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Navigation Lights

4301 Views 40 Replies 16 Participants Last post by casey1999, Apr 11, 2015

casey1999

Discussion Starter · Apr 8, 2015

Currently my Nav lights include a tri-color at the mast head. I have no steaming light. Also have the red and green bow lights and stern light. I am in the process of making the boat as simple as possible. My VHF antenna is mounted on a targa frame at stern and not at top of mast. The mast does not have an internal conduit for wiring and installing one is difficult because of the way the base and mast head are fabricated.

So to try to eliminate as much mast wiring as possible I am considering removing the tri color light and use a hoisted light for times when I need an anchor light. I plan to install a steaming light and just run the wires loose in the mast as my mast mounted deck light is run.

I realize the masthead light give good visibility, but where I sail, there are very few boats.

So for a 34 foot boat can I get away with just a steaming light and the bow and stern lights and be legal?

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DonScribner

· #11 · Apr 8, 2015

We step the mast of our Lancer 25 every time we go out. Far too many times than I want to disclose to mixed company, I failed to unplug my mast wirining and . . . parted it with extreme prejudice. So, on many an occasion, I have a couple of Walmart puck lights back-to-back dangling before the mast. They are MUCH brighter than the boats around me. I tie them to the unused jib halyard and send them up with a messenger. Then I tie the messenger off to the pulpit. This keeps them from banging against the mast and they are less likely to be in the shadow of the mast. But, keep in mind that whatever makeshift anchor light you raise, it probably doesn't satisfy the COLREGs in wavelength or brightness.

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