On Fri, 28 Aug 2009 03:18:20 -0700 (PDT), wf3h
wrote:

On Aug 27, 10:10*pm, Tom Francis - SWSports
wrote:
On Thu, 27 Aug 2009 18:56:58 -0700 (PDT), wf3h
wrote:

On Aug 27, 9:50*pm, Jim wrote:
Tom Francis - SWSports wrote:

On Thu, 27 Aug 2009 18:03:38 -0600, "SteveB"
wrote:

rear light clear

And, visible for 180 degrees.

135 degrees....

Er...on boats less than 12 meters (39.37 feet), a stern light is clear
showing 180 degrees.

Pages 48/49 Navigation Rules.

try page 41. a sternlight is defined as one that displays over an arc
of 135 degrees. on some vessels, an all around light may be used.
there's nothing about a light displaying 180 degrees.

Don't 'cha gotta love the Nav Rules? :)

By strict definition, yes - you are correct - a sternlight is defined
as 135 Degrees or such as can be seen 67.5 degrees either side.

The allowed light is defined as "All-round light" which is an unbroken
arc through 360 degrees.

So, in effect, by definition you are correct.

As a practical matter most "stern" lights on boats less than 12 meters
are usually the all-round light and often referred to as a "stern
light". It's that way on my Ranger, the Grady, the pontoon and most
boats that I deal with.

On Scott's boat, the light he is referring to is the all-round stern
light. :) And in fact, I've seen the all-round light referred to in
that fashion in accident reports - all-round stern light.