Visibility While at Anchor

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by Snowpetrel

Careful there Dockhead, if you use a Mast Top anchor light and a foretriangle light you are inadvertently displaying the lights incorrectly under collregs, as with anchor lights the fwd light should be higher than the after most light.

I'd be more inclined to mount another all-round white light down aft, say on the dodger or targa bar, that way you comply with collregs, and can still add decklights for extra visibility. And you have a backup legal light in case of a blown globe up the mast.

That's a good idea. I had forgotten that larger vessels display two anchor lights. The second one is supposed to be "at or near the stern" and lower. So I guess low down on the backstay would be the place for it, not the foretriangle.

[rwidman]

Originally Posted by four winds

rwidman,yes. The thread has allowed me to reprioritise the need to acquire additional lighting for mounting at a lower level.

In fact a large M/V passed close ahead last night in high winds being pushed to leeward toward me. My thought was he should have turned away sooner and considered more the leeway.

Maybe he didn't see my dark hulled boat soon enough up in his full enclosed fly bridge on a dark, rainy, and windy night.

Less than an hour later I read this thread and it offers good food for thought. Maybe I should have helped the captain more to see me.

Well it was worth it then, but consider that that the M/V might have been on auto pilot and no amount of lighting would have made a difference. I try to anchor as far out of the channel as possible.

What I don't understand is the high percentage of boats with no anchor lights at all and why there seems to be no enforcement of the requirement for an anchor light.

[rwidman]

Originally Posted by StuM

Fine if you are anchoring a power-driven vessel of less than 12 metres which has those sort of lights. I'd hazard a guess that it doesn't apply to many cruisers on this forum.

Isn't a sailboat a power driven vessel when not under sail (if equipped with an engine)?

Snowpetre got it right, it's all open to interpretation.

[jackdale]

Originally Posted by rwidman

Isn't a sailboat a power driven vessel when not under sail (if equipped with an engine)?

Snowpetre got it right, it's all open to interpretation.

It is not open to interpretation.

(b)The term "power-driven vessel" means any vessel propelled by machinery.

(c) The term "sailing vessel" means any vessel under sail provided that propelling machinery if fitted, is not being used.

A sailboat is a "power-driven vessel" if the engine is on and the transmission is engaged.

If charging batteries or using an engine compressor for the fridge/freezer with the engine in neutral, a sailboat is a "sailing vessel."

In my past of the world, sailboats will often motor with the mail yp and the foresails(s) furled. They are then "power driven".

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by rwidman

Isn't a sailboat a power driven vessel when not under sail (if equipped with an engine)?

Snowpetre got it right, it's all open to interpretation.

The key phrase is "which has those sort of lights". He doesn't mean that you have different requirements concerning anchor lights; he means you could use that trick of showing a steaming light without sidelights, if you're so equipped.

[FSMike]

Two photo cell activated led anchor lights, hard wired together and permanently installed under the spreaders.
One on the port side of the mast, and the other on the starboard.

You don't have to worry about turning them on/off.
You don't have to worry about being confused with a star or a condo.
You have 360* visibility.
They even make your boat easy to find in a crowed anchorage.

Works for me.

[Nicholson58]

Originally Posted by boatman61

This is when spreader lights come into their own...

I agree on the deck lighting. We have 6 of these. 900 lumen-10 watt on the main and mizzen spreaders. You will be seen with these on. One will do.

https://store.marinebeam.com/solo-le...-10w-led-lamp/

[StuM]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

The key phrase is "which has those sort of lights". He doesn't mean that you have different requirements concerning anchor lights; he means you could use that trick of showing a steaming light without sidelights, if you're so equipped.

Thank you, that was indeed the key point.

I've never seen a cruising vessel with (a) tall mast(s) and sails have those sort of lights. And that's what we are talking about when discussing mast top versus lower level anchor lights.

[StuM]

Originally Posted by FSMike

Two photo cell activated led anchor lights, hard wired together and permanently installed under the spreaders.
One on the port side of the mast, and the other on the starboard.

You don't have to worry about turning them on/off.
You don't have to worry about being confused with a star or a condo.
You have 360* visibility.
They even make your boat easy to find in a crowed anchorage.

Works for me.

Yep, an elegant solution!