15m Nav Light Requirements

[anjou]

Im fast approaching the wiring stage and need to make provision for nav lights.
Im more than a little confused by the options open to me and could do with some advice please.

With a vessel of 15mts (50 feet), do I need lights on the front corners or can I adopt one tri colour on the mast head? If I can, do I also need a separate anchor light?

In addition, what do I need at the blunt end, where is it positioned etc?

I dont anticipate them being used often, but should the need arise, its preferable than having to hang on temporary ones

[pjop]

Hey Anjou:

Coast Guard is pretty specific on lighting requirements. Try Basic Boating Safety Course - Navigation Lights on Your Boat

I know the mast head try light will not satisfy the anchor light requirment. You'll need a 360 light for that. It does take care of all lighting requirements for underway. Note that for a vessel of that size your lights must be seen for at least two miles rather than one mile for smaller boats. Double check my math though.

[anjou]

Are all nav light requirments universal across the world?

Will USCG requirments apply here in Europe?

[Zanshin]

Anjou,

The international standards (COLREGS) are from Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972 (COLREGs) and the U.S. is a signatory and the U.S. Coast Guard publishes the national differences. Also International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Rules 20-31 cover lights and shapes. Rules 20 and 21 specify lights.

Check the Wiki Page for the actual details. With a 15m sailiing vessel see rule 25(b) regarding usage of a trilight (the answer is "Yes, you may").

[SeaYara]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but you seem to be building a motorboat, not a sailboat? In that case you are probably not allowed to use a masthead tri-light, as this may only be used by sailboats while under sail.

[anjou]

Hmm yes I sould have mentioned it is a motor boat not sail.

So seems like I have to go with one at each front corner, not up the mast

[Astrid]

Rule 23 states:

(a)A power-driven vessel underway shall exhibit:

• (i) a masthead light forward;
• (ii) a second masthead light abaft of and higher than the forward one;
  except that a vessel of less than 50 meters in length shall not be obliged to exhibit such a light but may do so;
• (iii) sidelights: and
• (iv) a sternlight.

http://www.bluemoment.com/colregs.html

[Blue Stocking]

Anjou,

Easy!!--just find a 50ft ocean-going tanker, and copy the lights
Just don't name it Torrey Canyon, World Glory,Exxon Valdiz,etc,etc,etc.

[anjou]

OK, as far as I can see in COLREGS, in part C, Lights and Shapes, it says -

23. Lights displayed by power-driven vessels underway

• A power-driven vessel underway must display:
  • a masthead light forward;
  • If over 50 metres (164 ft) length, then also a second masthead light aft and higher than the forward one;
  • sidelights;
  • a sternlight.

It then goes on to say -

"Sidelights" means a green light on the starboard side and a red light on the port side each showing from right ahead to 22.5 degrees abaft the beam on its respective side. If the vessel is less than 20 metres (66 ft) long, the sidelights may be combined in one fixture carried on the centreline of the vessel.


So, I deduce from this that one mast head light to include an all round white for anchoring, a forward facing white and the red and green, plus an aft facing, white stern light shall suffice?

[Astrid]

Sounds like that would suffice.

[dacust]

The most common setup is where the mast light has two bulbs. One covers the 180 degrees facing forward, and one covers the 180 degrees facing aft.

So, you have an on-off-on toggle switch. Anchor - off - Nav

For anchor, it just turns on both bulbs in the mast light. For Nav, it turns on the aft light, side lights and just the forward bulb on the mast light.

-dan

[Ex-Calif]

It's hard to tell completely but a combined position light on the bow may be blocked due to the beam or anything you might add to the edges of the foredeck.

You may be able to do a combined light on the forward cabin roof.

If I were to do it I would put separate port and starboard light on the forward corners of the cabin roof.

It's looking great by the way - You must be very satisfied!

Also I am sure that besides the masthead/anchor light you have considered what other services you might need up the mast (VHF antenna wire, future radar wiring etc.) Now is a good time to devise a method to pull new wires through should you need them in the future. Maybe a messenger system inside the mast.

[Weyalan]

Colregs has all the answers.

FWIW, you may only use a masthead tricolor under sail. Bow and stern lights may be used under sail or motor.

Also, at about 40' length, the size of light required increases... well, the distance of visibility.... with a rather large increase in cost of buying the lights as well.

[dacust]

[QUOTE=Ex-Calif;525775
...

If I were to do it I would put separate port and starboard light on the forward corners of the cabin roof.

...

[/QUOTE]

Me, too.

And if it were me, I'd definitely go with LED lights. They are more expensive, but they will probably never burn out.

Since you will be on canals a lot, sometimes small ones, I'm guessing the mast will be removable for clearance?

-dan

[jackdale]

Originally Posted by dacust

The most common setup is where the mast light has two bulbs. One covers the 180 degrees facing forward, and one covers the 180 degrees facing aft.

That should be 225 forward. That coupled with a 135 stern light and sidelights is a vessel underway. The white lights only , assuming that they are the same height, would constitute an anchor light. Just make sure that the lights cover the minimum distances for your vessel.