simplest sailing light setup

grenade

grenade

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I need to replace all the old broken lights on my 7.1 metre sailing yacht. I want the simplest arrangement possible as my setup is no inboard, small marine leisure battery, charged by an outboard and solar panel. Currently there are lights on the bow, masthead and top of the mast. At http://www.solentribster.com/navigation_lights.htm I have seen mention of a single combined light at the top of the mast. Since I want to simplify, this is the direction I'm leaning. Is this legal, safe and sufficient for my boat?
 
The required lights are prescribed in the Collision Regs (worth downloading for many reasons):
http://www.collisionregs.com/MSN1781.pdf

As your vessel is over 7m, you are required to display side lights, stern light and a masthead (steaming) light in addition whilst under power. When sailing you may use a combined masthead lantern, commonly known as a tricolour light, which reduces the current consumed - but adding the steaming light is not possible with this for use when under power as it must be above the sidelights and stern lights by a significant amount so that the disposition of lights can be observed to identify you as a power vessel (whenever you are using the outboard).

Rob.
 
You can cover sailing, motoring and anchoring with a bow bicolour, masthead all-round white and stern light. You can do it with 2 switches on your switch panel as well such that you cannot turn on an illegal combination of lamps.

The only downside of this arrangement is that you have 2 bulbs on when sailing instead of one.
 
AngusMcDoon said:
You can cover sailing, motoring and anchoring with a bow bicolour, masthead all-round white and stern light. You can do it with 2 switches on your switch panel as well such that you cannot turn on an illegal combination of lamps.

The only downside of this arrangement is that you have 2 bulbs on when sailing instead of one.
Click to expand...

Substitute stern light for tricolour and your still OK. Tricolour for sailing bow lights, and all round white for power.
 
If your boats a 23 footer, it's only 7.01m. So I think you could get away with the requirements for 7m boats which are less onerous. Use a tricolour and all round white at the masthead. Tricolour when sailing and ARW when motoring. If you've only limited power generation, led would be recomended despite their eye-watering price.
 
I have a similar boat. I use a NASA led tricolour/anchor at the masthead for sailing and anchoring when power consumption is critical. I have a normal filament bicolour, masthead and stern lights for motoring as the outboard is charging at 4 amps and the lights use 2. There are 3 switches; power, switch between steaming and tricolour combo, and then the rotary on the tricolour/anchor combo. I can't show an illegal combo in error.
 
awol said:
Simplest way is to shorten the boat to <7m! Then you only need an all round white light as long as you stay at <7kts.
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+1 I will hold one end of the tape measure if you hold the other ;)

I think you will find there are the usual some where hidden "where practical" or "as far as practical"...

But your options are:
1) If you cannot do more than 7 knots I really would not worry. White all round nice and bright will be sufficient...

2) Second best would be side lights and stern light (deck Level)and all round light above (at top of mast), this would just make you legal?

3) The gold plates answer is side lights stern light (deck level), all round white (anchor light) and tri colour (to save electricity offshore) at top of mast and "steaming light" for motoring...

dylanwinter said:
bingo

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html;js...gation+lights&_nkwusc=naviation+lights&_rdc=1
Click to expand...

Following your links I would go with option 1 above:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SEAWORLD-12-VOLT-ALL-ROUND-WHITE-NAVIGATION-LIGHT-FOR-BOATS-UP-TO-12-METRES-/380481393491?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_BoatEquipment_Accessories_SM&hash=item5896755353
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/White-SUPERFX-12V-LED-replacement-navigation-light-bulb-/150618408600?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_BoatEquipment_Accessories_SM&hash=item23118e8698

All depends on how much the OP is prepared to compromise...
 
I would advocate LED definitely but not a single mast head light. They are not as visible as low level lights when you are near other boats or town back light. Fit side LED nav lights on cabin sides and a white stern light. Fit a steaming light if you anticipate night motoring just a metre or so above the level of the nav lights.
IMHO any wiring in the mast is trouble that is hard to fix. MY separate nav light stern light together draw about .3 amp and are very bright. Fit the side nav lights low so jib does not cover them. They do however give a nice light for beating watching the jib. good luck olewill
 
onesea said:
+1 I will hold one end of the tape measure if you hold the other ;)

I think you will find there are the usual some where hidden "where practical" or "as far as practical"...

But your options are:
1) If you cannot do more than 7 knots I really would not worry. White all round nice and bright will be sufficient...

2) Second best would be side lights and stern light (deck Level)and all round light above (at top of mast), this would just make you legal?

3) The gold plates answer is side lights stern light (deck level), all round white (anchor light) and tri colour (to save electricity offshore) at top of mast and "steaming light" for motoring...

...
Click to expand...

Item 2 would not be legal for power unless you seperately switch the stern light, off with all round masthead on with bowlights on.
 
Stork_III said:
Item 2 would not be legal for power unless you seperately switch the stern light, off with all round masthead on with bowlights on.
Click to expand...

Yeah I know, I am sure the OP has been given enough regs to read in predating posts to work that one out :/. I had one used to unclip and drop in the stern locker... Problem is as other have said, if you rely on the mast headlight its a bugger for some boats to see near land... So invariably I would "forget" or used it as cockpit light when getting ropes and fenders ready :D
 
Thanks everyone. Great advice here. I especially like the shorten the boat ideas.

On closer inspection of the current electrics and fiddling with the fuse box, it turns out that the bow and stern lights already work well. The previous owner also left LEDs in them. The bow light is a nice, two sided, red & green which I hadn't noticed because the bulbs are clear when not lit.

That just left the masthead and mast top. I replaced the whole masthead unit with a lamp that looked pretty much the same as the worn out one and bought a white LED bulb for it that was just as eye-wateringly expensive as I was warned here. I also accidentally gave several of my tools to the sea-gods whilst balancing on a rickety mast ladder. I still need to work up the courage to go to the top of the mast to replace the final light at the top.

Neither the mast head or mast top lights are wired up yet and I'm not sure which is which at the switch. One switch is labelled "anchor light" and the other, I think, should be shared with the switch controlling the bow and stern lights (I forget what it was labelled). Is this correct? Also, is the mast-top or the mast-head the "anchor light"?
 
grenade said:
Thanks everyone. Great advice here. I especially like the shorten the boat ideas.

On closer inspection of the current electrics and fiddling with the fuse box, it turns out that the bow and stern lights already work well. The previous owner also left LEDs in them. The bow light is a nice, two sided, red & green which I hadn't noticed because the bulbs are clear when not lit.

That just left the masthead and mast top. I replaced the whole masthead unit with a lamp that looked pretty much the same as the worn out one and bought a white LED bulb for it that was just as eye-wateringly expensive as I was warned here. I also accidentally gave several of my tools to the sea-gods whilst balancing on a rickety mast ladder. I still need to work up the courage to go to the top of the mast to replace the final light at the top.

Neither the mast head or mast top lights are wired up yet and I'm not sure which is which at the switch. One switch is labelled "anchor light" and the other, I think, should be shared with the switch controlling the bow and stern lights (I forget what it was labelled). Is this correct? Also, is the mast-top or the mast-head the "anchor light"?
Click to expand...
I have got round to looking at this thread rather late

"Mast head light", in the colregs , refers to the forward facing white light ( with a visible arc of 225°) required by a vessel under power. Popularly called the "steaming light"

The anchor light is a white light visible through 360°.. So as not to be obscured by the mast it is often fitted on the very top of the mast and combined into the same assembly as the tricolour light (which is the option instead of port and starboard side lights or a bicolour when under sail if below a certain length)

You may find the diagram below useful. It illustrates the alternative legal combinations of lights under sail and under power for all vessels under 12 m. (The option of all-round white light or vessels under 7m, or at anchor, is not included as I do not think that requires illustration)

Navigationlights.jpg
 
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