Anchor Light Help for Typhoon Weekender

[cbrokaw]

Hi, I'm new to the forum and to sailing. I purchased a Typhoon Weekender in Fall 2024 and am currently preparing her for the summer season. As part of my preparations, I’m reviewing the required position lights (port, starboard, stern, and mid-mast). It seems the only light I’m missing is the anchor light—a 360-degree white light mounted at the masthead, which is only needed when anchored at night.

Has anyone successfully installed an anchor light on a Typhoon? If so, how did you do it, and what hardware did you use? I’m principally concerned about interfering with the halyards and masthead sheaves. Also, if anyone thinks an anchor light might be unnecessary for a Typhoon, I’d appreciate that feedback as well. I plan to sail regionally across the Finger Lakes and Lake Ontario, where I imagine having an anchor light could be useful.

Thanks in advance for your insight!

[Ben Miller]

I've only anchored out a handful of times, so take this with a grain of salt, but here was my approach. My understanding is that you need a 360 degree white light, but it doesn't have to be at the masthead. Many people use something portable that they hoist up the forestay / backstay or otherwise suspend when it's needed, and stow otherwise. I used MarineBeam's LED anchor light. It plugs into a cigarette lighter outlet and automatically turns itself on at dusk and off when the sun rises.

[Ben Miller]

Oh: Welcome to sailing and to your Typhoon! They're great boats.

[John Stone]

I have anchored my boat overnight hundreds of times. My anchor light is either a kerosene anchor light with a fresnel lens or a Davis LED 360 that comes on a 15-20 12v extension which I plug into the boats DC system. The kerosene light I secure with a rolling hitch to the forestay about 6' above the deck with a down haul to a deck cleat. If I use the Davis LED I secure it to the lazy jack about 4' above the boom.

I believe an anchor light is more visible to boat traffic when it's closer to their line of sight 10'-15' above the water. Completely legal.

[Carl Thunberg]

The only thing I would add to what the others have said is never forget to rig up a downhaul, so you can get whatever you send up the backstay back down. Don't ask me how I found that out. That's a mistake you make once.