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From: Lee Huddleston (no email)
Date: Sat Sep 06 2003 - 00:14:23 EDT
I posted this inquiry on rec.boats.cruising; rec.boats.building; and
rec.boats.electronics and got a few valuable responses but I feel that I
need the superior expertise that I usually find on the Live-Aboard List.
Any advise you can offer would be most appreciated.
I am looking into the possibility of installing the red over green optional
lights for sailboats under sail alone. I feel that they would be so
distinctive that even if many recreational boaters did not know what they
meant, it would at least get their attention and cause them to stay clear.
As for the big boats out there that can do me more harm my reasoning goes
like this: If a freighter captain sees my red tricolor light on the top of
my mast he can reasonably assume that he is viewing the starboard side of
some vessel. If he assumes that all my lights are properly functioning, he
might assume that he is viewing a sailboat under sail. But, a single red
light might simply be on a vessel that has some of its lights
malfunctioning. On the other hand, if the freighter captain sees a red
light over a green light (even if he/she does not see my sidelights or
stern light), he will know instantly that it is a sailboat under sail.
There are no other light combinations that it could be even assuming that
some lights are not functioning. (Other than a sailboat on its side :-D )
BTW one person with other 20 years of experience as a merchant marine
captain strongly urged me to solve the problems and complete this project.
He related how hard it is to see and interpret lights on the ocean.
Problem is how do I design and install such lights. The regs seem to
require a permanent attachment at my mast peak (thus eliminating hoisting a
set of lights on a halyard attached to my upper spreader). Do you think
that this wording also would prevent me from rigging the lights on top of
my mizzen mast (so that I can leave my tricolor light on the top of the
mainmast)?
The biggest problem seems to be how to rig two all-round lights one meter
apart is such a way as to not block them with the mast or some extension on
top of the mast. The appendix to the regs calls for a maximum of six
percent blockage. One person has suggested putting two lights of each
color at the same level, one on each side. Would the two lights appear to
merge from a distance? Have you got any other suggestions?
Finally, where can I purchase navigation lights, including these all-round
red and green lights, that are brighter than what I can find at West
Marine? Obviously they are made for larger commercial vessels. I just do
not know where to find them. Since s/v Truelove is a rather over-built
steel-hulled boat, getting brighter lights just goes along with my
philosophy. Most of the time the brighter lights would just use more
electricity. But in a dangerous situation they might make the difference
in surviving. Going with the minimums allowed by law doesn't strike me as
prudent.
Thanks for your advice and help.
Lee Huddleston
s/v Truelove
Bruce Roberts Mauritius 43
43 foot seel hulled, center cockpit, raised poop, cutter/ketch
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