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Steve Christensen wrote:

In article , Meindert Sprang says...

"Steve Christensen" wrote in message
...
I have also come to the conclusion that masthead anchor lights are close
to
useless on sailboats. About all they do is meet the legal requirements,
they
don't actually illuminate the boat.

Huh???? since when are anchor lights meant to illuminate a boat? They'r
meant to indicate where your boat is, at 2 miles distance.

And closer than 2 miles, since a boat that's 2 miles away from you and
stays 2 miles away from you will very seldom run into you and sink
you.

Most masthead anchor lights I've seen are very easily mistaken for a star, or
are lost in the background clutter of lights ashore. On a very dark night it is
not uncommon to have a masthead light running, but to have the hull of the boat
itself be totally invisible in the dark. If a boat pilot doesn't look up he can
run right into you. This isn't a problem with ships or power boats, just
sailboats with their silly 10 watt bulbs 60 feet up in the air pointing straight
up. By illuminating the deck a bit you make the boat more visible to passing
boats.

You don't think that is what anchor lights were meant to do?

No I think the anchor light regulation was written many years ago when
many boats (especially sail boats) didn't have much of an electrical
system to establish liability in case of an accident. I don't think
deck illumination was considered important.

Not that it is not important - it's just not what an anchor light was
meant to do.

grandma Rosalie