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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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anchor light

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panhead1948
Captain

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345 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/05/2006 : 13:27:12

has anyone found and installed a led anchor light.

Edited by - on

aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 04/05/2006 : 13:44:59

Check the archives. There has been much discussion in the past year or two on this subject. I and many others have found the Davis mini light effecive for the purpose. It comes in a cockpit and anchor light versions, both of which turn off at daylight and on again at night, and use milli amps for power.

The discussions have also focused on the utility of a masthead anchor light vs. a light hung from the rigging. Most agree that the masthead light is almost useless under a majority of circumstances and that a light hanging from the rigging, closer to the water, is more observable.

Edited by - on

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3502 Posts

Response Posted - 04/05/2006 : 17:15:16

I am getting ready to install an LED light on top of the mast. The existing anchor light does not work and about a month or so ago, the Windex started to lose pieces and the main body slipped down a bit so it is now at an angle.

I plan to rewire the mast, install the LED, replace the Windex and also wanted to install a longer shackle on the bottom of my furling rig because the backstay is not properly adjusted - The threads inside the turnbuckle barely enter the turnbuckle.

I did a lot of searching for an LED Anchor Light. I saw the Davis, Perko and etc LEDs. What I decided to buy was OGMs LED Anchor light. It is quite different from others that I have seen on the market. It has visibility for 2NM and has USCG approval. (Not all LED Anchor Lights have the USCG approval even if they indicate they are visible for 2NM. I believe it has to do with how they sell it - The housing, etc.) Unlike other LED Anchor lights, the OGM Anchor light, at first glance, looks like they forgot to put the LEDs in it ! But closer inspection indicates it has one LED in the center ! The light also has an optional model (which is the one I purchased) with a photodiode for turning it off automatically when the sun comes up in the morning. The OGM LED Anchor light has a 5 yr warranty and estimated to last 50,000 hrs. It is rated at .13 amp/hr or .15 amps/hr depending on what info you read about it.

The OGM light can be bought at some marina stores but not that many. I decided to buy it mail order directly from the company. The website , unfortunately, has somewhat dark photos and you cannot clearly see the details of the light. They also sell the running lights but are very expensive since you have to buy one port and one starboard light. Here's the website:

https://secure.orcagreen.com/xcart/product.php?productid=16142&cat=0&bestseller

Edited by - on

britinusa
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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 04/06/2006 : 07:17:42

FWIW..
That LED has only an 18degree+/- output.
But that only means it is not visible within 130' of a 33' high masthead.

If they got that close, then the masthead light would not be what they should be looking at!

Is it legal to have a 2nd all around light visible at anchor?

Paul

Edited by - on

reuben
Navigator

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USA
202 Posts

Response Posted - 04/06/2006 : 07:45:33

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">The discussions have also focused on the utility of a masthead anchor light vs. a light hung from the rigging. Most agree that the masthead light is almost useless under a majority of circumstances and that a light hanging from the rigging, closer to the water, is more observable.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
I don't know about this, but having an unreliable masthead light I've chosen this season to have a small spare LED lantern aboard. It was cheap ($30 at Fleet Farm), seems reasonably well-built, and has three different brightness settings. Even at 100% power it'll burn for 200 hours on three AA batteries. It has a wire handle so is suspendable via halyard or other rigging arrangement. Given the tendency of anchor lights to short out or otherwise malfunction, a spare's a good idea.

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OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3502 Posts

Response Posted - 04/06/2006 : 11:33:42

I am not sure about having a second light in addition to the anchor light on - if that is okay. I think a second light is okay but believe I read somewhere about restrictions as to what type of light (ie. red, green, strobe, etc). Believe a white light is fine as is the anchor light but ...when i get a chance, I need to check that some more.

I also remember reading somewhere that when the anchor light is out on top of the mast, it is okay to use a substitute light that is perhaps hanging lower (ie. at the spreader height). I think it has to do with making an attempt to use a light in place of a non-working one at the top of the mast and that is deemed acceptable.

Once you get on the LED bandwagon, you think where elese can you use them. I was considering replacing the running lights with another mfrs LED running light. It is called a Lobolight or Lopolight. Do not have the link here at work but it's one housing with the combo LEDS inside it. Looks like a high tech replacement for the standard running lights we all have on the bow. problem is...the cost is something like a whopping $300+ for it. That put the brakes on that purchase. You can buy quite a number of batteries and spare bulbs for that amount.

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 04/06/2006 : 12:12:09

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by britinusa
 Is it legal to have a 2nd all around light visible at anchor?

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I would say no. If one was flying two white lights above the deck, they may be mistaken for an over 50m power boat with a burnt out sidelight or maybe even a trawler engaged in shipping.

Edited by - on

aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 04/06/2006 : 13:07:09

I agree that only one white anchor light is required. Even the Coast Guard will tell you though that a masthead light is not always the answer, especially on inland lakes where they are not the norm. I use one Davis light in the rigging because we have a lot of fisherman at night who are trolling and not paying attention to my mast head. I was also hit one night, which put a 16" crack in my hull. Our local Coasties agree that a light mounted lower in the rigging is probalby best here. The one problem is 360 degree visibility. The mast will interfere with this requirement once it's off the masthead.Two lights mounted back to back in front and behind the mast will give the illussion of one light with 360 degree coverage. I tuck them into my main sail cover during particularly heavy fishing periods.Otherwise I use just one light suspended from an upper shroud to get it out from the boat as far as possible and miximize visibility.

I like the OGM LED masthead light Larry found. The photocell may make it worth while to have on board.

Edited by - aeckhart on 04/06/2006 13:09:40

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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3502 Posts

Response Posted - 04/06/2006 : 13:19:07

Al,

yes - iread something about the mounting of the light a bit lower than the masthead as acceptable. But unfortunately do ot remember the context. I do recall reading on some forum where the CG actually responded and indicated that the light at the lower location was acceptable when the masthead light was out. Back to back lights as you mentioned sounds okay. I can't see how anyone is going to object to that...but guess we have to all go to what documentation is out there to see what is in print on this subject. Bottom line as you mentioned is if you get hit ! Well, guess if that happens doesn't matter how the lights were hanging except for perhaps insurance to figure out.

Paul, interesting comment about the OGM light 18 degrees. if I understand you correctly, that means not greater than an 18 degree angle from the horizontal. I did quick calcs using the tall rig numbers which would be 35' above the waterline:
X=35tan72 degrees = 107 feet. But...if you figure whatever is coming at you, the salor is sitting or standing and that means they are approximately 4' above the waterline, then you have to subtract off from the 107ft the small triangle formed from Tan18=4/X and that means they see the sailboat if more than 95' away. Still, I guess a little bit unsettling that closer than 95' the light may not be visible. ...I can see your point, though, because the LED is mounted at the bottom of the housing...so it does probably cut a smaller angle of visibility.

Larry

Edited by - on

aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 04/08/2006 : 08:02:33

Another interesting point regarding my boat being hit at night. We live on a large inland lake which is connected to Lake Superior on both ends by canals. Its used by lake freigters to get around the Keweenaw Peninsula during particularly nasty storms and sometimes as a harbor of refuge. There is therfore, a shipping lane through the lake which is maintained by the Coast Guard. When my boat was struck, the Coast Guard was called to investigate. They informed me that they had no jurisdiction because the accident did not occur in the shipping lane. Their only concern was accident injury or fatality reporting. They called the local sherriff who I had to "school" on the pertinent points of marine law relative to the accident - the boat that hit me did not have a proper lookout.

It was during this and subsiquent conversation with the Coast Guard that they talked about effective positioning of anchor lights on boats. Historically, nobody used an anchor light at night because nobody was out on the lake at night. Now that walleye fishing has become a popular sport and more boaters are motoring to and from restaurants after dark, lights are becoming more and more important. Until my boat was hit lights weren't commmon and not looked for. Everyone, except fisherman moored out, now use them. Some use more than one light to illuminate the hull so that boaters concentrating on fishing lines, tuning the stereo, looking for the shoreline, checking out their girl friend, whatever, can see a boat/light in their line of sight ahead of them. We've had no problems since my boat was hit four years ago.

Edited by - on

OLarryR
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USA
3502 Posts

Response Posted - 04/08/2006 : 09:14:13

Al,

One thing I never was knowldgeable about or used (in my previous life as a sailboat owner more than 20 yrs ago), was the use of a radar reflector. When I bought the Cat 25 this past Fall, the PO had a pretty large reflector in the quarterberth area. I guess he would hang it up on the burgee line to get it to the spreader height ? I gather you would use it if anchoring or if there was heavy fog but I have no real knowledge of it's use, necessity, importance, requirement, etc.

I would think that in your case on the lake, maybe a radar reflector would have helped with those freighters ? I guess one thing I'm wondering about is if there is a requirement for commercial vessels equippped with radar to be using it when low light conditions exist. If let's say there were boats anchored or on moorings and if they did not have an anchor light on but had a radar reflector up, could the freighter be found at fault for not observing his radar ?

Edited by - on

Gary B.
Admiral

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USA
969 Posts

Response Posted - 04/08/2006 : 12:12:14

"If one was flying two white lights above the deck, they may be mistaken for an over 50m power boat with a burnt out sidelight or maybe even a trawler engaged in shipping."
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yes, you may be correct......but I doubt anyone is going to come in and hit you in that case. I will continue to use the masthead anchor light AND my kerosene lantern hanging in the rigging as a secondary light. If somebody thinks I am a big powerboat or a trawler....so be it; I think I will be safe....which is my purpose in using an anchor light in the first place.

I will risk any remote chance of doing something not technically "legal". Wouldn't be a "moving" violation anyway. I doubt that anyone has ever been cited for this, or ever would be.

Safety first.

Gary B.
s/v Encore! #685

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ClamBeach
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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 04/08/2006 : 14:55:16

Used to have a fellow in the marina whose boat had been T-boned at night by a drunk driving a Bass boat. (fortunately, nobody was killed)

After that incident he put several of those stick-on flashing LED bicycle safety lights on his boat. It was on an inland lake so I dunno if there's any regs against that practice, but he reallly didn't care about the regs at that point, one hit was enough for him.

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Ben - FL
Admiral

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880 Posts

Response Posted - 04/09/2006 : 03:07:02

FYI - Everyone needs to be aware that a "masthead" light and an "anchor light" are not one and the same thing. Power vessels have a "masthead light." Our sailboats have a steaming light that is used when we are under power. It is labled on my panel as "bow light" but has the characteristics of a masthead light.

Here is what the USCG has for what is commonly called [url="http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/mwv/navrules/rotr_online.htm"]The Rules of the Road[/url] which are part of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).

Edited by - Ben - FL on 04/09/2006 03:22:02

britinusa
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USA
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Response Posted - 04/09/2006 : 06:53:58

<center>From the Coast Guard navigation center pages

http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/mwv/navrules/rules/Rule3031.htm
</center>

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Rule 30

(c) A vessel at anchor may, and a vessel of 100 meters and more in length shall, also use the available working or equivalent lights to illuminate her decks. <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I guess that answers the question. 'Available Working Lights' can be practically anything (except green or red lights)

Paul

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