What do we think about flashing anchor lights?

[Mark-1]

Don't agree. Anchored near someone using a flashing light in Dale Bay - against a background of all sorts of flashing lights it didn't stand out as well as ordinary anchor lights. Pretty irritating too.

I can't believe something can both fail to stand out *and* be irritating. It can really only be one or the other.

 

[Lucky Duck]

This evening’s non-COLREGS colour scheme was RIBS with their blue underwater lights still going while canning it back from Cowes to Portsmouth

Also noted that such lights are now being displayed by sailing boats, heaven forbid

 

[Mark-1]

This evening’s non-COLREGS colour scheme was RIBS with their blue underwater lights still going while canning it back from Cowes to Portsmouth

Also noted that such lights are now being displayed by sailing boats, heaven forbid

Not Nav lights, Chav Lights.

 

[Refueler]

What do you expect when the 'Essex brigade' (no disrespect to the County of Essex) can get on the water ?

 

[Dockhead]

A light in the fore triangle, so hanging from the forestay but 'steadied' by cord to the deck meets the requirements and if the light illuminates the deck offers and indication of how big the yacht is (especially useful if you are anchored in a river.

Garden centres lights rely on rechargeable batteries which have a finite lifespan - so I would not reply on them. Find a decent laght that runs off 12v and run off the house battery. It will be obstructed by the mast - but only fleetingly.

If you are single handed in a confined location and motoring you tend to look at eye height, not craning your neck looking up. A light illuminating the deck and not far above eye height is ideal. An electric hurricane lamp, Wansworth's idea - is a good solution.

Check availability in camping shops and you might find a 12v hurricane type with a sensor, that will switch itself off day time or a car shop - a lamp you plug into the cars cigarette lighter (for tyre changing in the dark).

Jonathan

It's actually better, lower down in the foretriangle, because it's more easily seen. My Father's anchor light, on our old boat, was an incandescent (this was long before LED's) waterproof 12v light which we hung from the backstay. That was legal -- vessels under 50m need only show an all-around white "where it can best be seen"; not necessarily in the forepart.

I've actually been hit by an uninsured fishing boat whilst standing at anchor in the Solent, because the fisherman didn't see my anchor light 23m above the water. Caused a large amount of damage, fortunately covered by Pantaenius.

So now I leave deck lights on in addition to the standard anchor light.

As to flashing "anchor lights" -- others have given all the advice needed there.