IMHO, the M15 is such a small and simple boat that rigging running lights on it adds a layer of complexity that is not called for in most situations...especially when the boat is primarily day sailed as mine is. Still, the wind is fickle and there's always a chance I'll be caught out after dark, so to be prepared I keep a really powerful 12 volt lantern on board to shine on the sail in lieu of running lights. For motoring, I have battery powered clamp-on bow and stern lights. And for an all-around anchor light, I have a 12 volt utility light with a long cord that can be hoisted on a halyard. Extra bulbs and batteries are kept aboard for added insurance. I don't have to rig this stuff until it is needed and I don't have problems with shorts, wire corrosion, another hole through the deck or bulb failure somewhere up the mast, which Murphy says is going to happen at the worst possible time. --George Burmeyer M15 #385 (1986) On 12/11/04 7:06 AM, "Rik Sandberg" <sanderico@earthlink.net> wrote:
My M-15 has red and green lights mounted on the hull in front and a white light (shines back only) mounted on the transom. If I were going to do it according to the book, I think I would also need a steaming light for motoring. This would be an all-round white light that is mounted higher than the red and green (bow) and rear facing white lights that are needed for use under sail power. The problem with a mast head light is it isn't really a legal light for use under motor power, since you cannot mount an all-round white light, with enough separation, higher than the mast head light. Keep in mind, it's possible I am not interpreting this right.
Fortunately on boats as small as M 15s and 17s, the rules are pretty loose.
Given my choice, I would mount my nav lights on the hull or pulpits. There, the connections can be kept out of sun and rain and you don't have to worry about connecting/disconnecting the lights every time you put the mast up or down. You can always keep a good flashlight handy to shine on your sails if you think some one is not seeing you as well as you would like. That light coming on suddenly will catch their eye better than almost anything.
Rik
Howard Audsley wrote:
It seems to me that the combination masthead tri-color/all-around light does the same thing as the original light setup on the M17's. Those are a bow mounted red/green; stern mounted white light, and masthead all-around/anchor light. These operate off two switches. It just puts them all in one place at the top of the mast.....and eliminates wiring runs to the bow and stern...and one bulb.
Another benefit of the masthead tri-color that might exist for night sailing is having the light up high...out of your line of vision. Lights shining on the sails may affect night vision, and the sails may block them from being seen at some angles.
I also agree with John. The guys buzzing around in power boats and fishing boats on our lake would not know what they were looking at with red and green lights up that high. Some might mistake it as a UFO and take a shot at it.
Howard
On 12/11/04 7:29 AM, "Rick Langer" <farreach@optonline.net> wrote:
Hi Connie,
I like the idea of simplicity, but I'm still stuck on what the white light does. Is it just a stern light or is it an all around white light? If it's just a stern light, what do you do when motoring and if it's an all around, what do you do when sailing, not motoring?
If you were going to put nav lights on your M15, what would you choose? Do you think the masthead light and wires add much weight to the mast?
Thanks, Rick
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