Tricolor light/Typhoon

[Keith Wood]

I am considering mounting a tri-color light on mast of Typhoon. Are there any recommendations or cautions about the various lights available? My thoughts are that a tri-color/ anchor light combination will comply with the rules for sailing and underpower. Right?

[Russell]

I am considering mounting a tri-color light on mast of Typhoon. Are there any recommendations or cautions about the various lights available? My thoughts are that a tri-color/ anchor light combination will comply with the rules for sailing and underpower. Right?

For under power you will still need a seperate steaming light.

[Keith Wood]

yes, I know. My thinking is that the anchor light is all-around white, so in combination with the tricolor at the masthead there should be no need for another white light???

[Leo MacDonald]

Hi Keith,

A tricolor is for sailing only! Regular running lights when operating 'propulsion machinery'.

[Neil Gordon]

yes, I know. My thinking is that the anchor light is all-around white, so in combination with the tricolor at the masthead there should be no need for another white light???

Keith,

It would appear legal on reading the rules... a power driven vessel less than 12 meters in length need only exhibit an all-around white light and sidelights. The problem is that unless the sidelights are separated from the white light, they can't be seen.

Don't compromise on this one. Getting run over once is more than enough.

[barnettg]

I am interested in Keith's question about types (or brands) of trcolor lights. I have a typhoon daysailer, but occasionally come home after dark. The old flashlight on the sails is legal, but I'd like a masthead light. The problem is all the tricolors I've seen seem huge. Any suggestions?

[Russell]

I am interested in Keith's question about types (or brands) of trcolor lights. I have a typhoon daysailer, but occasionally come home after dark. The old flashlight on the sails is legal, but I'd like a masthead light. The problem is all the tricolors I've seen seem huge. Any suggestions?

Well, the one i have is much smaller then most, but its rather expensive. I have the OGM LED Tri-color/Anchor light. I am extreamly happy with it. The power draw is almost nothing, the anchor light has a bluish color to it that makes finding my boat in the anchorage at night easy. Added bonus is the LED bulbs are rated for something like 50,000 hours, so no going up the rig to change bulbs (in theory). There is a photo diode that automaticly turns the anchor light on and off, but its almost unnessisary considering the power draw. Plus it has a strobe for distress situations. Though the price probably makes it overkill if your not doing a lot of night sailing in the ocean where the tricolor really makes most sense. Unless your sailing in the ocean a lot where the seastate can often make deck level lights unseen I would go the route of deck level lights, inshore the low lights are more visible then the ones up on top of the rig since most people are looking towards the water. But then, the tys rig is low enough that perhaps I am wrong here and a tri color is ideal?

[jdhunter]

Tri-Colors are great in theory, but bad in practice. It's true that a tricolor can be seen from a greater distance, but judging that distance is difficult. I had a close call off shore in the Gulf of Mexico with a crew boat. He didn't immediately recognize me as a sailboat with a tricolor because he thought it was the bow lights of a boat further away. I plan to add LED running lights to my Ty later and a tri will not be one of them.

I'm not trying to poopoo tricolors, just being cautious.

jdhunter

[winthrop fisher]

hey...
you can put a tri on the top or put then down on the rail like most do its allot essayer to do...winthrop

[Keith Wood]

If the tri-color is mounted anywhere except the top of mast there is going to be a blind spot somewhere, though it may be brief while underway.

[Tod Mills]

which was not only not legal while motoring, but also I found that it was confusing to Lake Erie boaters. At least on Lake Erie, tricolors are very rare and boaters have come to expect lights at deck level. On one night sail over to the islands a powerboater stopped a short distance off and in the dark I could hear the people aboard discussing what they were seeing..."what do you think that is?" "not sure, looks like it might be a sailboat"

The only really compelling argument for the use of a tricolor is that it remains visible in larger seas; the rest of the time it is probably less safe than deck mounted lights.

I changed to deck mounted lights with a masthead light above the spreaders.

On my project boat I expect I'll mount bicolor lights on a bracket on a pulpit, getting it up a little bit and away from obscurity near the jib. They are currently hull-mounted and I've heard a lot of reports that that location creates a maintenance problem since they get dunked.