Mast-Head Lights

[Evergreen]

Hello fellow sailors:

When we purchased our Cape Dory 36 it had no mast-head lights - not even an anchor light. I don't believe that it ever had any when it was built.

Questions:
1) Is it true that Cape Dory built boats without mast-head lights?
2) If indeed it is true, then has anyone ever installed mast-head lights?
If so what did you install --- Anchor light or anchor light and tricolor?
Did you have to get a whole new mast head casting with light or did you use what was already up there?
What brand did you use and did you find it reliable?
Does anyone have any experience with a tough and reliable LED setup?

For those of you - like us - who have hung portable anchor light over the years - have you ever been bothered by the Coast Guard for not having an "All Around" light as described in the regulations?

Many thanks for your input. And best wishes in the holiday season.

[Maine_Buzzard]

Not very many mastheads to my memory... Perhaps starting in the 90s, but certainly none on the CD produced boats.

Have thought about it and would also like to replace the steaming and deck lights with LEDs, which is certainly a good idea too.

Use of a hanging lantern has elicited interesting reaction from other boaters, ranging from "sure is early for Christmas lights" to "great way to mark your boat when you will row back in the dark".

An honest attempts to mark your anchored boat will be tolerated by the CG, unless you are doing something incredibly stupid in the process. When's the last time you saw a vessel under 50' anchored and flying a black ball or moving with an inverted cone during the day??

I also see a few masthead anchor lights on while people are parked at a designated mooring field too, so it runs the gamut.

[Evergreen]

I guess I was primarily concerned about the legal ramifications of not having an official "All Around Light". I don't want to be blamed for an accident that I really did not cause.

That said - reality makes it obvious that lights that are lower are much more visible - but I don't believe you could ever make that stand in a court of law.

I was wondering, if an incident occurred, would the Coast Guard stick to the letter of the law or would they make allowances.

[jbenagh]

I installed an OGM LED anchor/tricolor LED light. It worked so well on my CD25, I took it with me to my CD30. You can wire it with just two wires if you get their two way switch. I did need to mount it on a piece of aluminum bar stock so that it would clear the VHF antenna and the wind instruments.

I sort of wish I had bought the one with the strobe. I would not have hooked it up but would if I were headed further offshore.

Jeff

[Neil Gordon]

I was wondering, if an incident occurred, would the Coast Guard stick to the letter of the law or would they make allowances.

You can be pretty sure that the attorney representing the guy who ran into you will bring it up.

Several comments:

Anchor lights have been hung in the rigging for centuries. Yes, an all-around light might be blocked by the mast or whatever, but it would more likely flicker from the blockage and not be totally obscured. On the other hand, see my "attorney" comment.

The higher or lower argument breaks down, imo, when you calculate the angles... from most practical distances, there's not much difference in the angle to a light that's top of the mast vs. hoisted to the spreader.

[Neil Gordon]

When's the last time you saw a vessel under 50' anchored and flying a black ball or moving with an inverted cone during the day??

That would be never, but just in case, a ball fender in a garbage bag looks pretty much like an official black ball if you're more than a boat length away.

I'm thinking it's more likely a radar reflector will be mistaken for an anchor ball, when you're actually underway.

[Jim Walsh]

Masthead anchor lights are a relatively recent innovation and not without their better points. An anchor light, whether oil or electric, hung from the forestay or backstay is still perfectly legal and practicle. The fact that the mast momentarily obscures the light to some minimal extent is unavoidable. An anchored vessel is not a fixed object and the light is only momentarily, minimally, obscured. One would be exposing themselves to criticism if the light were blocked by a deckhouse or other large fixed structure so some care must be taken in placement.

[Evergreen]

Jim:

I agree with you wholeheartedly. However, I wonder if the law would?

[Jeff and Sarah]

Masthead lights can be obscured as well- especially if they sit directly on the masthead. I had a pedestal made out of scrap aluminum (I paid some shop abotu $20 and they used scrap from building high-end custom aluminum products) that raises the light about 10". It is not quite a bit more visible from close distances.

I would not add any light to my boat now that is not LED. The cost has come down so much in recent years and (more importantly for masthead lights) the bulbs last a long time. The electrical draw is reduced to nearly nothing too. I do not have a tri-color but I have considered adding one. I like the strobe idea. I'm a CG helicopter pilot and can guarantee you that strobes will help you get found. That being said- be ready to turn it off quickly because it would make hovering over you pretty tough for the pilots!

[bottomscraper]

Questions:
1) Is it true that Cape Dory built boats without mast-head lights?
2) If indeed it is true, then has anyone ever installed mast-head lights?
If so what did you install --- Anchor light or anchor light and tricolor?
Did you have to get a whole new mast head casting with light or did you use what was already up there?
What brand did you use and did you find it reliable?
Does anyone have any experience with a tough and reliable LED setup?

Answers:
1) Don't know
2) Yes
3) Anchor + Tricolor
4) Use what's there
5) AQUA SIGNAL SERIES 40 QUICKFIT

There is plenty of room on the top of the mast head casting to install a tri-color. It just requires drill and tap of a couple of holes for mounting. You will also need a hole for the wire. The negative can be shared so 3 conductor cable will work fine. We have aftermarket LED bulbs which may technically not be legal. The "quick fit" mounting is a good idea if you unstep your mast every year like we do, otherwise the boat yard will probably damage it anyway. Our original non-quick-fit Aqua Signal was reliable but abused by some yard workers. Since you are looking for something new you may want to consider a factory LED fixture.

I believe that when the term "mast head" light is used, the Coast Guard regs are really talking about the 225 degree white forward facing steaming light, not what's on top of the mast.

[Jim Walsh]

(b) A vessel of less than 50 meters in length may exhibit an all-round white light where it can best be seen instead of the lights prescribed in Rule 30(a). Vessels at Anchor

This is the applicable regulation (USCG Rule 30 Anchored Vessels) . It does not stipulate that an anchor light must reside on the masthead.

[Steve Laume]

When I took over Raven, she had heavily crazed running light lenses and no anchor light.

I replaced the lenses and latter switched to LED bulbs. I know they may no longer carry their CG approval but are far brighter than the original bulbs.

I picked up an anchor light that used a 6V dry cell and had a photo sensor to turn it on when dark. It was very dim. In fact we named it Dimmy. The only good points were that it didn't use the ships batteries and we could always find our boat in a crowded anchorage because it was the dimmest light. We used to hang it from the back stay so it also served as a cockpit light. We latter switched it over to a LED bulb and renamed it Dimmy More. It is much brighter now. I believe the only CG requirement for an anchor light is that it can be seen from a certain distance so it is in compliance. As I understand the Regs there is no CG approval for the anchor light itself.

The best upgrade to our lighting was adding an OGM mast head light. While it is not a cheap unit and it does require mast wiring, it is a beautiful piece of gear. I drilled and tapped the aluminum bracket we had for our fly and used the OGM bracket for the light. Installation is then a very easy matter. We have the unit with the strobe but did not install the expensive switching. If you run two breakers it is all you need. Switch on one breaker for the running lights and the other one for the anchor light. If you turn them both on you get the strobe.

I usually use the original running lights at deck level when we are in close and then switch to mast head light when we get the out in the open a bit. The anchor light just stays on when you are moored. The photo sensor takes care of turning it off and on. I still use Dimmy More in crowded anchorages as I believe more lights are better and the lower light tends to light up the boat as well. There are all sorts of idiots running around in high powered inflatables that need all the help they can get. To that end we also have a 4 X 8 patch of reflective tape on each side of our mast, just above the sail cover. If you shine a light on this stuff, it gives off a very bright reflection.

In some harbors, the mast head lights just look like stars. In those crowed areas with people cruising around at night and possibly under the influence it is still a very good idea to have a light well below the spreaders, Steve.

[Neil Gordon]

In those crowed areas with people cruising around at night and possibly under the influence it is still a very good idea to have a light well below the spreaders, Steve.

Now you have me thinking that the unlit anchor rode is perhaps my most vulnerable component. I often think of putting out an anchor buoy (for daytime reference), but in the dark, that would make things worse!

One added note: The nav rules do suggest that larger vessels illuminate their decks; not a bad idea for the rest of us if we're likely to be in traffic, can afford the power drain and the lights won't keep us up*.

* Trade off here. Decide for yourself whether the notion of being run down in the dark will cost you more sleep than leaving the lights on.

[Steve Laume]

Neil, with a plug in or stand alone LED light, battery drain is not really a consideration.

With all chain or a mostly chain rode I have slept pretty well. If I am into my nylon rode then it still pretty much hangs straight down unless there is a serious wind. In that case the chain is what would be exposed and good luck to the dinghy that hits it.

I do love my 90' of chain, Steve.

[Neil Gordon]

Neil, with a plug in or stand alone LED light, battery drain is not really a consideration.

With all chain or a mostly chain rode I have slept pretty well. If I am into my nylon rode then it still pretty much hangs straight down unless there is a serious wind. In that case the chain is what would be exposed and good luck to the dinghy that hits it.

I do love my 90' of chain, Steve.

I have 30' now and am thinking of adding 30 more. 1/1 is about 25' for me and I usually put out about 125'... What's safe if I double the chain?