Question... Tricolor Mast and Anchor Light

[boatsail]

What are your thoughts.

It seems simpler than any of the wiring that I currently have. I'm redoing all of it right now, so the chance to change is here.

something like this.
Clipper Supernova Combi LED Tricolor Masthead Anchor Light

Let me know if you have a better idea.

[newlazydays]

Only thing is that you have to go UP the mast to fix it of things go wrong.

[SailFastTri]

"Supernova lights do not have any national approvals."

I'm not an attorney BUT: That could shift blame in your direction if there was an accident and subsequent investigation/lawsuit. Also it might complicate your defense and increase legal costs.

[Sailmonkey]

I like the price on your find a lot better than this one.

LED TriAnchor Light With Photodiode And Strobe Function

FWIW when shrimp boats hit ships or vice versa, the non compliant lights on the shrimp boat never come up.........usually the watchstander does.

[sloopygirl]

I don't know anything about that brand, but I think the ONLY way to go with any lights on boats there days are the LED ones. All my cabin lights are now LED, as well as my running lights. Love that LOW power consumption.

[Jim Cate]

Does anyone actually have any experience with this company? Wonder how they can undercut the prices so far (or perhaps the other guys are gouging??)?

The specs sound ok at first glance.

Cheers,

Jim

PS
For the OP -- the polarity reversing means of selecting which light is lit is a fairly standard practice. We do it with our incandescent tricolor/anchor light.

[S/V Antares]

I do not know the company you speak of ... however... The question is good. Masthead or deck/rail level running lights.

I installed OGM tricolor with strobe when I had my mast out a few years ago. I kept the rail (low) mounted lights as well.

When I am on the open ocean under sail I use the tricolor for best visability. . When in a local waterway or harbor I use the rail mounted lights. In close quarters people do not look up.

I am not sure that folks know the tri color masthead cannot be used when motoring (Correct me if I am wrong) and cannot be used with lower set running lights.

[markpierce]

Antares is bright/intelligent!

[boatsail]

Originally Posted by S/V Antares

I do not know the company you speak of ... however... The question is good. Masthead or deck/rail level running lights.

I installed OGM tricolor with strobe when I had my mast out a few years ago. I kept the rail (low) mounted lights as well.

When I am on the open ocean under sail I use the tricolor for best visability. . When in a local waterway or harbor I use the rail mounted lights. In close quarters people do not look up.

I am not sure that folks know the tri color masthead cannot be used when motoring (Correct me if I am wrong) and cannot be used with lower set running lights.

You are correct. Only a sailboa not under power can use the tri. If you are under power you are supposed to have there steamer, and if the steamer is on then nav lights are supposed to be below, hence the deck nav lights.

[boatsail]

My entire house now has led lighting bought light by light as they are so expensive. First led I bought fire the home to replace a standard bulb coast me a bit over forty dollars for one bulb!. Cappy bulb too! now the led are great in regards to brightness and light quality and shown to less than half the cost from when I bought the first one. they really have come a long way.

One thing that I don't get is that they are nor CG approved. seems kind of odd. I mean if you can see it for two or more miles then why would it note be approved? Politics?

[noelex 77]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

Does anyone actually have any experience with this company? Wonder how they can undercut the prices so far (or perhaps the other guys are gouging??)?
.

They are produced by NASA which is UK based company making budget marine electronics.

They initially produced only separate tricolour and anchor lights. These had a very high failure rate, so much so that they should have issued a general recall IMHO.

The combined unit is to a very similar design, but hopefully they have fixed the problems.
We do need more budget LED navigation lights, but I would not risk this one given the previous history.

As others have said any tricolour cannot be used with motor supplying propulsion, but the lower navigation lights can be non LED as the engine will also be supplying power. This unit is also only rated for 12m or below.

[Jim Cate]

G'Day Nolex,

'Nuff said! Thanks for the warning. I'm about to have my mast out and was considering replacing the tri with an LED version, but the silly prices have put that on the back burner.

Cheers,

Jim

[atoll]

light at the end of the tunnel

New LED light bulb to be made in city | This is Cornwall

[Eleven]

Hard choice, did mine last winter and on a small boat battery power is limited with no charging from a nice inboard. I still went old style bulbs though, just because there are so many issues around LED's. LED cabin lights are great though.
With my old boat I used to run mast head tri and deck level lights together in our busy waters. Being seen is the first priority.

[cal40john]

Originally Posted by boatsail

One thing that I don't get is that they are nor CG approved. seems kind of odd. I mean if you can see it for two or more miles then why would it note be approved? Politics?

It's not politics, it is only a question of money. The company has to pay to get the light certified. I know one company was doing it one light at a time due to the cost.

If you look at the online Colregs annex you will see that there are rules for the shade of color permitted, that there are requirements for visibility at both vertical and horizontal angles and other rules to meet compliance. It's not just distance.

John