light on the gantry for this purpose, but that would mean that there would be two stern lights in use.

The gantry is being modified and the existing light needs to be replaced anyway so I have the opportunity to do something different.

The light from this needs to achieve the following:
1. Provide additional warning of the presence of the boat to overtaking traffic
2. Provide illumination to the dinghy dock for return to the boat when at anchor (I am also fitting a small blue led on port and stbd steps on the canoe sterns).
3. Avoid illumination into the cockpit to prevent loss of night vision.
4. Be low power consumption (i.e. led)

I could fit another stern light as before, but that has the same downside as the previous fitting
I could fit 1 or 2m of blue led strip light on the ganty (total consumption with SMD3228 bulbs approx 0.16w)

What do you think, or can you make alternative suggestions?
__________________

 

[john_morris_uk]

My yacht has a strange navigation light set up, which I believe is common for Privilidge catamarans of its age.

The tricolour provides stern/port/stbd as normal

There is an all round anchor light below the tricolour
(mine is actually a Hella LED fitting)

There is a port/stbd light fitting half way up the mast for use when not using the tricolour. The assumption is that these lights will only be used when under engine power, so the all round anchor light is used (in conjunction with these nav lights) to provide the steaming light and the stern light.

A fairly elegant and cheap solution, but it means that there is no low down stern light to identify the boat to overtaking vessels. The PO fitted an additional stern light on the gantry for this purpose, but that would mean that there would be two stern lights in use.

The gantry is being modified and the existing light needs to be replaced anyway so I have the opportunity to do something different.

The light from this needs to achieve the following:
1. Provide additional warning of the presence of the boat to overtaking traffic
2. Provide illumination to the dinghy dock for return to the boat when at anchor (I am also fitting a small blue led on port and stbd steps on the canoe sterns).
3. Avoid illumination into the cockpit to prevent loss of night vision.
4. Be low power consumption (i.e. led)

I could fit another stern light as before, but that has the same downside as the previous fitting
I could fit 1 or 2m of blue led strip light on the ganty (total consumption with SMD3228 bulbs approx 0.16w)

What do you think, or can you make alternative suggestions?
__________________

If you are really worried about the necessity of having a 'low down stern light' why not add low down port and starboard lights and then just choose which combination suits the area you are sailing in. Use the low down stern light with the low down port and starboard lights for when you are in areas with other 'small vessels'?

Actually I wouldn't be too worried about the stern light being 'up high' as even from a few hundred metres, the angular difference is very small compared to a low light and at least it will be seen. Better to be seen than disappearing into the swell. It also might give the illusion of you being a bigger vessel than you are and therefore encouraging people to keep their distance a bit more? This is all partly psychological because the light seems high to you since you are underneath it. The bridge of a ship will almost certainly still be looking down at it.

 

[VicS]

If you are really worried about the necessity of having a 'low down stern light' why not add low down port and starboard lights and then just choose which combination suits the area you are sailing in. Use the low down stern light with the low down port and starboard lights for when you are in areas with other 'small vessels'?

Actually I wouldn't be too worried about the stern light being 'up high' as even from a few hundred metres, the angular difference is very small compared to a low light and at least it will be seen. Better to be seen than disappearing into the swell. It also might give the illusion of you being a bigger vessel than you are and therefore encouraging people to keep their distance a bit more? This is all partly psychological because the light seems high to you since you are underneath it. The bridge of a ship will almost certainly still be looking down at it.

It is not the position of the P&S lights that are the problem. Its the combination of an all round white and a separate stern light.

My solution would be to retain the stern light on the gantry and to add a normal steaming/masthead light to the mast ( at least 1m) above the P&S lights.
Optional then whether to retain the allround white primarily as an anchor light or to use its wiring for the new steaming light

 

[TiggerToo]

My yacht has a strange navigation light set up, which I believe is common for Privilidge catamarans of its age.

The tricolour provides stern/port/stbd as normal

There is an all round anchor light below the tricolour
(mine is actually a Hella LED fitting)

There is a port/stbd light fitting half way up the mast for use when not using the tricolour. The assumption is that these lights will only be used when under engine power, so the all round anchor light is used (in conjunction with these nav lights) to provide the steaming light and the stern light.

A fairly elegant and cheap solution, ....

Tigger has exactly the same set up (except no LED)

 

[VicS]

It is not the position of the P&S lights that are the problem. Its the combination of an all round white and a separate stern light.

My solution would be to retain the stern light on the gantry and to add a normal steaming/masthead light to the mast ( at least 1m) above the P&S lights.
Optional then whether to retain the allround white primarily as an anchor light or to use its wiring for the new steaming light

Another suggestion .. aimed at using existing wiring

Retain the stern light

Bring the P&S down to deck level.

Fit a steaming light light on the mast in the place vacated by the P&S light reusing the wiring.

You would still have a high level light, namely the ARW, availble for use when motoring if desired but deck level lights to use when more appropriate.

 

[Simondjuk]

Another suggestion .. aimed at using existing wiring

Retain the stern light

Bring the P&S down to deck level.

Fit a steaming light light on the mast in the place vacated by the P&S light reusing the wiring.

You would still have a high level light, namely the ARW, availble for use when motoring if desired but deck level lights to use when more appropriate.

That's exactly what I was going to suggest. It only involves running one new cable for the relocated bicolour, and conveniently at deck level at that.

 

[john_morris_uk]

That's exactly what I was going to suggest. It only involves running one new cable for the relocated bicolour, and conveniently at deck level at that.

That's what I was trying to say - except reading back what I put I didn't make myself clear at all.

My apologies and I must learn not to type in haste and repent at leisure!

 

[dk]

I just have an LED tricolour/anchor light at the masthead for sailing. Then a combined steaming/deckhead light, a bi-colour on the pulpit rail and a stern light on the taffrail - all the latter are filament bulbs as I only use them when motoring, when power consumption doesn't really concern me.
Please don't use the anchor and stern lights together, or someone might mistake you for a large ship bearing down on them! One last thing - an anchor light is usually less powerful than a stern or steaming light, so using it as a combined stern/steaming light is not on in my book.

 

[snowleopard]

It is not the position of the P&S lights that are the problem. Its the combination of an all round white and a separate stern light.

Look at any passing ship. There are always loads of white lights at deck level and no one wonders what their significance is. How would another vessel know whether it was a nav light or just a cabin light shining through a doorway? Don't worry about it, the only way to cause confusion would be to have extra coloured lights (e.g. blue).

 

[snowleopard]

an anchor light is usually less powerful than a stern or steaming light, so using it as a combined stern/steaming light is not on in my book.

If the all-round light is at least 10w and the boat is under 12m, that is a legal and recognised arrangement. The rules are in the book (IRPCS), let's not make up our own, we're not driving on a motorway.