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Wayfoot
United Kingdom
109 Posts |
 Posted - 02 Jan 2012 : 09:26:30
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Hi Guys
Can anyone guide me on the types/legalities of masthead lights. I am renovating my 20 and i have just made a new masthead post. I want to purchase and fit the correct light and also install the wiring to it.
Is there a particular light style that must be used...plus i understand the light must be a certain height above other navigation lights.
Thanks ! |
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df
United Kingdom
5994 Posts |
Posted - 02 Jan 2012 : 10:28:28
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For inland only don't worry too much about it, I believe you only need an all round white light on the masthead for a 20' boat but if you like having the red/greens on the side (or already have the holes in the grp and don't want to fill them)you'd have an all round white on the top of the mast (anchor light) red on port showing from forward to 113 degrees (not visable from behind) green on starboard showing same angle, white stern light and white steaming light facing forward just below the masthead light (steaming light should be sheilded so you don't just light the cabin roof and mess up your vision ahead).
Tri-colour masthead lights are for sailing vessels only and I think they are mean't to be used while motoring.
Sewertubes tend to just have a tunnel light at the front which is technically illegal but no-one realy cares.
As I said on most rivers and canals most people don't know or care.
NBAS--The communal colostomy bag of the boating community.
Visit leomagill.co.uk |
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cliveshep
Thailand
1324 Posts |
Posted - 02 Jan 2012 : 21:00:36
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Dave is spot on and all I would add is that for the all-round anchor light do make sure the masthead is ABOVE the canopy or if you actually do anchor off or at the side of a navigable channel it and you will not be seen at night from astern. The other thing is to get a LED masthead light if you can because the battery drain is far lower - a consideration on a small boat that may well only have one battery and only an outboard to charge it.
The cost of boating is insignificant compared to costs of a young wife and two teenage kids! |
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Peter Walker
United Kingdom
58 Posts |
Posted - 02 Jan 2012 : 21:52:10
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I would agree with every thing that has already been written here. But for the record you might like to know that the International Regulations for the avoidance of Collisions at Sea (The "Colregs") are as follows.
Motor vessels under way are required to have a forward masthead light, a second masthead light abaft and higher than the first, port and starboard lights, and a stern light.
However, vessels under 50m long (all of us I think!) are not required to have 2 masthead lights (though they may if they choose)
Further concessions are then offered to smaller boats
Vessels under 12m long may combine the masthead and stern lights in one all round white light (like an anchor light) displayed with the red/green port/starboard lights.
Finally, vessels under 7m (your boat is less than 7m) may just show the all round white light if your speed is less than 7 knots (8 mph) though the regulations encourage side lights "if practicable"
Sailing vessels do not show the white masthead light, only the sidelights and the stern light. If you see tricolour lights on offer at chandleries that is what they are for, small sailing vessels are allowed to carry all their three lights in this one combined unit, motor vessels are not allowed to use this.
You mention also the height for the lights. Colregs say that if you have sidelights then the masthead light on small vessels should be at least 1m above the sidelights.
If anyone is bored they can read the complete Colregs at
http://www.collisionregs.com/MSN1781.pdf
The short answer to your question however, is that if you don't intend to enter tidal waters you could probably manage with just a torch, although I think I would prefer to have a white masthead and red/green sidelights if I was going to do a lot of night cruising, that is in addition to a tunnel light or search light if there were tunnels about.
Hope this helps
Happy New Year
Norman 22 on the river Avon, Warwickshire |
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Wayfoot
United Kingdom
109 Posts |
Posted - 11 Jan 2012 : 12:42:45
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Thanks for all this advise, very useful.
I will just buy a standard white light as i do have the side nav lights already fitted.
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Masthead light
