Dinghy blocks stern light

[Cheechako]

Put another light further up. On a SS tube or on the davit.

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

Despite the OP's stated disregard for the COLREGS, deliberately failing to follow the nav light rules seems a bad choice to me.

Jim

I can always count on you to find some way to put an insulting negative spin on something. Just where did I post anything to the order of "stated disregard for the COLREGS"???

[El Pinguino]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

My dinghy on the davit blocks my stern light. In the past at night I've just lowered it a little when night sailing, but that really isn't an answer. I could of course rig up some light, but I know this will be kind of clutter that bugs me.

What have others done (including nothing as I bet even with the dinghy aganist the light there is still a "glow")?



PS - lets try to avoid endless "the rules say this, the rules say that"

That won't make the back of your boat look half as cluttered as a ship up your bum and a 'glow' won't be much help in avoiding that.

As your dinghy is probably always going to be there I would shift the light higher on a permanent basis.... and aft of all your present clutter would be best to avoid back scatter.

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

I can always count on you to find some way to put an insulting negative spin on something. Just where did I post anything to the order of "stated disregard for the COLREGS"???

lets try to avoid endless "the rules say this, the rules say that"

Sounded to me that you were saying that you didn't care about the rules.

If you do indeed care, then hanging a lamp up over the dinghy does not meet the rules in any way. Installing a proper nav light on the top of the davits or other clear spot is the proper way to go IMO.

Jim

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

Sounded to me that you were saying that you didn't care about the rules.

In other words you made your statement up and then phased it nice and insulting.

[Pelagic]

Someone cited a collision case where an improper stern light was found to be a legal liability. Jim politely reinforced that COLREGS are indeed a factor to consider.....
I found nothing in that insulting.... So let's just skip the assumed insults and stick to solving this common problem

[sailorboy1]

nothing was assumed, it was stated

[Pelagic]

Originally Posted by savoir

Try one of these

Innovative Lighting LED Portable Stern Navigation Light

It can also double up as a navigation light for the dinghy.

That seems more suitable for occasional use.. I would not trust a suction cup for a stern light.

My own stern light on port stantion by caprail is just high enough to peek over the tender, but I dislike the back glow.

I do like that it works well as a boarding light at night when coming home by tender, but have been thinking of relocating on aft end of Bimini

[skipmac]

Have the same problem. Solution, move the light higher, lower or aft of the dinghy.

PO on my boat mounted a light on the radar pole. I always wondered why since there is a light on the transom until I hauled the dink to the top of the davits.

I moved the radome to a mast mount but plan to use the pole for a wind charger and just put the light back. It's high enough that there isn't a glare around the stern to kill night vision.

[sailorboy1]

Problem with just moving the light higher on an aft cockpit design is that puts the lights at face height when sitting at the helm. Guess it is going to have to be a new light mounted to the solar panel edge above the bimini.

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

Problem with just moving the light higher on an aft cockpit design is that puts the lights at face height when sitting at the helm. Guess it is going to have to be a new light mounted to the solar panel edge above the bimini.

On my boat the pole is right at the stern so even an aft cockpit the helm would be forward of the light.

[Davidhoy]

Play nice, guys! I read the original post without getting the sense that the COLREGs were being ignored, but I can see how some might interpret it that way. Don't beat each other up over a simple misunderstanding...


Sent from my iPad using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[Ungvar]

As much as I dislike agreeing with Jim, the ColRegs, or more specifically, "The International Rules for Preventing Collisions at Sea" are there to prevent collisions at sea. They do that, in part, by defining what lights you must carry.

If you don't want to get hit from behind, you need to show the prescribed lights. Maybe buy a short mast to increase the height of your stern light. They aren't expensive.

[Sandibar]

Originally Posted by jstevens

"I hang a removable, battery operated light on the outside of the dinghy when night sailing."

The problem I have with a hanging light (or any non-directional light) is the effect on night vision. This can be a problem even with a fixed mount, restricted area light that reflects off rails and poles on the stern.
Probably not a problem for occasional night sails, but on passage it can be a PITA (at least for me).

John

My inflatable dinghy rests quite high on the transom and the light is completely covered from the cockpit by the dinghy. There is no scattered light to the cockpit. In fact, I occasionally have to deliberately check that it's still on. Still, it's an extra operation and I'd be happier just to use the dedicated transom light.

[ranger58sb]

Originally Posted by ranger42c

There's a magnet-attach stern light on the market. Appropriate arc for stern, not all-round. Forget the brand name, but you could easily stick that on top of your outboard or wherever while underway at night.

See NAVISAFE | PORTABLE NAVIGATION LIGHTS and look for the white versions; apparently you can operate as all-round white or as stern light only.

Check out the magnetic (clamp) mount versions; one side installs inside your outboard motor cowling, the light itself sits on top on the outside, and the magnetic system holds it all together.

They have other mounting systems, too.

-Chris