Is an all-in-one masthead light legal?

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by Adelie

To be legal in all conditions:
A. Masthead tricolor when sailing.
B. Masthead all around white when anchored.
C. Bow Bi-color or Red&Green sidelights PLUS masthead all around white (aka anchor light) when motoring.

As somebody that wants lights all around high & low I’m adding Amber LEDs, 2 each side and 2 on the stern corners. Amber is not a color used for any other purpose so it can’t be confused for lights of a different purpose.

note that (a) is optional its not required at all as bow lights , and stern light also cover A

[mvweebles]

I guess question becomes whether for a sailboat of less than 12m, it can run an all/around light at masthead as steaming light when sidelights are deck level. Having them split by 50-ish feet in height seems a bit unsafe. But what do the rules say?

[Adelie]

Originally Posted by rslifkin

Option C is only legal on boats under 12 meters / 39 feet. Over that, you MUST have separate steaming and stern lights not an all around.

Correct. OP has a boat about 10m long.

[Adelie]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

note that (a) is optional its not required at all as bow lights , and stern light also cover A

I gave the option with the fewest number of required fixtures which seemed to be what the OP was seeking.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by Adelie

I gave the option with the fewest number of required fixtures which seemed to be what the OP was seeking.

again A, B and C are not all needed together , so that is not the " fewest " required fixtures, in a boat that does motor as in the vast majority of yachts there is no need for side lights at the mast top

[Adelie]

Originally Posted by mvweebles

I guess question becomes whether for a sailboat of less than 12m, it can run an all/around light at masthead as steaming light when sidelights are deck level. Having them split by 50-ish feet in height seems a bit unsafe. But what do the rules say? Attachment 251673

The rules indicate very clearly that if machinery is being used to propel the boat it is considered a motor vessel and to be operated with lights appropriate for a vessel under power. This is true even if the sails are up and drawing.

The all around white is allowed to substitute for elevated “steaming” light and stern light for power vessels less than 12m. There is no COLREGS limitation on vertical separation.

[capt jgw]

Originally Posted by GreenWave

My understanding is the masthead light can only be used if sailing only. If under any auxilliary power then cannot use it. It is best for when offshore only under sail as it is more visible.

I know what you mean, but you've got the terminology wrong. The MASTHEAD LIGHT is the white light showing from ahead to 225.5 deg abaft the beam on each side. Also known as the STEAMING LIGHT. It is usually not at the masthead on a sailboat, but would be on a lot of powerboats. It's to be shown when the boat is under mechanical population, in other words the engine is running. It is NEVER to be shown when under sail alone. It's the TRICOLOR that is to be shown only when sailing. The tricolor is at the masthead, but it is NOT the masthead light. This is a very confusing term for sailors because we all learned it wrong at first. Even the switches for the lights are labeled wrong on most sailboats.

[Adelie]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

again A, B and C are not all needed together , so that is not the " fewest " required fixtures, in a boat that does motor as in the vast majority of yachts there is no need for side lights at the mast top

OP’s vessel is a sailboat. I assumed he would need to motor occasionally and so would need A, B or C at different times.
The arrangement I offered covers all 3 with 3 fixtures, 2 if tricolor and anchor light are a single fixture.

[rslifkin]

Originally Posted by Adelie

OP’s vessel is a sailboat. I assumed he would need to motor occasionally and so would need A, B or C at different times.
The arrangement I offered covers all 3 with 3 fixtures, 2 if tricolor and anchor light are a single fixture.

The tricolor isn't required for sailing, however. It's perfectly legal to sail with the deck level side and stern lights on, provided you turn off the steaming light.

[Adelie]

Originally Posted by rslifkin

The tricolor isn't required for sailing, however. It's perfectly legal to sail with the deck level side and stern lights on, provided you turn off the steaming light.

Tricolor is required when sailing if another option for navigation lights is not used. While sailing Options are:

1. Tricolor at masthead.
2. Bicolor at bow plus sternlight
3. Red & Green sidelights plus sternlight.
4. Bicolor at bow plus sternlight plus Red over Green all around lights (1m or 2m separation minimum (forget exact number))
5. Red & Green sidelights plus sternlight plus Red over Green all around lights (1m or 2m separation minimum (forget exact number))

Masthead (steaming) light may NOT be used with any of these.
Tricolor may NOT be used in conjunction with any of the other 4 options.

[Montanan]

One of those instances where a picture is worth a thousand words.

Different light signals are deployed for when under power than for when operating under sail.

The tricolor is legal for its intended use only.

When you are sailing use signal lights as a sailing veseel. When you are motoring use signal lights as a powered vessel.

It is either one or the other but never both the tricolor at the top of the mast and the deck level bicolors.

The masthead goes on and the tricolor goes off when motoring.

Yes I have seen many a sailor motoring along with both signals on which clearly is a mis wired system, the switches should not permit such simultaneous configurations.

Very simple, if one knows the Colregs and wires the vessel properly.

[Adelie]

Graphic shows some of the options but not all.

[capt jgw]

Originally Posted by mvweebles

I guess question becomes whether for a sailboat of less than 12m, it can run an all/around light at masthead as steaming light when sidelights are deck level. Having them split by 50-ish feet in height seems a bit unsafe. But what do the rules say? Attachment 251673

The masthead/steaming light only needs to be one meter higher than the side lights but there is no upper limit on how high it may be. I think they are so often half to three quarters the way up so the light would not blind you if you also had a jib raised. But since the steaming light may only be used when the engine is running, it's less likely you'd have a jib up anyway. When I see a boat approaching with side lights and a very high masthead light showing I know it's probably a sailboat under power. The only difference in that is I know it's top speed is slow so if it's supposed to keep clear I don't expect it to do so quickly.

[thinwater]

Originally Posted by Adelie

Correct. OP has a boat about 10m long.

Not about my boat. I'm good.


It's about boats I noticed at the last show with no side lights at deck level. Only a tricolor. Should have taken pictures and better notes.

[thinwater]

Originally Posted by Adelie

...

5. Red & Green sidelights plus sternlight plus Red over Green all around lights (1m or 2m separation minimum (forget exact number))

Curiously, even the COLREGS illustration of that is daft. The lower light is not visible all-around, because the sail will block it and because it is too close to the mast to meet the angle restrictions. There would have to be one on each side, and even then the genoa will block it part of the time.