Urgent Help need - Navigation Lights Question

[woody001]

Just replaced my switch panel, and i have confused myself.

I am trying to achieve as few switches as possible, but am i right in saying u can have just your tricolour and nothing else on if you are sailing?

From what i can remember: -

Under Sail can be: -

Bow and stern light or mast tricolour

Under motor can be: -

Bow, stern light and steaming light


at anchor: -

Stern light and steaming light (all round white)

Am i correct?

What's the best way to wire them up? I need to use as few switches as possible, each wire terminates in the switch panel, so i can really be flexible.

Any ideas how i can acheiev a good set up?


Thanks guys!!

simon

 

[VicMallows]

First two are correct; I'm sure the idea of steaming and stern at anchor is wrong! They'll be at different heights. Also they'll use twice the power of a dedicated anchor light and I'd be confused if I came across you at night . If you want to stay electric you can rig an all-round white on a trailing lead, preferably hung from in the foreward rigging (better IMHO than one on top of the mast). Many of us use a paraffin to save the battery.

Yes, Tricolour on it's own is OK for sailing (but you can use bow/stern, and preferable in close quarters such as Solent). But make sure it's ON ITS OWN.

I don't understand the problem with switching? .. though many 'foolproof' solutions have been suggested to avoid incorrect combinations.

Vic

 

[halcyon]

Is a tricolour allowed in the Solent ?.
Remember we had to alter Westerly switch panels in the late 80's to include seperate switch for the tri-colour, previously bi-colour/steam power, tri-colour sailing. Thus allowing bi-colour or tri-colour for sailing.
At the time they were planing to ban tri-colour under sail in the Solent, did they or did it fall through ?

Brian

 

[oldharry]

Anchor light is a single all round white light. If by 'bow light, you mean a bicolour Red and Green, then that is permissible on yachts and motor boats, but the regs specify seperate port and starboard lamps for larger vessels.

 

[VicMallows]

I'm certain there is no actual ban. If there were to be it could only be within the specific jurisdictions of QHM and VTS. Everything though suggests it should be compulsory to use bow/stern.; perhaps within, say, 5nm of shore.

Interesting question.

Vic

 

[woody001]

Thanks for your help guys!
Can i have my tricolour on at the sametime as bow/stern lights?

Iam going to do what you say, goner buy a seperate anchor light - you are right.

thanks for your help again!

 

[StellaGirl]

You didnt answer Tome so I shall ask again, how fast did you get downwind?

 

[VicS]

To avoid all confusion look at the "colregs" which you can find online at:-

http://boatsafe.com/nauticalknowhow/boating/colregs.html

http://www.sailtrain.co.uk/Irpcs/index.shtml

http://members.aol.com/ocv807/4.html

or

http://www.glenans-ireland.com/Resources/colregs.htm


The RYA booklet is still, however, my favourite because, where necessary, explanations are given.

Remember, however, a light at the top of the mast can be difficult to see from the bridge of of a ship agaist a background of shore lights. For example if you are using an allround white in place of separate masthead and stern lights as you motor into a busy port the ferry comming up fast behind you may well not notice you!

By using a combination of double throw (change over) and single throw (on/off) switches it is possble to wire up a panel that prevents illegal combinations while still allowing legal alternatives.

 

[VicMallows]

NO! .. you cannot have BOW/STERN on at same time as TRICOLOUR.

Vic (I hope this isn't a wind-up! - but if so it's been fun)

 

[VicS]

No you cant have the tricolour on at the same time as any other lights.

Any combination of lights which does not appear to another vessel as the appropriate lights as described in the colregs is not allowed. Put your self in that position and ask yourself if what you can see is what is described in the regs.

 

[VicS]

Never heard any suggestion that tricolours are not allowed in the Solent but lights at the top of the mast are not always a good idea in places like that for the reasons I've already given.

Maybe Westerlies altered the panel design to allow alternatives ie side lights (or bicolour) and stern to be used when sailing in these circumstances or mast head and stern to be used rather than an allround white (with bicolour or side lights of course) when motoring.

 

[woody001]

sorry to sound so thick guys!
Your help is top notch, just had a good read through colregs.
this is how i am going to set it up: -

switch 1
Bow light, sternlight.

Switch 2
Steaming light

Switch 3
TriColour


So if i am inshore sailing , i can use switch 1
if i am in shore motoring i can use switch 1 +2
if i am offshore i can just use switch 3.

sound good?

 

[halcyon]

This was Westerly!!, it was definatly a local reg, may have been a planed one that was dropped. Took me years to convice them that 3 core mains cable for up mast nav lights was not a good thing, could get someone connecting a mains supply to it.

Brian

 

[peterb]

[ QUOTE ]
So if i am inshore sailing , i can use switch 1
if i am in shore motoring i can use switch 1 +2
if i am offshore i can just use switch 3.

sound good?

[/ QUOTE ]

The set-up is good, but be careful how you use it. I would prefer:

if i am inshore sailing, i can use switch 1
if i am offshore sailing, i can just use switch 3
if i am motoring (anywhere) i can use switch 1 + 2.

Incidentally, if you are offshore and near big ships it's probably better to use separate side and stern lights (switch 1) rather than your tricolour.

 

[Joe_Cole]

[quoteIncidentally, if you are offshore and near big ships it's probably better to use separate side and stern lights (switch 1) rather than your tricolour.

[/ QUOTE ]

Why? Surely you are more likely to be seen with a tricolour on, particularly in poor conditions?

 

[Dipper]

This is the arrangement I have.

For an anchor light I usually use a paraffin lamp hung out over the bows. Although the visibility is less than if it is hoisted over the foredeck, I don’t like the idea of a lit paraffin lamp falling onto the deck at night. I only use this in places where there is a speed limit or where other boats would expect anchored vessels to be.

If there is likely to be a lot of faster boat traffic around, I use a mobile all round white hoisted over the foredeck as it is brighter and more easily seen. I made this up myself from an all round white light, two core cable from a DIY store and a cigarette lighter plug. It is also useful if you need to see around the back of the engine where it is a bit dark.

 

[Guest]

It is usually quite easy to wire up your switch panel so that it is impossible to have deck level nav lights and masthead tri on at the same time.

Further, it can be arranged so that the steaming light can only be on with the deck level nav lights. Thus, no illegal combinations possible.

If you can PM me with a sketch of your panel and identify the types of switch, I could work it out.

I have done this on my boat which has one of the prewired switch panels available in most chandlers.

 

[Birdseye]

[ QUOTE ]
[quoteIncidentally, if you are offshore and near big ships it's probably better to use separate side and stern lights (switch 1) rather than your tricolour.

[/ QUOTE ]

Why? Surely you are more likely to be seen with a tricolour on, particularly in poor conditions?

[/ QUOTE ]

Not necessarily. Once asked the master of the Portsmouth / Bilbao ferry about this , and he asked that any yottie sailing close inshore should use deck level lights because the masthead tricolour disappeared against a background of bright town lights when seen from big ship bridge level. The deck level lights on the other hand were seen against a background of dark water.

All a bit theoretical given how little room for manouevre the big boats often have close inshore. Be more concerned about their lights!

 

[Joe_Cole]

[ QUOTE ]

Not necessarily. Once asked the master of the Portsmouth / Bilbao ferry about this , and he asked that any yottie sailing close inshore should use deck level lights because the masthead tricolour disappeared against a background of bright town lights when seen from big ship bridge level. The deck level lights on the other hand were seen against a background of dark water.

All a bit theoretical given how little room for manouevre the big boats often have close inshore. Be more concerned about their lights!

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, this has been debated frequently on the forum. However, in this case PeterB was talking about use of lights OFFSHORE. It was the "offshore" bit that I was querying. I agree with you about inshore; the best thing to do is to keep away from the big boats!

 

[VicS]

Re: Tri colour vs. stern and side lights

Yes the problem with a tricolour, or an allround white, occur when close inshore. I made the point in my first response to Simon's question. Off shore I prefer the tricolour because of its high position especially, in rough conditions, as it won't dissappear between the waves. For the same reason I prefer an allround white instead of stern and masthead "steaming" light when motoring off shore.

Another advantage of the tricolour is that it is way out of your own field of vision and therefore doesn't affect your own night vision.