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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Oil lamp as anchor light?

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Ben
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1234 Posts

Initially Posted - 08/23/2005 : 13:21:13

Hi all,

When I was on the Schooner vacation in July I saw that each night when we anchored the crew hoisted a Feuerhand oil lamp up the mast to serve as their anchor light. I asked the captain about this with regards to it meeting Coast Guard regulations, and he said it did indeed qualify as a legal light with the Coasties.

I'm interested in using one of these instead of the anchor light on top of my mast (which actually works once in a while). Has anyone else tried anything like this? I've looked online a little bit and these Feuerhand lamps seem pretty inexpensive, but I don't know if I can get them in the US yet. It seems like it could be a viable alternative to running the anchor light off your battery all night, or like me, having an anchor light that is flakey.

Ben
Beneteau 361
Viking Kitty
Columbus, Ohio

Edited by - on

thaind
Navigator

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Canada
145 Posts

Response Posted - 08/23/2005 : 13:25:52

I usualy run a Welsh Miner's Lamp up the flag halyard when at anchor for the same reason. It is virtualy indestructable and can't be blown out. A 10 watt lamp running at 12 volts is only .8 amps per hour. Pretty minimal, but I sleep better with the Kerosine lamp on and the power off.

Edited by - thaind on 08/23/2005 13:30:31

tcox
1st Mate

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USA
32 Posts

Response Posted - 08/23/2005 : 14:33:49

I bought my oil lamp at an estate sale for less than $20. I feel much better about it than my on-and-off anchor light. I filled it with Citronella oil and hang it from the boom when not hoisting it up as an anchor light. Lights up the cockpit and keeps the 'skeeters away!

Edited by - on

aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 08/23/2005 : 15:41:47

Historically, nobody on our lake used an anchor light. Not until a power boat ran into my boat one night. The real danger here is with after-dark walleye fisherman who are not looking for masthead lights. With this in mind, we use the Davis mini-light hung off the backstay or some other low, high-viz location. Depsite increased traffic, I/we have not had any problems with powerboaters in the three years since my boat was hit.

Consider this. Our lake is part of a channel used on occasion by Great Lakes shipping. When my boat was hit, the Coast Guard said that they did not have jurisdction outside the shipping channel and therefore did not investigate the accident. The local sherrif department did. They of course, didn't know squat about marine safety requirments. Anyway, the Davis mini light, which uses very little battery power, turns itsef off at daybreak and on at night, and meets the CG anchor light requirment to be visible for two miles, is in standard use here. End of problem

Edited by - on

Ben - FL
Admiral

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880 Posts

Response Posted - 08/23/2005 : 17:29:46

Is no one concerned about a fire onboard while the watch is asleep? If you are hanging the lantern off the boom could it not heat up the sail and cover enough for spontanious combustion? What if the lanyard failed and it hit the deck and broke the glass? Are not these the same lanterns the the movie people use for buning up sets in the westerns? I don't even have a candle aboard and if I did I would not leave it lit without a proper watch.

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atgep
Master Marine Consultant

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1009 Posts

Response Posted - 08/23/2005 : 18:24:55

I am with you Ben. I would not leave a fire un-attended. If the boat burns, your getting-home options are limited.

Tom.

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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 08/23/2005 : 18:35:49

I have the Davis mega light as well but I would not fear an oil lamp. They have worked for hundreds of years.

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Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5937 Posts

Response Posted - 08/23/2005 : 19:02:32

I tried carrying an oil lamp while cruising my C25, and it leaked fuel badly and smelled awful. They have to be stowed carefully and securely on a small sailboat. I decided it wasn't worth the trouble.

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ronrryan
Admiral

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USA
561 Posts

Response Posted - 08/23/2005 : 21:04:44

Couple of points: (1) The Pardeys recommend usinga kerosene anchor lite, in fact they show a picture of an old Perko oil lite, which they hang on the forestay. True anchor lites have a bail at the bottom, by which one can stabilize the lamp, using a pendant from the bottom bail to another attachment point. (2) An anchor lite must be visible for 2 Nautical Miles. I used a kerosene anchor lamp for years, also have used a photovoltaic Guest lamp using a 6V square battery, this worked OK also. Many knowledgeable sailors are somewhat uncomfortable with masthead anchor lites, feeling they so high up that often they are either not seen or distance misjudged, particularly by fast-traveling motorboats, Fair winds, ron Orion srsk in SW FL

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thaind
Navigator

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Canada
145 Posts

Response Posted - 08/23/2005 : 23:19:18

The Wesh Miner's lamp that I use is designed and proven to be safe in explosive underground environments. It burns cool, has a flash arrester, is machined from brass, and is in no way similar to what is used for fires in Westerns. I have no doubts about it's safety. I haven't tested for two mile visiblity which is why I'm considering the multiple LED lights seen on Ebay.

Edited by - on

Gloss
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1916 Posts

Response Posted - 08/24/2005 : 06:49:41

Hey Al,
The last time I talked with the Davis people about their led mini light they would not discull whether or not they met coast guard regs. The more I pressed them on the issue, the more they resisted addressing the issue.
Do you know for certain if they have since gotten approval?

Edited by - on

Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 08/24/2005 : 08:25:51

Frank,

As long as the light is visible for 2 miles, 360 degrees around (does not have to be at the top of the mast) it would be legal for our boat. When you start getting larger vessels it's three miles. The coast guard, for the most part, does not approve specific lights.

DW

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Happy D
Admiral

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921 Posts

Response Posted - 08/24/2005 : 17:25:27

I thought that I read on this site about a sailboat that was legally anchored and using a kerosene anchor light. The sailboat was hit by a power boater. The power boater sued the sailboat owner and won the lawsuit. I think I read that here but can't find it now.
Dan

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tcox
1st Mate

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USA
32 Posts

Response Posted - 08/24/2005 : 18:05:24

The lantern I am using is very durable. Has a ring on the bottom for a "downhaul". Does not leak or smell (except for a little Citronella smell). I have a piece of 1/8th inch stainless cable a foot long with eyes on each end that I use on the top bail that keeps it a safe distance from flammables, especially up the mast and at the far aft end of the boom. When I hoist it up I use the mainsail halyard and clip a line on the bottom ring to bring it back down. I secure the "downhaul" to a cleat on the boom that is for the lazy jacks and that keeps the lantern from beating against the mast, even in weather.

Edited by - on

tcox
1st Mate

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USA
32 Posts

Response Posted - 08/24/2005 : 18:11:04

By the way. I am pretty certain that the lanterns used in the "Westerns" are props. I don't think my lantern would leak all of it's fuel instantly just because of a broken glass. Even held upside down with the glass retracted (unlit, of course) it doesn't leak fuel through the wick.

Edited by - on

ronrryan
Admiral

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USA
561 Posts

Response Posted - 08/24/2005 : 21:00:45

I am the guy with the story about the sailboat that was hit by a powerboat, driver drunk, driver SUED the anchored sailboat, which had a kerosene anchor lamp, peacefully sleeping, and WON, claiming the light was NOT visible for two miles. I used to tell that to Power Squadron seamanship classes, and at the time had an old newspaper clipping in the teaching file, haven't taught in many years and have no idea if it is still mentioned in the anchoring segment, Fair winds, Ron srsk Orion SW FL

Edited by - on

aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 08/25/2005 : 08:41:56

Frank,

Checked the light myself. Although I knew where to look, it was visible out to the required two miles. That is the crux of the problem, the requirement for a proper lookout. Powerboaters seldom have one and must have a light dangling in their faces before they see a light.

I can't beleive the power boater one that case. The flip side of the coin is that you must have a proper lookout. Having a light that can be seen out to two miles means nothing if you aren't looking for it at 100 yrds. When my boat was hit, without a light but under a full moon which made things look like broad daylight, the powerboater had no proper lookout. The case ended up an insurance matter. My insurance company paid for my repairs and his for his repairs.

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ronrryan
Admiral

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USA
561 Posts

Response Posted - 08/25/2005 : 20:33:27

And was alcohol involved? Often is (I do NOT speak as a teetotaler).
"Perhaps a beverage?", as they say at the tikibar---Ron srsk Orion SWFL

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JV
Deckhand

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9 Posts

Response Posted - 08/26/2005 : 00:08:33

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Gloss
 Hey Al,
The last time I talked with the Davis people about their led mini light they would not discull whether or not they met coast guard regs. The more I pressed them on the issue, the more they resisted addressing the issue.
Do you know for certain if they have since gotten approval?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Just got my Davis Mega Light papers out. They say: "visible up to two nautical miles". Not sure what that means. You (or especially a lawyer) could argue it two ways. It may mean that in favorable conditions it is visible for two nm but less in rain or fog. Or it may mean "up to but not including". Anyway I installed mine (to replace my homemade garlic jar affair) on top of my tall mast and I can only assume that it will prevent a collision with a prudent boater. Nothing will stop a fool or a drunk from hitting your boat. I hope I never have to stand up in court and argue this though.

I like the idea of a cockpit light or some form of boat illumination but I believe the masthead lights work well too. When I was coming into a well known but totally dark anchorage last summer the three masthead lights were my only reference. I had GPS'd the two points at either edge of the bay but with nothing but dark trees I had a very hard time spotting the features.

I also sailed into a known anchorage in St. Martin on a charter boat and was extremely thankful for white hulls. The dark hulls were impossible to see until we were almost too close even at a crawl. And this with me standing on the bow with a flashlight. I guess the moral is use as much illumination as possible when anchored. Perhaps it would be wise to have solar panels and try to keep the boat well lit at night. A light (LEDs?) shining on each side of the hull might be a smart investment. I was looking at a cockpit light the other night that blended in with the shore lights behind it that were miles away.

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