Weird question - how many port / starboard lamps are allowed?

[Bligh-Tea]

Hi


My dad had an old fishing boat years ago and it had a pair of old fashioned port/starboard lamps on it. (made of brass)


I'd quite like to hang them on the exterior of the boat. (like off the spreaders)



Is there law about this? Positioning? Number of lights allowed? When they are allowed to be turned on or off? If oil lamp powered, are they for internal use only / are they considered a fire hazzard? Are they banned?


Mnay questions about this little idea!



Thanks.

[grantmc]

There are legal requirements defined in the laws of every country. They're usually called something like The Rules of the Road at Sea. Very precise definitions of the lights applicable for different lengths and types of vessel, colours, visibility distances and function.

This is such a fundamental aspect that it would be covered in the most basic boating course you attend. So I can't but wonder are you trolling?

[Bligh-Tea]

Originally Posted by grantmc

This is such a fundamental aspect that it would be covered in the most basic boating course you attend. So I can't but wonder are you trolling?

You assume I've done a "most basic boating course"

[Don C L]

There is nothing wrong with traditional oil running lights. My little boat came with a pair of them. I ended up selling them to someone with a nice old traditional wooden boat. When I bought my boat it had both, but I would not run with 2 pairs on at the same time. And while I guess it is possible to hang them from the spreaders, it is a poor choice as they could be covered by sails. They have to remain visible at all times. My old lamps had brackets they slid on to that were mounted on the side of the house. I would guess yours has the same fittings on the fishing boat that would need to be removed and used on your sailboat. They are just simple pieces of brass or bronze, but they will be tough to find these days in the consignment shops.

https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...ny-267924.html

[Bligh-Tea]

Originally Posted by Don C L

There is nothing wrong with traditional oil running lights. My little boat came with a pair of them. I ended up selling them to someone with a nice old traditional wooden boat. When I bought my boat it had both, but I would not run with 2 pairs on at the same time. And while I guess it is possible to hang them from the spreaders, it is a poor choice as they could be covered by sails. They have to remain visible at all times. My old lamps had brackets they slid on to that were mounted on the side of the house. I would guess yours has the same fittings on the fishing boat that would need to be removed and used on your sailboat. They are just simple pieces of brass or bronze, but they will be tough to find these days in the consignment shops.

https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...ny-267924.html

Thanks - well, I didn't mean to use them as replacements of correctly placed modern ones - I meant as an additon, sort of just atmospheric lights at nighttime! Just wondered if that was legal etc.

[CSY Man]

Just wondered if that was legal etc.

Probably not legal, at certain angles it could be seen as red over red, or green over green, not good.

[Shrew]

I think this is outlined in ColRegs

https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/sites/de...s/navrules.pdf

) 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.

It states "A" which is singular and refers to light, not lights. I would interpret this as only one of each.

[Don C L]

Yeah, best to save the atmospheric lights for when you are anchored. And then not colored ones.

[Bligh-Tea]

Got it - thanks.

[ggray]

While talking about legal lights, the regulations are quite specific about not just the visible angle of each lamp, which the manufacturer has surely provided with his lamp, but also how precisely the lamp is affixed to the vessel. Not much leeway from positioned exactly.

For a short while we owned a 20' Scout. I was shocked to see that it had lamps meant to the installed on a surface parallel to the centerline, but they were mounted flat to the gunwale such that you could see both red and green for about 30 degrees either side of head on. After several conversations with Scout, they finally sent me some wedges to correct this.

[deblen]

https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/...2.html#docCont

[El Pinguino]

I'd keep them ashore as ornaments.
Apart from not being able to have them illuminated when afloat the novelty of trimming the wick would soon become old, speaking of which there would also be the issue of finding wicks to suit and also finding a pair of lamp trimmer's scissors.

[deblen]

Originally Posted by El Pinguino

I'd keep them ashore as ornaments.
Apart from not being able to have them illuminated when afloat the novelty of trimming the wick would soon become old, speaking of which there would also be the issue of finding wicks to suit and also finding a pair of lamp trimmer's scissors.

I've seen them used as driveway markers or on either side of a building door.

[SpiritofGlenans]

Originally Posted by grantmc

There are legal requirements defined in the laws of every country. They're usually called something like The Rules of the Road at Sea. Very precise definitions of the lights applicable for different lengths and types of vessel, colours, visibility distances and function.

This is such a fundamental aspect that it would be covered in the most basic boating course you attend. So I can't but wonder are you trolling?

They are called the Regulations for the Avoidance of Collisions at Sea, the Colregs for short. I am appalled that it wasn't until the seventh post that these regulations were mentioned.
It is the duty any person in command of a vessel operating in any area where it might interact with another vessel to know these Colregs, for their own safety and the safety of others. Putting to sea in a boat is not a game or pastime to be engaged in casually or thoughtlessly,it is a matter, literally of life and death.
....and no, you may not display duplicate nav lights!

[Scott Berg]

Originally Posted by SpiritofGlenans

They are called the Regulations for the Avoidance of Collisions at Sea, the Colregs for short. I am appalled that it wasn't until the seventh post that these regulations were mentioned.
It is the duty any person in command of a vessel operating in any area where it might interact with another vessel to know these Colregs, for their own safety and the safety of others. Putting to sea in a boat is not a game or pastime to be engaged in casually or thoughtlessly,it is a matter, literally of life and death.
....and no, you may not display duplicate nav lights!

Finally! And yes, you can (and on larger vessels MUST) install duplicate lamps, but NOT SHOW THEM at the same time. This means you can continue on a passage and relamp when safe.