It is kind of funny how a “steaming light” can many people confused. The main point is that a sailboat is a sailboat and boat under power, depending on its current situation at the time (if the engine is running, it is a power boat, if it is not running, it is a sailboat (the actual term is “in use” (not “engine running”), but from what I read so far, if your engine is running and you are simply out of gear, you would be still considered “under power”)).
The lights configuration has to reflect what you are. A sailboat (let’s not dwell on the length at this point) needs the side lights (red and green) and the stern light (white). A power boat needs the same side lights and an all around white light. How you accomplish the above is up to you (or the boat manufacturer). The most common approach is to have an extra “steaming light” that closes the circle - your stern light plus the steaming light provide full 360 degrees white light. This way you have one switch to turn your sailing lights (side and stern) and another one to turn the steaming light, when you turn on the engine. Another option is to have a full circle white light (e.g. on top of the mast) and use your side and stern lights when sailing and the side lights and the full circle white light when under power. This requires to have a separate switch for your stern light (and of course one for the full circle light), because if you use full circle light, you have to switch your stern light off. You cannot repeat any prescribed light so, if you have tricolour on the top of the mast, you cannot use the side (bow) lights or vice versa. People who sail off shore tend to put a tricolour on the top of the mast for a number of reasons. One is that it is only one bulb (instead of three). Another is that, especially with some waves, the deck level lights are not visible from afar. My personal experience is that you cannot see them from more then two wavelength away. But you cannot use the tricolour AND the deck level lights at the same time. People who sail in-shore or in coastal water would say that a light at the masthead is of no use, because nobody looks that high up. Even an anchor light at the top of the mast might be too high on some anchorages. Interestingly, the same discussion is (was) happening at the Sailboat Owners Forum. Marek From: Burt Stratton via CnC-List Sent: Thursday, November 06, 2014 11:05 AM To: 'Dave Godwin' ; cnc-list@cnc-list.com Subject: Re: Stus-List Running Lights >Approved LED bulbs Sorry for the rookie question but what is the steaming light? For sailboats I am aware of the deck bi-color, masthead and stern lights, tri-color (which is mounted on the mast and used as an alternate to the deck mounted bi-color and stern lights, and the anchor light. Is “steaming light” another term for masthead light? From: CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com] On Behalf Of Dave Godwin via CnC-List Sent: Thursday, November 06, 2014 10:49 AM To: Andrew Burton; cnc-list@cnc-list.com Subject: Re: Stus-List Running Lights >Approved LED bulbs … and I could could buy a bigger (C&C!) boat if I had a dollar for every time I have seen the tri-color AND the ship’s running lights on at night. Here’s another one that I found “amusing”, sailboat under power, tri-color light on, and the steaming light lit. Now there’s an interesting lighting configuration. Cheers, Dave Godwin 1982 C&C 37 - Ronin Reedville - Chesapeake Bay Ronin’s Overdue Refit On Nov 3, 2014, at 2:49 PM, Andrew Burton via CnC-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> wrote: Bob, a tricolor is indeed a substitute for deck level running lights. But it may only be used while sailing. And it should never be used in addition to deck level lights. Andy C&C 40 Peregrine Andrew Burton 61 W Narragansett Newport, RI USA 02840 http://sites.google.com/site/andrewburtonyachtservices/ +401 965-5260 On Nov 3, 2014, at 13:38, Robert Boyer via CnC-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> wrote: Joe: it is my understanding that a masthead tricolor is not a substitute for deck-level running lights--it can and should be used in addition. Bob Bob Boyer S/V Rainy Days / Annapolis MD 1983 C&C Landfall 38 - Hull #230 email: dainyr...@icloud.com blog: dainyrays.blogspot.com "There is nothing--absolutely nothing--half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats." --Kenneth Grahame _______________________________________________ This List is provided by the C&C Photo Album Email address: CnC-List@cnc-list.com To change your list preferences, including unsubscribing -- go bottom of page at: http://cnc-list.com/mailman/listinfo/cnc-list_cnc-list.com _______________________________________________ This List is provided by the C&C Photo Album Email address: CnC-List@cnc-list.com To change your list preferences, including unsubscribing -- go bottom of page at: http://cnc-list.com/mailman/listinfo/cnc-list_cnc-list.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- _______________________________________________ This List is provided by the C&C Photo Album Email address: CnC-List@cnc-list.com To change your list preferences, including unsubscribing -- go bottom of page at: http://cnc-list.com/mailman/listinfo/cnc-list_cnc-list.com
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