Pete,

Your confusion is not unique.

The all around and the navigation lights (red and green set) should
never be on at the same time.

The problem is that the regulators have been pushing the trilight on the
basis of better visiblity when undersail without any consideration of:
a- maintenance, b- equipment complications.

Though it is not clear unless you are very good at reading regulese (my
new word), there is separation required between the navigation lights
and the forward range light (aka steaming light) that is not possible
with a trilight.

Ergo - you must still retain and use the low level navigation lights
when propelled by machinery.

Matt Colie
Lifelong Waterman, Licensed Mariner and Congenital Sailor

pete wrote:
Hi guys, I'm just about to buy the nav lights for my 34 sailboat and
need a bit of advice on tricolour lights.
I reckon that the higher the nav lights the better and although none
of my previous boats had masthead tri colour lights I want to fit
those on my new one.
BUT I'm a bit confused about the use of what is advertised as a
combined tri/mooring light. Under sail there is no problem, but if
under motor, according to the colregs boats of my size may display a
white all round combined masthead


and sternlight.
OK staightforward enough, but if using an all round white light
directly under the port and starboard masthead lights, will the white
all round light not make it harder for other boats to see the coloured
lights?

I have looked at a few new boats and they don't have any other
steaming light fitted. Is this just sloppy practice by the
boatbuilders or am I getting my knickers in a twist for nothing?

So the minimum you would need is (?):

Sailing: Tricolor on mast top, nothin else.
Motoring: Tricolor on mast top plus 'steaming light' forward, half up
the mast
OR
All around white light on mast top plus red/green on
bow
Anchoring: All around white light on mast top.

That would mean for motoring you could augment the tricolor with
whichever of the original lights is still working.

Is this correct? (I am currently putting a lightstick up the mast when
anchoring.


Matt Colie wrote:
Pete,

Your confusion is not unique.

The all around and the navigation lights (red and green set) should
never be on at the same time.

The problem is that the regulators have been pushing the trilight on the
basis of better visiblity when undersail without any consideration of:
a- maintenance, b- equipment complications.

Though it is not clear unless you are very good at reading regulese (my
new word), there is separation required between the navigation lights
and the forward range light (aka steaming light) that is not possible
with a trilight.

Ergo - you must still retain and use the low level navigation lights
when propelled by machinery.

Matt Colie
Lifelong Waterman, Licensed Mariner and Congenital Sailor

pete wrote:
Hi guys, I'm just about to buy the nav lights for my 34 sailboat and
need a bit of advice on tricolour lights.
I reckon that the higher the nav lights the better and although none
of my previous boats had masthead tri colour lights I want to fit
those on my new one.
BUT I'm a bit confused about the use of what is advertised as a
combined tri/mooring light. Under sail there is no problem, but if
under motor, according to the colregs boats of my size may display a
white all round combined masthead


and sternlight.
OK staightforward enough, but if using an all round white light
directly under the port and starboard masthead lights, will the white
all round light not make it harder for other boats to see the coloured
lights?

I have looked at a few new boats and they don't have any other
steaming light fitted. Is this just sloppy practice by the
boatbuilders or am I getting my knickers in a twist for nothing?

wrote:
So the minimum you would need is (?):

Sailing: Tricolor on mast top, nothin else.
Motoring: Tricolor on mast top plus 'steaming light' forward, half up
the mast
OR
All around white light on mast top plus red/green on
bow
Anchoring: All around white light on mast top.

Not quite.

Read and understand my previous post.


Lew

Ooops, November 3rd must be smartassday.

I understand that you can't show the all around white light
directly above the red green, but I thought that one can
combine steaming and rear (~12m), so what is wrong
with the combinations above?


Not quite.

Read and understand my previous post.


Lew

Chris,

I didn't really understand what lights you were describing, so I'm
going to include the relevant rules. When you're sailing, you fall
under rule 25 abc unless you're under 7 meters long (approx 22 feet).
When you're motoring, you're under Rule 23. I can't recall if you told
us how long your boat is. That would help refine the requirements.

Rule 25

Sailing Vessels Underway and Vessels Under Oars

(a) a sailing vessel underway shall exhibit:

(i) sidelights;

(ii) a sternlight.

(b) In a sailing vessel of less than 20 meters in length the lights
prescribed in paragraph (a) of this Rule may be combined in one lantern
carried at or near the top of the mast where it can best be seen.

(c) A sailing vessel underway may, in addition to the lights prescribed
in paragraph (a) of this Rule, exhibit at or near the top of the mast,
where they can best be seen, two all-round lights in a vertical line,
the upper being red and the lower Green, but these lights shall not be
exhibited in conjunction with the combined lantern permitted by
paragraph (b) of this Rule.

[snip]

=====


Rule 23

power driven Vessels Underway

(a) A power driven vessel underway shall exhibit:

(i) a masthead light forward;

(ii) a second masthead light abaft of and higher than the forward one;

except that a vessel of less than 50 meters in length shall not be
obliged to exhibit such a light but may do so;

(iii) sidelights: and

(iv) a sternlight.

(b) An air-cushion vessel when operating in non-displacement mode
shall, in addition to the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) of this
Rule, exhibit an all-round flashing yellow light.

(c)

(i) A power driven vessel of less than 12 meters in length may in lieu
of the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) of this Rule exhibit an
all-round white light and sidelights.

(ii) a power driven vessel of less than 7 meters in length whose
maximum speed does not exceed 7 knots may in lieu of the lights
prescribed in paragraph (a) of this Rule exhibit an all-round white
light and shall, if practicable, also exhibit sidelights.

(iii) the masthead light or all-round white light on a power driven
vessel of less than 12 meters in length may be displaced from the fore
and aft centerline of the vessel if centerline fitting is not
practicable, provided the sidelights are combined in one lantern which
shall be carried on the fore and aft centerline of the vessel or
located as nearly as practicable in the same fore and aft line as the
masthead light or all-round white light.



wrote:
Ooops, November 3rd must be smartassday.

I understand that you can't show the all around white light
directly above the red green, but I thought that one can
combine steaming and rear (~12m), so what is wrong
with the combinations above?


Not quite.

Read and understand my previous post.


Lew

I like http://www.uscgboating.org/safety/fedreqs/equ_nav.htm

It has pictures and may be more authoritative.

Roger

http://home.insightbb.com/~derbyrm
"max camirand" wrote in message
ups.com...
Chris,

I didn't really understand what lights you were describing, so I'm
going to include the relevant rules. When you're sailing, you fall
under rule 25 abc unless you're under 7 meters long (approx 22 feet).
When you're motoring, you're under Rule 23. I can't recall if you told
us how long your boat is. That would help refine the requirements.

Rule 25

Sailing Vessels Underway and Vessels Under Oars

(a) a sailing vessel underway shall exhibit:

(i) sidelights;

(ii) a sternlight.

(b) In a sailing vessel of less than 20 meters in length the lights
prescribed in paragraph (a) of this Rule may be combined in one lantern
carried at or near the top of the mast where it can best be seen.

(c) A sailing vessel underway may, in addition to the lights prescribed
in paragraph (a) of this Rule, exhibit at or near the top of the mast,
where they can best be seen, two all-round lights in a vertical line,
the upper being red and the lower Green, but these lights shall not be
exhibited in conjunction with the combined lantern permitted by
paragraph (b) of this Rule.

[snip]

=====


Rule 23

power driven Vessels Underway

(a) A power driven vessel underway shall exhibit:

(i) a masthead light forward;

(ii) a second masthead light abaft of and higher than the forward one;

except that a vessel of less than 50 meters in length shall not be
obliged to exhibit such a light but may do so;

(iii) sidelights: and

(iv) a sternlight.

(b) An air-cushion vessel when operating in non-displacement mode
shall, in addition to the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) of this
Rule, exhibit an all-round flashing yellow light.

(c)

(i) A power driven vessel of less than 12 meters in length may in lieu
of the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) of this Rule exhibit an
all-round white light and sidelights.

(ii) a power driven vessel of less than 7 meters in length whose
maximum speed does not exceed 7 knots may in lieu of the lights
prescribed in paragraph (a) of this Rule exhibit an all-round white
light and shall, if practicable, also exhibit sidelights.

(iii) the masthead light or all-round white light on a power driven
vessel of less than 12 meters in length may be displaced from the fore
and aft centerline of the vessel if centerline fitting is not
practicable, provided the sidelights are combined in one lantern which
shall be carried on the fore and aft centerline of the vessel or
located as nearly as practicable in the same fore and aft line as the
masthead light or all-round white light.



wrote:
Ooops, November 3rd must be smartassday.

I understand that you can't show the all around white light
directly above the red green, but I thought that one can
combine steaming and rear (~12m), so what is wrong
with the combinations above?


Not quite.

Read and understand my previous post.


Lew

Well Said Chris. RULE 25, Rules.
max camirand wrote:
Chris,

I didn't really understand what lights you were describing, so I'm
going to include the relevant rules. When you're sailing, you fall
under rule 25 abc unless you're under 7 meters long (approx 22 feet).
When you're motoring, you're under Rule 23. I can't recall if you told
us how long your boat is. That would help refine the requirements.

Rule 25

Sailing Vessels Underway and Vessels Under Oars

(a) a sailing vessel underway shall exhibit:

(i) sidelights;

(ii) a sternlight.

(b) In a sailing vessel of less than 20 meters in length the lights
prescribed in paragraph (a) of this Rule may be combined in one lantern
carried at or near the top of the mast where it can best be seen.

(c) A sailing vessel underway may, in addition to the lights prescribed
in paragraph (a) of this Rule, exhibit at or near the top of the mast,
where they can best be seen, two all-round lights in a vertical line,
the upper being red and the lower Green, but these lights shall not be
exhibited in conjunction with the combined lantern permitted by
paragraph (b) of this Rule.

[snip]

=====


Rule 23

power driven Vessels Underway

(a) A power driven vessel underway shall exhibit:

(i) a masthead light forward;

(ii) a second masthead light abaft of and higher than the forward one;

except that a vessel of less than 50 meters in length shall not be
obliged to exhibit such a light but may do so;

(iii) sidelights: and

(iv) a sternlight.

(b) An air-cushion vessel when operating in non-displacement mode
shall, in addition to the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) of this
Rule, exhibit an all-round flashing yellow light.

(c)

(i) A power driven vessel of less than 12 meters in length may in lieu
of the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) of this Rule exhibit an
all-round white light and sidelights.

(ii) a power driven vessel of less than 7 meters in length whose
maximum speed does not exceed 7 knots may in lieu of the lights
prescribed in paragraph (a) of this Rule exhibit an all-round white
light and shall, if practicable, also exhibit sidelights.

(iii) the masthead light or all-round white light on a power driven
vessel of less than 12 meters in length may be displaced from the fore
and aft centerline of the vessel if centerline fitting is not
practicable, provided the sidelights are combined in one lantern which
shall be carried on the fore and aft centerline of the vessel or
located as nearly as practicable in the same fore and aft line as the
masthead light or all-round white light.



wrote:
Ooops, November 3rd must be smartassday.

I understand that you can't show the all around white light
directly above the red green, but I thought that one can
combine steaming and rear (~12m), so what is wrong
with the combinations above?


Not quite.

Read and understand my previous post.


Lew

White light must not be seeing from up ahead, approaching vessels.
only from vessels on both sides and behind. All around white light
only when anchored. fair winds!
wrote:
Ooops, November 3rd must be smartassday.

I understand that you can't show the all around white light
directly above the red green, but I thought that one can
combine steaming and rear (~12m), so what is wrong
with the combinations above?


Not quite.

Read and understand my previous post.


Lew

gooVal wrote:

White light must not be seeing from up ahead, approaching vessels.
only from vessels on both sides and behind. All around white light
only when anchored. fair winds!

I suggest you read the regs again, specifically power driven vessel under 12m....

FWIW, does not a "steaming" light display ahead ?

Brian C

wrote:

Ooops, November 3rd must be smartassday.

I understand that you can't show the all around white light
directly above the red green, but I thought that one can
combine steaming and rear (~12m), so what is wrong
with the combinations above?



Not quite.

Read and understand my previous post.


Lew