LED Anchor Light

[MarkJ]

Gees you lot are tempestous buggers!

Now listen to me: If the Wallopers come marching up to your boat sugesting the light can't be seen for 2nm you say to them: "Hey ferret head, piss off over there 2 nm and look back here!"

While they are motoring over there, you get the biiiiiggggg spot light out and blind them with it....

Case Dismissed, Your Honour!

[daddle]

Those Bebi OWL lights are cheezy in the extreme. But I have a few, they seem well made, and actually work well.

As with most LED lights they are more intense than they are bright, so one can get easily fooled that they are highly visible from a distance. Like the poster implied above, take a dinghy ride a mile away and see if you like the appearance.

[SailFastTri]

Originally Posted by daddle

Those Bebi OWL lights are cheezy in the extreme. But I have a few, they seem well made, and actually work well.

As with most LED lights they are more intense than they are bright, so one can get easily fooled that they are highly visible from a distance. Like the poster implied above, take a dinghy ride a mile away and see if you like the appearance.

Huh?

Took the dinghy ride and they stand out as brighter than incandescent lights from nearby boats.

[daddle]

Originally Posted by SailFastTri

Huh?

Took the dinghy ride and they stand out as brighter than incandescent lights from nearby boats.

I didn't intend to indicate the Bebi's weren't acceptable, sorry, but LEDs in general. And just because they are brighter than the neighbors dim incandescent, or hurt your eyes when you look at them close-up is not enough.

To many pathetic anchor lights out there....

[Christian Van H]

Originally Posted by Albro359

When I get near a scanner I can post the circuit if you want...

We want! Take a digital picture...it's easier and will show up just fine!

[senormechanico]

The first time I saw one of those Owl lights, I made my own.
I used 16 white LED's in a series/parallel configuration from a $5 Christmas light string, (with a bunch left over) 2 transistors in Darlington, a photocell, and one resistor.
I mounted an old dual contact lightbulb base on it so I could install/remove it from a socket on the underside of the boom right above the pedestal. When off, the current is basically zero, and when on, it's only 17 ma. It covers 360 x 30 degrees, and is bright.

Oh, and a couple of sticks of hot glue to pot the whole thing.

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by senormechanico

a $5 Christmas light string, .

Oh we use Christmas lights too! Solar powered we have them strung up a topping lift, flag halyard or up around the cockpit. They look great, fun and makes the boat more visable at night!!! Plus Santa can find us any night of the year!! Even YOU can drop off pressies to us anytime

There are also Dragon Fly solar lights Nic wants.



No boats gunna hit you with these lil flappers!!!!!!!

[Albro359]

The PROBLEM is that if your anchor light does not meet International Colregs stipulations and someone runs into you in the dark ... you are in the firing line.
You can be sure that would be the first thing the prosecuting lawyers would check.
IFYOU were legal, then it would be the other guy's fault.

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by Albro359

IFYOU were legal, then it would be the other guy's fault.

Only in the USA. It wouldn't wash in a real court. Next you'll be saying that boats can go plow into anyone without a mooring ball strung up and then get their boat renewed.

[s/v 'Faith']

Originally Posted by daddle

Those Bebi OWL lights are cheezy in the extreme. But I have a few, they seem well made, and actually work well.

As with most LED lights they are more intense than they are bright, so one can get easily fooled that they are highly visible from a distance. Like the poster implied above, take a dinghy ride a mile away and see if you like the appearance.

You imply that you have done so, and you clearly have not.

I can say that with certainty, as I HAVE done that... and can tell you that my anchor light was clearly more visible then others in the anchorage....

Please do not inject theory (stated as fact) in the midst of a practical discussion.... it does not serve anyone well.

[Albro359]

MarkJ,

I think you will find in Maritime proceedings anywhere in the world the Colregs are the basis of resolving collision incidents and especially where insurance companies ar involved.

Personally I give anything with a light on it a wide berth at night...given that people don't follow the regs it is very difficult to know how big the vessel is and where it begins and ends.....maybe your christmas tree approach with dazzling displays on each corner might be the answer !
Until that is mandated in the Colregs, I'll be doing what they say...and yes I do hoist a blackball in daylight at anchor

[daddle]

Originally Posted by s/v 'Faith'

You imply that you have done so, and you clearly have not.

Nothing negative in my remark. Try rereading.

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by Albro359

MarkJ,

I think you will find in Maritime proceedings anywhere in the world the Colregs are the basis of resolving collision incidents and especially where insurance companies ar involved.

Yes, but if my white all round lights can be clearly seen at 1 mile instead of 2 it would just be contributory negligence. I might lose out by 5%. Same as daytime, a boat just can't go hit a stationary object, ball or no ball.

Colregs is colregs but lawyers is lawyers. I may be a 'bush lawyer' but theres some of the real deal on here (sniveling, conniving, lower than politicians, used car dealers etc etc) who would have a field day in court saying that 1 mile in a recognised anchorage is far enough space to avoid colliding with a stationary boat.

Goodness! I just found a photo of one of the CF lawyers! -->




Mark

[weedeater64]

I seem to remember reading somewhere that oil burning anchor lights are no longer allowed.

Is that right? Did they pass a law requiring electric lights?

[Albro359]

MarkJ

I've had enough of this BS discussion..the regs are the regs...if you don't like em, then get on the authority that makes these decisions and change it...o'wise, if you comply, you're OK, if you don't comply, you're not OK...simple

I'm sure even you can understand that !