Ill have to start sourcing a few mast bits and pieces shortly looking for recommendations for a good quality mast nav and anchor light
in Led

FWIW I replaced my steaming light last year with an LED and before I installed it I completely dismantled it and painted the whole circuit board with liquid electrical tape. Easy peace of mind.

I would not recommend a Tri colour on a 28 footer HO2, just fit a good LED anchor light and a combined steam and deck light. I often use my steam and anchor light in heavy shipping on dark nights, The steaming light highlights the Headsail for added peace of mind.

I seen some twit while waiting to enter Wide bay Bar with both deck and TRi colour lights on I spent a good hour wasting time trying to work out what two angled red lights where! It wasn't till sun rise I made out it was a small yacht waiting in the line up.

K.I.S.S

I've fitted deck level nav lights already . My way of thinking if some stop working I have a quick option. That's my reasoning for mast naV and anchor.
I seem to remember Bubbles had a nice one which would change to anchor from Nav or something like that .Ill harass him see what hes got say also

Many thanks for the imput guys taken on board
Hella have some real nice LED flood /work lights Frant . I've fitted them on a few council graders , awesome light and low power

I have only two cabin lights to change to LED as whitworths sent the wrong Led globes to suit the cabin lights I only fit LED if at all possible

Ill check out Hellas catalogue at work this week

Running all that power 30foot up a mast my bet which will fail first before your cabin Nav lights. You can purchase clamp on battery nav lights for spares if some how your cabin lights fail! K.I.S.S

We have unfortunately come across the same boat a few times who has a blue strobe light on at night. Really ruins a calm anchorage.

I could understand if it was a dangerous or busy but otherwise its just light pollution.

I used these Hella LEDs for steaming and anchor lights, not cheap but will never have to replace again;

No it's not legally required for a 28 foot yacht to have Tri colour lights. Maybe in your state? Never heard of this ....

Well, l am watching a cd from RMS (NSW) which lists all the lights for different vessels and has a brilliant recognition test as well.
It is clear as clear can be that any sailing vessel under 12 metres required to have a mast head tri-color light.

I bought the boat in Qld. though.

COLREGS Rule 25

(a) A sailing vessel underway shall exhibit:
(i) sidelights;
(i) a sternlight.

(b) In a sailing vessel of less than 20 m in length the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) of this Rule may be combined in one lantern at or near the top of the mast where it can best be seen.

(c) A sailing vessel underway may, in addition to the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) of this Rule, exhibit at or near the top of the mast, where they can best be seen, two all-round lights in a vertical line, the upper being red and the lower green, but these lights shall not be exhibited in conjunction with the combined lantern permitted by paragraph (b) of this Rule.

(d)(i) A sailing vessel of less than 7 m in length shall, if practicable, exhibit the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Rule, but if she does not, she shall have ready at hand an electric torch or lighted lantern showing a white light which shall be exhibited in sufficient time to prevent collision.
(ii) A vessel under oars may exhibit the lights prescribed in this Rule for sailing vessels, but if she does not, she shall have ready at hand an electric torch or lighted lantern showing a white light which shall be exhibited in sufficient time to prevent a collision.

(e) A vessel proceeding under sail when also being propelled by machinery shall exhibit forward where it can best be seen a conical shape, apex downwards.

It's just a optional extra.

I reconsidered and deleted my words.
I was wrong.
Checked the facts and both, mast head and side lights are legal and can be used concurrently, though mast head tri-colors only are also acceptable. I should have checked the facts before writing. Sorry.

FreeRadical said...
COLREGS Rule 25

(a) A sailing vessel underway shall exhibit:
(i) sidelights;
(i) a sternlight.

(b) In a sailing vessel of less than 20 m in length the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) of this Rule may be combined in one lantern at or near the top of the mast where it can best be seen.

(c) A sailing vessel underway may, in addition to the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) of this Rule, exhibit at or near the top of the mast, where they can best be seen, two all-round lights in a vertical line, the upper being red and the lower green, but these lights shall not be exhibited in conjunction with the combined lantern permitted by paragraph (b) of this Rule.

(d)(i) A sailing vessel of less than 7 m in length shall, if practicable, exhibit the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Rule, but if she does not, she shall have ready at hand an electric torch or lighted lantern showing a white light which shall be exhibited in sufficient time to prevent collision.
(ii) A vessel under oars may exhibit the lights prescribed in this Rule for sailing vessels, but if she does not, she shall have ready at hand an electric torch or lighted lantern showing a white light which shall be exhibited in sufficient time to prevent a collision.

(e) A vessel proceeding under sail when also being propelled by machinery shall exhibit forward where it can best be seen a conical shape, apex downwards.

And just for completeness:

Rule 22:
Visibility of lights
The lights prescribed in these Rules shall have an intensity as specified in Section 8 of Annex1 to these Regulations so as to be visible at the following minimum ranges.

B) In vessels of 12 metres or more in length but less than than 50 metres in length:
a masthead light, 5 miles; except where the length of the vessel is less than 20 metres, 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 the 12m in length:
a masthead light, 2 miles;
a sidelight, 1 miles;
a sternlight, 2 miles;
a towing light, 2 miles;
a white, red, green or yellow all-round light, 2 miles.

FreeRadical said..
COLREGS Rule 25

(a) A sailing vessel underway shall exhibit:
(i) sidelights;
(i) a sternlight.

(b) In a sailing vessel of less than 20 m in length the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) of this Rule may be combined in one lantern at or near the top of the mast where it can best be seen.

(c) A sailing vessel underway may, in addition to the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) of this Rule, exhibit at or near the top of the mast, where they can best be seen, two all-round lights in a vertical line, the upper being red and the lower green, but these lights shall not be exhibited in conjunction with the combined lantern permitted by paragraph (b) of this Rule.

(d)(i) A sailing vessel of less than 7 m in length shall, if practicable, exhibit the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Rule, but if she does not, she shall have ready at hand an electric torch or lighted lantern showing a white light which shall be exhibited in sufficient time to prevent collision.
(ii) A vessel under oars may exhibit the lights prescribed in this Rule for sailing vessels, but if she does not, she shall have ready at hand an electric torch or lighted lantern showing a white light which shall be exhibited in sufficient time to prevent a collision.

(e) A vessel proceeding under sail when also being propelled by machinery shall exhibit forward where it can best be seen a conical shape, apex downwards.

+1
BTW who displays ,and where, a black upside down cone when motoring with sail up in daylight and a black ball when anchored.

FreeRadical said..

HG02 said..

FreeRadical said..

HG02 said..
I've fitted deck level nav lights already . My way of thinking if some stop working I have a quick option. That's my reasoning for mast naV and anchor.
I seem to remember Bubbles had a nice one which would change to anchor from Nav or something like that .Ill harass him see what hes got say also

Many thanks for the imput guys taken on board
Hella have some real nice LED flood /work lights Frant . I've fitted them on a few council graders , awesome light and low power

I have only two cabin lights to change to LED as whitworths sent the wrong Led globes to suit the cabin lights I only fit LED if at all possible

Ill check out Hellas catalogue at work this week

That would only work if under sail. If motoring, masthead (steaming) must be above the sidelights.

Flashing anchor light? Could be mistaken for navigation markers and thus potentially illegal? Perhaps ok for distress?

I've done quite a few night race starts and tricolours are a pain, hard to spot not being in your general field of vision. Once offshore though, they are great.

I just carry little portable battery LED nav lights as a backup. These are required for Cat 4 or night races; and having independent power source is just plain logical.

I wont be flashing anything the deck nav lights ( port & starboard and a stern light) would be on a different circuit than the masts Ive basically fitted them while Ive no mast But Ill leave them there for a emergency.

Another question


One other thing that comes to mind originally the Radio aerial was fitted to the main mast which I think Ill return there . plus I was thinking of adding another aerial base and lead so if the mast came down and keep the aerial in storage inside the boat I could just switch leads out of the radio and at least have a VHF radio that works .

Just remember that your deck Nav lights are not just for an emergency, but are required to be used if under motor, you cannot use a mastead mounted tricolour when under power. You should consider emergency lights as those with an independent power supply apart from ships house/start.

Spare Antenna is a great idea, we carry a rail mount one as a spare with cable to reach the radio.

cat 4 safety requirements cover all this and is a good reference for kitting out for coastal offshore.

The deck lights were fitted for motoring also as I don't yet have my masts fitted

Bananabender said..

FreeRadical said..
COLREGS Rule 25

(a) A sailing vessel underway shall exhibit:
(i) sidelights;
(i) a sternlight.

(b) In a sailing vessel of less than 20 m in length the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) of this Rule may be combined in one lantern at or near the top of the mast where it can best be seen.

(c) A sailing vessel underway may, in addition to the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) of this Rule, exhibit at or near the top of the mast, where they can best be seen, two all-round lights in a vertical line, the upper being red and the lower green, but these lights shall not be exhibited in conjunction with the combined lantern permitted by paragraph (b) of this Rule.

(d)(i) A sailing vessel of less than 7 m in length shall, if practicable, exhibit the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Rule, but if she does not, she shall have ready at hand an electric torch or lighted lantern showing a white light which shall be exhibited in sufficient time to prevent collision.
(ii) A vessel under oars may exhibit the lights prescribed in this Rule for sailing vessels, but if she does not, she shall have ready at hand an electric torch or lighted lantern showing a white light which shall be exhibited in sufficient time to prevent a collision.

(e) A vessel proceeding under sail when also being propelled by machinery shall exhibit forward where it can best be seen a conical shape, apex downwards.

+1
BTW who displays ,and where, a black upside down cone when motoring with sail up in daylight and a black ball when anchored.

BTW who displays ,and where, a black upside down cone when motoring with sail up in daylight and a black ball when anchored.


Might get a bum tattoo with the cone on it may be or just drop my daks & give my self a wedgie with black jocks on