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Red over green mast lights for sailboat
Lee Huddleston wrote: snip As you know, for sailboats under sails alone the regulations call for (with regard to my 43 foot cutter/ketch) a combination port/starboard light at the bow (or separate sidelights) and a stern light or a tri-colored light at the peak of the mast. In other words the configuration for power boats but without the white masthead light showing forward. From my experience the lack of a masthead light is a distinction that is rather subtle and could be overlooked in traffic or poor visibility. If I'm reading this right you are suggesting the use of the white masthead, while undersail alone, when in traffic or poor visibility? If so, ....BIG NO-NO. This has led me to reconsider the value of the red over green mast light that is an option for sailboats under sail alone. It is so distinct that even the most casual observer would immediately recognize that the vessel was a sailboat. First questions are whether you have ever seen the optional red over green lights used? Was it as distinctive as I assume that it would be? What size vessel did you see it on? What is your opinion about the usefulness of this option? Have seen this rarely, and usually on a much larger sailboat (small "Tallship". Remember it being quite distinctive, but due to rarity of sightings, it took a few seconds to remember. (will get to usefulness for your case later) The second set of questions have more to do with the electronics and building news groups. I seem to remember reading somewhere that lights in a vertical stack should (or have to) be separated by one meter. Since the red over green lights would be entirely optional, you probably could get away with less separation but there probably is a minimum separation to keep the lights from appearing to merge when sighted at a distance. Anybody have any opinion on what the minimum distance would have to be so that the lights would appear as separate lights at say 2 nautical miles? To be certain, check Annex I, in the rules, but I think you'll find the minimum to be 1M apart. The distance apart also complicates the installation. One idea I had was to hoist two lanterns up to a block on an upper spreader. The lanterns could be powered by their own batteries or I could run wires down to an outlet on the deck. What do you think of this possible arrangement? It would not be at the peak of the mast and would be blocked from vision from one side of the boat at times by the mast. But, it would have the advantage of being removable and repairable easily. Such an arrangement could also be used for displaying red over red or red/white/red when those signals might be necessary. G pushing it a bit. For the red over green, they are to be "at or near" the top of the mast. However, breakdown light can be where "best seen". Since I already have a tri-color light at the peak of my mainmast, any permanent extension above the peak would interfere with the visibility of the tri-color (and its anchor light) when I chose to use it. Since I have a mizzen mast, I have considered building an extension for the peak of that mast. The added advantage of this arrangement is that it would not increase the overall height of my rig for purposes of vertical clearance. But even with some kind of extension, how do I keep the pole or extension itself from blocking the light from certain angles? Well, experts, what do you think of all this? Of course, would be a lot of work to design and install such an arrangement. But if it kept me from getting run down just once, it would be well worth the effort. Or, on the other hand, have I just lost my mind? :-) OK, Here's where I get confused. If you all ready have the tri-color, why would you also want the "red over green"? I ask, because you can only display one or the other, not both (at the same time), and that tri-color does an excellent job .... though, admittedly, the red over green, coupled with normal sidelights, might be better in close quarters. You raise some good questions, the answers to which in some cases, may come down to your own preferences and how many options you want to have available. otn Thanks in advance 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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