Lengths of boats must be taken into consideration when discussing legality of 
lights. A power boat UNDER 12 m can use an allround white. Over 12m they must 
have a masthead (steaming light) and stern light.  It's nice to be able to 
identify the type and size of a vessel at night by observing the lights!

--
Jonathan
Indigo C&C 35III
SOUTHPORT CT

> On Nov 6, 2014, at 11:56, 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
> 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
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