Rule 30(b): A vessel of less than 50 meters 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.

Annex I 9(b)(i) All-round lights shall be located as not to be
obscured by masts, topmasts, or structures within angular sectors of
more than 6 degrees, except anchor lights prescribed in Rule 30, which
need not be placed at an impractible height above the hull.

A lot of people we met on our circumnav believed that a masthead
anchor light was asking for trouble -- too high to be seen by most
small vessels -- and carried anchor lights in the foretriangle or even
under the boom. If the only obstruction is the mast, you beat the 6
degree requirement if you're ten mast diameters away from it (60
inches away from a 6 inch obstruction), so you don't even need the
second clause in 9(b)(i).

We had a light at the masthead, 82' off the water, and used it
everywhere. When in harbors with small boat traffic, we also hung a
lantern under the boom, about 11 feet off the water. If there was a
lot of traffic, we left cabin lights or spreader lights on (Kata
Beach, Thailand -- night slalom by drunk PWCs).

As for your question about caving rope -- I'd say more trouble than
it's worth. You'd still have to get power into the other end and
worry about the wire work-hardening over the halyard sheave. Far
easier to take a light with a twenty foot cord, hoist it in the
foretriangle, and plug the cord into an outlet at the mast (12V or
whatever). Or, as you suggest, a battery LED anchor light.

Jim Woodward
www.mvFintry.com


(Parallax) wrote in message . com...
Anchor lights have to be the biggest pain in the neck. Waaaaaaaaay up
there on the top of the mast with slapping wires in the mast
fatiguing, corrosion, blown bulbs, etc. a masochists dream. I have
seen ppl hoist a 12V light with its power wires up high using a
halyard but the wire flops all over. This may be useless but perhaps
somebody can use it for something else. SO: Useless Idea #3732.

I once saw dacron 12 mm caving rope with 4 copper wire conductors down
the center. This stuff was made by PMI and I dont know its purpose
but maybe you could use it for halyards and use the wire to power an
anchor light.

Now that I really think about it, I cant believe I have put up with
something as dumbass as a mast top anchor light for years. I have
frequently used a battery powered light hoisted up high but sorta
worried that the mast "shadowed" it. With new LED arrays and
rechargeable high amp hour lithium batteries, a battery powered anchor
light may really be freasible. Is the shadowing a real problem?