Adding second set of side navigation lights

[Montanan]

Originally Posted by MLC

I have a Beneteau Oceanis 321 made in 1998. It has a red and green bow light attached to the pulpit and a white light on the transom. It also has a white steaming light on the mast. I have thought of installing a tri-color backup at the top of the mast but have decided the cost is not worth it where I sail on the Great Lakes and the limited amount of night sailing I do. I did buy a set of clamp-on battery powered red/green bow and a white stern lights from West Marine as emergency back ups. They do not meet the Colregs for brightness but I figure they are better than nothing.

A Beneteau Oceanis 321 has a LWL: 29.36 ft (8.95 m)

—INTERNATIONAL—
Lights and Shapes
RULE 22
Visibility of Lights
The lights prescribed in these Rules shall have an intensity as specified in
Section 8 of Annex I to these Regulations so as to be visible at the following
minimum ranges:
(a) In vessels of 50 meters or more in length:
− a masthead light, 6 miles;
− a sidelight, 3 miles;
− a sternlight, 3 miles;
− a towing light, 3 miles;
− a white, red, green or yellow all-round light, 3 miles.
(b) In vessels of 12 meters or more in length but less than 50 meters in
length:
− a masthead light, 5 miles; except that where the length of the vessel is
less than 20 meters, 3 miles;
− a sidelight, 2 miles;
− a sternlight, 2 miles;
− a towing light, 2 miles;
− a white, red, green or yellow all-round light, 2 miles.
(c) In vessels of less than 12 meters in length:
− a masthead light, 2 miles;
− a sidelight, 1 mile;
− a sternlight, 2 miles;
− a towing light, 2 miles;
− a white, red, green or yellow all-round light, 2 miles.
(d) In inconspicuous, partly submerged vessels or objects being towed:
(a) a white all-round light, 3 miles.

Most all of the inexpensive, clamp on, or suction cup mountable, LED lighted, powered by 4 AA batteries, colored side lights are stated to have 2 mile visibility, which is fully twice the one mile requirement of a boat less than 12 meters in length, but also is dependent on the batteries being not worn down in their voltage. The packaging usually states for what size of vessel they are certified to fulfill the requirements of. The clear or white all around and stern lights are brighter than the colored sidelights, and have greater viewability.

When new and in good condition, hese cheap battery powered lights can out perform the visibility of factory installed navigation lights whose lens have become occluded by sun fading and dirt and yellowing of the clear lenses. If you have an old boat with original lights one should consider at least replacing the lens, but switching over to high quality LED lamped newer navigation lights to upgrade from yesteryears' technology is a good safety investment.

Always good to have them on board as back ups if the primary lights fail.