Mast Anchor Light Installation

[Gypsy]

WOW....So This Whole thread 5 pages 73 replies..is about???? How to possibly get around Investing....... $50 and an hours time to CYA!
If you just mount a USCG approved $35 light at the top of the mast No annex sha-man-nex CYA! and you can remember to turn the darn thing on.. Your Covered? Hahahahahaaha...... Bring back any number of junk built or X v M threads....
Bottom Line BTW USCG approved for 2 NM's

On nearly every page , I have said , YES it is a CYA project , but unfortunately its the times we live in , where your invited guest / friends might sue your A$$ because of something as silly as whether your light has a break in its 360 degree coverage.

[Divecoz]

I Agree with you Gypsy... and a few others here..
Its a matter of
#1. Its The Law
#2. CYA first lessen in life CYA
#3. Annex shamanex CYA...
#4. Its $50!!!!!
Ms.. are better at everything than silly old x's and White is faster than Blue..

[Gypsy]

I Agree with you Gypsy... and a few others here..
Its a matter of
#1. Its The Law
#2. CYA first lessen in life CYA
#3. Annex shamanex CYA...
#4. Its $50!!!!!
Ms.. are better at everything than silly old x's and White is faster than Blue..

Well said about everything but the BULL !
are much better !

[Hamin' X]

Please reread the COLREGS Annex I. A mast top mounted anchor light is not the only legal one and an all around light may be occluded by 55 degrees, so you can raise a light above you boom level and be perfectly legal,

~Rich

Can you copy the COLREGS Annex I over ? Its not in my book.
The Book I have contains other stuff and possibly they didn't put it all in.

I already posted the pertinent part of Annex I, several pages back. In fact, it is what prompted Dive's comments about it. The fact is, the annex is as much a part of the regs as the main body. They are put there to clarify things. To save folks from doing a Google search on "coloregs annex 1", I'll repost.

Annex I:

9 Horizontal sectors

(a) (i) In the forward direction, sidelights as fitted on the vessel shall show the minimum required intensities. The intensities shall decrease to reach practical cut-off between 1°and 3°outside the prescribed sectors. ( ii) For sternlights and masthead lights and at 22.5°abaft the beam for sidelights, the minimum required intensities shall be maintained over the arc of the horizon up to 5°within the limits of the sectors prescribed in Rule 21. From 5°within the prescribed sectors the intensity may decrease by
50% up to the prescribed limits; it shall decrease steadily to reach practical cut-off at not more than
5°outside the prescribed sectors.

(b) (i) All-round lights shall be so located as not to be obscured by masts, topmasts or structures within angular sectors of more than 6°, except anchor lights prescribed in Rule 30, which need not be placed at an impracticable height above the hull. ( ii) If it is impracticable to comply with paragraph (b)(i) of this section by exhibiting only one all- round light, two all-round lights shall be used suitably positioned or screened so that they appear, as far as practicable, as one light at a distance of one mile.

[Gypsy]

hmmmmmmmm

[Gypsy]

Please reread the COLREGS Annex I. A mast top mounted anchor light is not the only legal one and an all around light may be occluded by 55 degrees, so you can raise a light above you boom level and be perfectly legal,

~Rich

Can you copy the COLREGS Annex I over ? Its not in my book.
The Book I have contains other stuff and possibly they didn't put it all in.

I already posted the pertinent part of Annex I, several pages back. In fact, it is what prompted Dive's comments about it. The fact is, the annex is as much a part of the regs as the main body. They are put there to clarify things. To save folks from doing a Google search on "coloregs annex 1", I'll repost.

Annex I:

9 Horizontal sectors

(a) (i) In the forward direction, sidelights as fitted on the vessel shall show the minimum required intensities. The intensities shall decrease to reach practical cut-off between 1°and 3°outside the prescribed sectors. ( ii) For sternlights and masthead lights and at 22.5°abaft the beam for sidelights, the minimum required intensities shall be maintained over the arc of the horizon up to 5°within the limits of the sectors prescribed in Rule 21. From 5°within the prescribed sectors the intensity may decrease by
50% up to the prescribed limits; it shall decrease steadily to reach practical cut-off at not more than
5°outside the prescribed sectors.

(b) (i) All-round lights shall be so located as not to be obscured by masts, topmasts or structures within angular sectors of more than 6°, except anchor lights prescribed in Rule 30, which need not be placed at an impracticable height above the hull. ( ii) If it is impracticable to comply with paragraph (b)(i) of this section by exhibiting only one all- round light, two all-round lights shall be used suitably positioned or screened so that they appear, as far as practicable, as one light at a distance of one mile.

AaaHHHHaa the Rub

Must be two all around white lights !

A masthead light and stern light as what comes standard on a Mac won't do it !

Must be replaced with two all around lights . Easier to go with a top mast light and some useful lighting on the deck.

[Hamin' X]

(b) (i) All-round lights shall be so located as not to be obscured by masts, topmasts or structures within angular sectors of more than 6°, except anchor lights prescribed in Rule 30, which need not be placed at an impracticable height above the hull.

Here is a link to Annex 1

~Rich

[Divecoz]

(b) (i) All-round lights shall be so located as not to be obscured by masts, topmasts or structures within angular sectors of more than 6°, except anchor lights prescribed in Rule 30, which need not be placed at an impracticable height above the hull.

Here is a link to Annex 1

~Rich

and rule 30 is :



Rule 30

Anchored vessels and vessels aground

(a) A vessel at anchor shall exhibit where it can best be seen:

(i) in the fore part, an all-round white light or one ball;
(ii) at or near the stern and at a lower level than the light prescribed in subparagraph (i), an all-round white light.

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

(c) A vessel at anchor may, and a vessel of 100 metres and more in length shall, also use the available working or equivalent lights to illuminate her decks.

(d) A vessel aground shall exhibit the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Rule and in addition, where they can best be seen:

(i) two all-round red lights in a vertical line;
(ii) three balls in a vertical line.

(e) A vessel of less than 7 metres in length, when at anchor, not in or near a narrow channel, fairway or anchorage, or where other vessels normally navigate, shall not be required to exhibit the lights or shape prescribed in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Rule.

(f) A vessel of less than 12 metres in length, when aground, shall not be required to exhibit the lights or shapes prescribed in subparagraphs (d)(i) and (ii) of this Rule.

[Hamin' X]

I guess that we will just have to agree, to disagree. I read and interpret Rule 30 (b) and Annex 1 (9) (b) (i) together, to say that a light hoisted in the rigging is acceptable, as long as it is visible for 2 NM and not obscured by more that 6 degrees in the horizontal. It can be shown that a light at 15 feet can be better seen than a light at 35 feet.

All that being said, I have a top mounted anchor light on my mast and intend to use spreader lights to light my decks, as allowed by rule 30 (c)

Of course, then there is Rule 38 (h).

~Rich

[Gypsy]

All that being said, I have a top mounted anchor light on my mast and intend to use spreader lights to light my decks, as allowed by rule 30 (c)

Of course, then there is Rule 38 (h).

~Rich


Me TOO !
The mastop light covers the legal part , some spreader lights, Christmas lights , or rope lights , at or near deck level , covers using the deck and is at eye level for the drunks and fishermen to see.

A 'L' shaped bracket bolted to the top of the mast in an existing hole , a short pole light mounted on the bracket , and a wire pulled down to an existing hole at the base of the mast (did have to enlarge the hole some) . Now all I need is a plug from West Marine.
Cheap , simple , and easy .