I added a steaming light, 2/3 the way up the mast. On my first Monty 17 one evening sailing into the harbor down in Galveston, Tx. I was ghosting along looking over the port rail at a beautiful full moon about 20 degrees above the horizon when suddenly a double masted schooner with all sails set (scooned) between me and the moon such that I could see the moonlight highlight all the seams in the sails as well as the soft brown tones in the sail cloth. It happened so quickly and quietly save the swish of their hull through the water that I just sat there "with my mouth open". Sounds like you have had some great and unique experiences in your sailing career. Ain't this the sport!? Fair winds and moonlight cruises, Tom B <https://www.avast.com/sig-email> This email has been sent from a virus-free computer protected by Avast. www.avast.com <https://www.avast.com/sig-email> <#DDB4FAA8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2> On Sat, Feb 6, 2016 at 3:44 PM, John Schinnerer <john@eco-living.net> wrote:
Yeah, I have the normal deck nav lights - split green/red bow, white stern. So I am covered when under sail at night.
But if I want to motor at night I also need either a forward facing 225 deg. white light ("steaming" light) plus stern light, or, an all-around white light. For anchoring, also an all-around white light.
So I'm thinking the all-around white covers both anchor and steaming. But yeah, I'd rather not add fragile stuff to the top of the mast on a trailer sailor. And wiring in the mast.
But neither anchor nor steaming light needs to be on top of mast. Just needs to be visible 360 degrees, and there's something about the steaming light is supposed to be a meter or more above the green/red lights. So a clamp-on LED 360 deg. light would probably cover it.
Agree about the night sailing...it is an awesome experience. Most I've done of it was in Hilo bay on a Corsair 31 tri. Nothing like whooshing along at low-heel multihull speeds in the tropical moonlight! Many many years ago, got to do a night passage in the archipelago around Stockholm, Sweden. In a pre-WWII classic wooden "archipelago cruiser" sailboat, no less. It's quite the navigation experience, sailing those channels in the dark, setting course via multiple lights' visible angles, colors, and frequencies.
cheers, John S.
On 02/05/2016 07:40 PM, Thomas Buzzi wrote:
John, I had considered the all around white light combined with the 135 stern light plus the red and green but it added almost a foot to the top of the mast plus I already had the wiring roughed in for the deck nav. lights from the factory so I went that way. You are correct and I am glad the stern light is only 135degrees. Less chance of light bleed into the cockpit at night.I plan to do night sailing as I have done with all my boats. Nothing like being out there for a full moon and watch it rise above the waves. Not to mention the phosphorescence you can stir up with your wake. Really beautiful time to go out. No hot sun either. fair winds, Tom B <https://www.avast.com/sig-email> This email has been sent from a virus-free computer protected by Avast. www.avast.com <https://www.avast.com/sig-email> <#DDB4FAA8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2>
On Fri, Feb 5, 2016 at 7:12 PM, John Schinnerer <john@eco-living.net> wrote:
The dome-top perko stern lights look at a glance like they are 180
degrees, but I'm pretty sure they are 135, the specified visible angle for a stern light per USCG rules. Mine is something less than 180 anyhow. I can tell just by looking at the arc vs. the whole circle, plus if I sight across the edges of the vertical opening, the bulb is nearly or completely hidden. If it were 180 I would see half the bulb.
Given the mounting location (on slope of coaming at rear of cockpit) and 135 degree visible angle, the cockpit (certainly the forward 3/4 of it) would be shielded from the bulb due to location and angle, I think...I'll check when I get a battery in her.
Kevin's configuration is nifty and legal...but more wiring in the mast. I'm wanting to avoid having to bother wiring inside the mast and through the deck. But if I'm ever going to motor at night "legally," I will need to - for all-around white, or, 225 degree "steaming" light. Or, have an all-around white light mounted down low where it will mess with night vision.
The all-around white would do for both under power and anchor light, so I'm leaning towards that..
cheers, John S.
On 02/05/2016 01:51 PM, Thomas Buzzi wrote:
Good idea. I am concerned about using that 180 point stern light and
preserving night vision. The newer montys have the stern light flush mounted on the transom so no light finds its way across the cockpit. <https://www.avast.com/sig-email> This email has been sent from a virus-free computer protected by Avast. www.avast.com <https://www.avast.com/sig-email> <#DDB4FAA8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2>
On Fri, Feb 5, 2016 at 2:45 PM, Keith R. Martin < keith.richard.martin@gmail.com> wrote:
Interesting discussion on stern lights.....
In my case I chose to have a mast mounted tri-colour and an all round white, as well as side mounted nav lights on each side of the Bow.
So when sailing just the typical tri-colour up top, but when under power my lights are configured with the all white up top and the side mounted nav lights lit up, allowing me to avoid placement of an actual stern light at cockpit level.
Is anyone else using this configuration??
*Keith R. Martin, P.Eng.*
*Burnaby, B.C. CanadaSerenity,** M17 Hull #353*
On 4 February 2016 at 19:41, John Schinnerer <john@eco-living.net> wrote:
On 02/04/2016 09:09 AM, Thomas Buzzi wrote:
... Also very handy for dealing with the aft running lite or when
> adding wiring for an auto helm. > > > Speaking of stern light - my M17 has the standard Perko dome style light installed on the downward slope of the port side coaming where it drops down to the transom. But it was just mounted flat on the slope, meaning it's tilted quite steeply. The solid part of the dome blocks a lot of the light astern (problematic, for a stern light!).
Some of the pictures shared recently about other things (like rudders) included a view of same light in same place, but with a nice wood wedge under the light so it sits level with respect to the horizon.
For those who have something like that for their stern light - was it something you bought, or did you make it or have it made, one-off?
I want to level my light in same way so wondering if there's something ready-made or I'll need to make it.
thanks, John S.
-- John Schinnerer - M.A., Whole Systems Design -------------------------------------------- - Eco-Living - Whole Systems Design Services People - Place - Learning - Integration john@eco-living.net - 510.982.1334 http://eco-living.net http://sociocracyconsulting.com
--
John Schinnerer - M.A., Whole Systems Design
- Eco-Living - Whole Systems Design Services People - Place - Learning - Integration john@eco-living.net - 510.982.1334 http://eco-living.net http://sociocracyconsulting.com
-- John Schinnerer - M.A., Whole Systems Design
- Eco-Living - Whole Systems Design Services People - Place - Learning - Integration john@eco-living.net - 510.982.1334 http://eco-living.net http://sociocracyconsulting.com