rewire question

[nolasailor]

i am in the middle of a complete rewire.,,,
what are the requrements for lights. 31 ft with a total mast height of 48ft.
I have the bi color bow light, clear anchor light. One mast light at the spreader that has two functions, shine down on deck and clear faceing forward and the tri color mast head light .
what needs to on seperate switches??? I know that the bow and anchor light must be on at the same time so that is one switch, but not sure about mast head tri color and the mid mast forward/deck light. do you leave the mast head light and bow and anchor light all at the same time, does the mast head tricolor stay on when under motor power?????

[Faster]

You should not be showing both a masthead tricolour and deck level nav lights (red/green and stern light) at the same time. Each should be on a separate switch, or simply choose which one to keep and use. Whichever you use should be on one switch.

Anchor light, steaming light (at spreaders facing forward), deck light (at spreaders facing down) should all be on their own switches and used only when appropriate.

"I know that the bow and anchor light must be on at the same time"

NOT true....at anchor the only light should be an all-around white light, most of which are masthead mounted - though any sufficiently bright all around light will do.

The bow light (usually known as the steaming light and white facing forward, covering the same sector as red/green) should be on when under power at night. If you're sailing then just showing the red/green/stern lights is correct.

[mitiempo]

I think by bow light he means red/green. If under power a red/green and an anchor light does meet the requirements though it is not often seen. This in effect gives you a stern sector light as well as the forward sector of the steaming light. But under sail a dedicated stern light is required with the red/green bow lights as a forward white light is not wanted.

Standard switching is red/green with stern light for sailing
Add the steaming light for powering
Tricolor by itself for offshore (sailing only).
Anchor light by itself when anchored.
Separate switch for deck light

For sailing inshore around other boats the deck level lights should be used. The tricolor is best kept for offshore use as people tend to look forward and not up so might not easily see a tricolor if they are near.

[sailingdog]

You will generally need five or six switches for your navigation lights.

1) Tricolor
2) Anchor light
3) Bow Bi-color or Sidelights
4) Stern light
5) Steaming light
6) Spreader light (optional)

This combination of lights and switches gives you some redundancy as well as offshore and in-shore options for lighting.

Offshore, you will generally want to use the tricolor if you're under sail. It uses less electricity and increases the distance at which you can be seen. Offshore, under power, you can use the bow bi-color and turn on the anchor light to substitute for the steaming and stern light for visibility at a bit further a distance. Alternatively, you can use the standard bow-bicolor, steaming light and stern light.

Inshore, you will probably want to use the deck level bow bi-color and stern light when under sail, since you'll be in close quarters to other boaters and they may not look up to see your tri-color. Under power, you can use the standard bow-bicolor, steaming light and stern light.

At anchor, you can use the anchor light. The foredeck light is optional.

[US27inKS]

Originally Posted by mitiempo

For sailing inshore around other boats the deck level lights should be used. The tricolor is best kept for offshore use as people tend to look forward and not up so might not easily see a tricolor if they are near.

Very true. I almost hit a guy on a moonless night with him running masthead tricolor lights only. In close quarters, almost no one is looking up for a masthead light.

[mitiempo]

The same goes for anchor lights. In a crowded anchorage you can be better off with a light over the cockpit instead of (or in addition to) one at the top of the mast.