[70521]
Well-Known Member
Very odd. Goodness knows how they survive.
Tricolour on masthead for sailing - overkill?
- Thread starter MattS
- Start date
Dipper
Well-Known Member
I find pulpit lights reflect too much off the pulpit even after wrapping the stainless steel tube in black tape.
I have a NASA Supernova tri/anchor light. It's so bright I can see that it's lit even in direct sunlight. The downside is that the bracket has snapped 8 years after it was professionally fitted to a new mast on a lightly used boat. It's currently dangling from the top of the mast and I'm going to have to unstep the mast and refit it. It seems to be a well made light let down by a weak bracket.
RupertW
Well-Known Member
Well I’m more a fan of lights at deck level - I find that people look ahead rather than up in the sky when close enough to hit me. And judging the distance of a very high light is not easy.
MattS
Well-Known Member
I think the clear support for all arrangements are convincing me to hedge bets and have options at all heights! ?
Topcat47
Well-Known Member
I do use the masthead tricolour when sailing offshore, I only use the Deck lights when motoring or close inshore. Masthead tricolour lamps indicate to the observer that the vessel is a sailing vessel. I suppose it's OK to have a tricolour in a mast on a powerboat if there is a higher up place for a steaming lamp but then you have to ask yourself how one would be mounted.
iamtjc
Well-Known Member
In the discussions on the merits of fitting a masthead anchor light, I'm surprised that there has been no mention of its alternate use as a combined steaming and stern light for use when motoring (on vessels under 12m).
If I have that wrong, do set me straight since my newly acquired boat has no steaming or stern light.
If I have that wrong, do set me straight since my newly acquired boat has no steaming or stern light.
anoccasionalyachtsman
Well-Known Member
I found Frank's pictures.
LittleSister
Well-Known Member
It depends, among other things, on the size of your boat, and the height of your mast.
I'd often laugh at the usual suggestions that masthead lights had to be looked up to, or wouldn't be seen at anchor, when mine was, at 18' above the water, not much higher than some peoples' sidelights. And when your sidelights are about 18" above the waterline, they regularly disappear among the waves at sea.
More generally, I like to have both options for the redundancy in case of failure of one of the lamps; the ability to show proper lights for towing; using the masthead tri-colour at sea to reduce electric consumption and avoid the glare from deck level lights reducing my (or crew's) vision at night; and use deck level lights in harbour or other close quarters situations.
I'd often laugh at the usual suggestions that masthead lights had to be looked up to, or wouldn't be seen at anchor, when mine was, at 18' above the water, not much higher than some peoples' sidelights. And when your sidelights are about 18" above the waterline, they regularly disappear among the waves at sea.
More generally, I like to have both options for the redundancy in case of failure of one of the lamps; the ability to show proper lights for towing; using the masthead tri-colour at sea to reduce electric consumption and avoid the glare from deck level lights reducing my (or crew's) vision at night; and use deck level lights in harbour or other close quarters situations.
William_H
Well-Known Member
From comments above it depends on you kind of night sailing. If you anticipate being far out to sea then mast head light will be seen early from a ship. There being no other lights on the horizon. However if you are in shore any where near shore lights then a mast head light can be lost in the back ground. Low level are much better.
As for actually fitting mast top lights I would avoid if at all possible. You introduce an electrical fault possibility that would require you to climb the mast or drop the mast. I would suggest you keep deck level lights. Orgainise a deck flood light steaming light or anchor light on a halyard for temporary use if you find yourself in a situation where high level lights would give you more confidence of safety. ol'will
As for actually fitting mast top lights I would avoid if at all possible. You introduce an electrical fault possibility that would require you to climb the mast or drop the mast. I would suggest you keep deck level lights. Orgainise a deck flood light steaming light or anchor light on a halyard for temporary use if you find yourself in a situation where high level lights would give you more confidence of safety. ol'will
RupertW
Well-Known Member
My only issue with that is that you will be showing two stern lights then - one at deck level and one much higher but that’s not a huge objection
DownWest
Well-Known Member
Looking at this too. Decided on masthead tricolour (23ft mast) and a set of battery clip ons for the low level. Not expecting to spend a lot of time out at night, but need something effective.
oldmanofthehills
Well-Known Member
I think using anchor and tri together would not be satisfactory, so one should have forward facing steaming light if using tri as back up motoring nav light and even then the relative heights would seem odd and maybe confusing.
In practice most small yachts are so slow that the lack of a steaming light would not be an issue if motoring with tricolour alone as the white is meant to indicate different moving capability and to the cargo ship or ferries going past at 18kt our small sailing boats are near stationary either way.
Indeed anything under 23ft/7m could legally just use the all round anchor light at all times, though I would hardly recommend it
Boathook
Well-Known Member
I've nearly hit a boat in an anchorage as I didn't see it or others. From a distance the masthead lights got lost in the street lights and as we got close, getting ready to anchor, you are looking around but not up. It was only the 'shadow' of the boat that alerted us to it being there. It wasn't a stormy night but just dark and no moon.
dansaskip
Well-Known Member
Neil_s is definitely right about the masthead tricolour whilst sailing at night and about the anchor light.
and Sandy's advice is very good here. Me I do the same.
Actually I have a mast top tricolour and anchor light plus deck level nav lights plus an LED anchor light which I can hang up a few feet above desk level (powered via a lead and cigarette lighter socket) oh and plus a spare oh and an old fashioned oil lamp sort of just in case.
I use the lights according to circumstances. As others have said a masthead anchor light is better visible from a distance but gets lost in the stars closer and close up a lower eyesight light is better.
Graham376
Well-Known Member
Masthead anchor light increases your chance of being hit at night, those low level "silly things hanging from shrouds" are seen more easily and distance off judged more accurately.
JumbleDuck
Well-Known Member
My masthead tricolour is about 6' lower than the sidelights on the Wemyss Bay - Rothesay ferries. Anybody who misses me could be in for a surprise ...
[70521]
Well-Known Member
Where were you looking as you entered the anchorage?
RupertW
Well-Known Member
Probably ahead and even if you do see lights in the sky it’s very hard to tell if they a 50m away and 18m up or 30m away and 4m up.
Boathook
Well-Known Member
From a distance could see the top of a hill but the masthead light just disappeared into the street lights that went up the hill. As we got closer we altered course and the boat was against a dark background; but you don't look up at the sky when entering an anchorage. You are looking ahead and at the depth sounder, etc.
JumbleDuck
Well-Known Member
Can't see why. My boat has the lights she was built with: masthead tricolour, masthead all-round white, pulpit bicolour. I've idly considered adding a stern lightto give me low-level sailing lights.