Anchor Lights?

[Neil Gordon]

Over the last several weeks, I've been in a number of anchorages and mooring fields. According to the charts, none are designated as "special anchorages," which exempts vessels under 65 feet from displaying anchor lights. So what did I find? For the most part, no anchor lights. (I understand the power consumption issues of a permanently moored vessel but in some cases, most of the boats were there for the night.)

I understand the reality. But what are the legal implications? What are the practical issues, both of power consumption and of getting run down in the night? What's your practice?

Here are the details:

Cuttyhunk, MA - All of the boats anchored outside the pond, not a harbor, just an anchorage and small mooring field, and with some traffic, displayed lights. Most on moorings displayed lights, also.

Dutch Harbor, RI - Protected bight and large mooring field. Most boats permanently moored. For the most part, no anchor lights.

Wickford, RI - Harbor and large mooring field. Most boats permanently moored. No anchor lights.

Peddocks Island, MA - Overnight moorings and anchorage at one of the Boston Harbor Islands. Potential for some light traffic. No anchor lights on the moored boats.

Scituate, MA - Harbor and large mooring field. No anchor lights.

[Steve Laume]

Our anchor light consumes none of the boat's power. I have an old anchor light that runs on a 6 volt lantern battery. It has a photo eye to tell it when to turn on and off at night. I now know to double check that the main switch is off before I stow it in the dark locker.

We hang it on the backstay above the boom. I know it should be on the forestay but it is easier to hang in the cockpit and also sheds some light there. I am also less apt to forget it when we leave.

The light was never very bright when I first got it. Thus it got the name of, Dimmy. Last year I found a 6 volt LED bulb for it and now it is Dimmy More. Hey it is small and kind of cute.

With LED bulbs, power consumption is really not an issue. We keep a light while anchoring but not at our perminant mooring. Very few boats do.

We are tucked well into a tightly packed mooring field so someone would probably wack another boat and wake up before they got to us.

The anchor lights add a nice touch to a calm anchorage, Steve.

[KDreese]

I keep my boat on a permanent mooring at Hewitts Cove Marina. I do not use an anchor light and havent seen any on any boats there. However, if I were using one of the moorings at the harbor islands (you mention Peddocks) I would use an anchor light.

My anchor light is a large brass lantern that I hang from the forestay (with a down haul attached to the bottom... lol). I think its bright enough for people to see if they enter the anchorage area.

[Bill S]

Permanent mooring fields and "designated anchorages" (not very many of these around) don't require lights. Everywhere else does. 2 nm visibility is required. I have used the Davis Megalight in the past, but I am not sure it really puts out two nm visibility. It might. I recently installed a permanent Coast Guard approved led anchor/tri-color light on top of the mast. I love it. Hanging a battery operated light, oil lamp or any other all-round light that can be seen two miles away is just as good.

[bgephart]

My CD-25 is permanently anchored / moored in a well traveled tidal creek, and I do have an anchor light and a black anchor ball daymark. This seems to keep all the local gendarmes happy (USCG, DNR, county police marine patrol). I use a Davis Mega Lite that only draws 0.10 amp hooked up to a dedicated 12V deep cycle battery that is hooked up in turn to two 5 watt el-cheapo solar panels. The Davis Mega Lite has a sensor that turns the light on and off at dark and dawn. I doubt it is visible for 2 miles, but the entire creek is not 1 mile, and it is very visible hanging from my spreaders for at least a few hundred yards up and down the creek. My current Mega Lite has been in service for over 2 years, and it only cost about $40. Works for me.

[Neil Gordon]

Permanent mooring fields and "designated anchorages" (not very many of these around) don't require lights.

As a matter of practice, no lights are shown in permanent mooring fields. But there doesn't seem to be an exemption for them in the rules.