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 > _______________________________________________ > 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 >
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