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Old 06-09-2016, 07:56   #1
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Dinghy blocks stern light

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"
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Old 06-09-2016, 08:05   #2
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Re: Dinghy blocks stern light

A picture or two of your stern with the dinghy in place might help solicit useful suggestions.
Sounds like you need a light at or above the height of the davits. How to rig it is the question. maybe a piece of SS tubing between the davits.

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Old 06-09-2016, 08:15   #3
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Re: Dinghy blocks stern light

Had the same problem, fixed by mounting the stern light onto the wind geny pole.

You could always fabricate a bracket to mount on the davit to take the light.
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Old 06-09-2016, 08:28   #4
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Re: Dinghy blocks stern light

relocate your stern light, or move the dinghy out of the way significantly. can a ship see your light while blocked?? can another boat see your stern light when blocked--NO. \
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Old 06-09-2016, 08:46   #5
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Re: Dinghy blocks stern light

My dinghy also block the stern light. I hang a removable, battery operated light on the outside of the dinghy when night sailing.
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Old 06-09-2016, 09:03   #6
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Re: Dinghy blocks stern light

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Originally Posted by Sandibar View Post
My dinghy also block the stern light. I hang a removable, battery operated light on the outside of the dinghy when night sailing.
That's a good idea

sometimes the simple is just hard to come up with
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Old 06-09-2016, 09:46   #7
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Re: Dinghy blocks stern light

"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).

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Old 06-09-2016, 10:40   #8
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Re: Dinghy blocks stern light

I mounted my Stern light on the cross tube between my davits, that way it's above the dinghy.
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Old 06-09-2016, 10:47   #9
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Re: Dinghy blocks stern light

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.


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Old 06-09-2016, 14:13   #10
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Re: Dinghy blocks stern light

Quote:
Originally Posted by sailorboy1 View Post
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.
I have the same issue, as the PO installed the davits in such a way as to obstruct the stern light when the dinghy is fully raised. My plan is to relocate the light, likely having my friendly neighborhood SS fabricator weld on a pipe or bracket that raises it up sufficiently. I do, however, like the *temporary* solution of hanging a light on the side of the dinghy. I also have a suction-cup nav light that attaches to the dinghy motor that I could align just right...

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Old 06-09-2016, 15:03   #11
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Re: Dinghy blocks stern light

Reliable story I've heard is of someone who was run into at night/low visibility by a power boat, and what got the PB off the hook (or at least mitigated it) was that the stern light was somewhat obscured by the horse shoe.

I don't think it was a factor in the collision, but played into the verdict.
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Old 06-09-2016, 15:27   #12
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Re: Dinghy blocks stern light

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Originally Posted by ggray View Post
Reliable story I've heard is of someone who was run into at night/low visibility by a power boat, and what got the PB off the hook (or at least mitigated it) was that the stern light was somewhat obscured by the horse shoe.

I don't think it was a factor in the collision, but played into the verdict.
Exactly! This is not a place to use some mickey mouse substitute, especially when one is in a sailboat which typically will be overtaken from astern due to relatively slow speed.

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

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Old 06-09-2016, 15:51   #13
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Re: Dinghy blocks stern light

I have same issue. While motoring I could always use all around masthead light with bow running lights and make sure blocked sternlight is obscured. But will need better solution for sailing obviously and agree it needs to be great and permanent for safety.


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Old 06-09-2016, 16:09   #14
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Re: Dinghy blocks stern light

Unfortunately, SS is non-magnetic, so you'll have to make a mechanical mount.
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Old 06-09-2016, 16:20   #15
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Re: Dinghy blocks stern light

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Originally Posted by sailorboy1 View Post
That's a good idea

sometimes the simple is just hard to come up with
Try one of these

Innovative Lighting LED Portable Stern Navigation Light

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