Re: M_Boats: M15 Masthead lights
Just a small addition to the good information John presented,. Any sailing vessel, regardless of size, in addition to the side and stern lights can carry a red over green all-around lights high on the mast. The rules also allow for any sailing vessel that is less than 7 meters may show only a white light in sufficent time to prevent collision...but I don't really recommend it! I have a tri color masthead Aqua Signal light wihich also has an all around light which I use as an anchor light. I also have the original deck mounted red/green lights, and have added a white light part way up the mast for when motoring. I am going to change the deck lights to a bow mounted re/green light, mainly because when I drop the sail, (i use a downhaul from the cockpit) the sail usually hids the lights. I also upgraded the stern light to an Aqua Signal just for increased visibility. All the lights are the Aqua Signal series 25 navigation lights. John Edwards Miss T M17 # 372
As Eugene pointed out, I got it wrong, it's Aqua Signal, not Aqua Color. I can't imagine what I was thinking. Something Freudian, I guess. :-) Saltm17@aol.com wrote:
I have a tri color masthead Aqua Signal light wihich also has an all around light which I use as an anchor light.
I thought about using that Aqua Signal light, until I saw the price: $150. EEK! Good concept, very bad price. A red/green bicolor on the bow pulpit was much more reasonable, about $30 or less.
I also have the original deck mounted red/green lights, and have added a white light part way up the mast for when motoring. I am going to change the deck lights to a bow mounted re/green light, mainly because when I drop the sail, (i use a downhaul from the cockpit) the sail usually hids the lights. I also upgraded the stern light to an Aqua Signal just for increased visibility. All the lights are the Aqua Signal series 25 navigation lights.
Yep, that's the kind I have. My stern light is mounted on the external starboard transom, just below the hull/deck joint. Although I now believe, a Perko stern light, with its little chrome hemispherical shell, mounted on top of the starboard transom corner in that little flat spot, is probably the best stern light. Why? Because as much as possible, its above the engine and rudder and so can't be blocked by them. I considered various stern lights on a post, perhaps even detachable, but with big clumsy me bumbling around the cockpit, I'd be sure to break it off. Couldn't come up with a good design, anyway. Now if you have a stern pulpit, then you've got just the right thing for a proper stern light. Regards, John Fleming M-17: "Star Cross'd"
We've hung a rail mount Aqual Signal bi-color on the pulpit rail - drilled into the rail under the bracket and through the hull under the deck plate for the wire which fed nicely through the rail. That keeps the lights high for better visibility and out of the way of the jib when we drop it. We use a fold down stern light mounted on the left side just out of reach of the tiller. It gets in the way (even when down) when climbing into the boat from deep water (with our stern mounted step) but the benefits (added height above the water and not masked by the rudder or outboard motor) outweigh that disadvantage. We've never used a steaming light but I intend to mount a white light on the front of the mast this winter (if it ever gets cold enough to stop sailing here). We've always kept a bright white flashlight handy to light the sail when we augment them with the outboard. The few times we have had to use an anchor light, we hauled a small 360 degree white light up the starboard stay using the main halyard with a drop cord (which doubled as the down haul) plugged into a 12v receptacle. Each draws less than 1 amp. Stan Winarski Carol II - #177
participants (3)
-
John Fleming -
Saltm17＠aol.com -
Stan Winarski