Marek, one other difference: I find it harder to judge the distance of others boats if they have a masthead light. It only really matters when racing and I am on port - otherwise, I stay away. AIS helps if the other boat is so equipped.
Joel On Thu, Nov 6, 2014 at 11:56 AM, Marek Dziedzic via CnC-List < cnc-list@cnc-list.com> wrote: > 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 <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> > *Sent:* Thursday, November 06, 2014 11:05 AM > *To:* 'Dave Godwin' <dave.god...@me.com> ; 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 <http://roninrebuild.blogspot.com/> > > > > > > > > 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 > > > _______________________________________________ > 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 > > > -- Joel 301 541 8551
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