Hi,

I have (another!) question for the group...

I'd like to be able to get into the water to watch the national firework
competition here in Plymouth in August.

Can I get away with a bi-colour nav light on the bow and an all-round white
light on the stern?

My boat is a 14ft Plancraft Stingray.

Thanks in advance,

David

In article , David Rees
writes
Hi,

I have (another!) question for the group...

I'd like to be able to get into the water to watch the national firework
competition here in Plymouth in August.

Can I get away with a bi-colour nav light on the bow and an all-round white
light on the stern?

My boat is a 14ft Plancraft Stingray.

Thanks in advance,

David


No, you need a Stern Light on the Stern. An all round white 'could' be
seen from ahead.

There is such a thing as Tri-colour, but I believe it can only be used
on a sailing boat when under sail, otherwise that would be ideal for you
on a short mast.

Mike


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
British Pacific Fleet Hayling Island Sept 5th - 8th
Castle Class Corvettes Assn. Isle of Wight. Oct 3rd - 6th.
R.N. Trafalgar Weekend Leamington Spa. Oct 10th - 13th. Plus many more
National Service (RAF) Association Scarborough. Nov 7th - 10th (Nearly Full)

In article , Mike
writes
In article , David Rees
writes
Hi,

I have (another!) question for the group...

I'd like to be able to get into the water to watch the national firework
competition here in Plymouth in August.

Can I get away with a bi-colour nav light on the bow and an all-round white
light on the stern?

My boat is a 14ft Plancraft Stingray.

Thanks in advance,

David


No, you need a Stern Light on the Stern. An all round white 'could' be
seen from ahead.

There is such a thing as Tri-colour, but I believe it can only be used
on a sailing boat when under sail, otherwise that would be ideal for you
on a short mast.

Mike

Wrong I'm afraid. On a 14ft boat, you only legally need the all round
white "mast head" light on a pole. If you plan to go at speed, you need
a bicolour on the bow or separate red and green on the appropriate side.

Regards,

Nick
--
Nick at noslow.org.uk

"Nick" wrote in message
...

snip

I'd like to be able to get into the water to watch the national firework
competition here in Plymouth in August.

Can I get away with a bi-colour nav light on the bow and an all-round
white
light on the stern?

My boat is a 14ft Plancraft Stingray.

snip

On a 14ft boat, you only legally need the all round
white "mast head" light on a pole. If you plan to go at speed, you need
a bicolour on the bow or separate red and green on the appropriate side.

Regards,

Nick


Nick,

Thanks. Please forgive my ignorance but... can the "mast head" light be
mounted towards the stern? There's not many places I can think of putting it
on the bow!

Regards,

David

PS. Thank you Mike too for your advice.

In article , David
Rees writes




"Nick" wrote in message
...

snip

I'd like to be able to get into the water to watch the national firework
competition here in Plymouth in August.

Can I get away with a bi-colour nav light on the bow and an all-round
white
light on the stern?

My boat is a 14ft Plancraft Stingray.

snip

On a 14ft boat, you only legally need the all round
white "mast head" light on a pole. If you plan to go at speed, you need
a bicolour on the bow or separate red and green on the appropriate side.

Regards,

Nick


Nick,

Thanks. Please forgive my ignorance but... can the "mast head" light be
mounted towards the stern? There's not many places I can think of putting it
on the bow!

Yes, on most sportsboats they are on a detachable pole that mounts on
the stern. It only needs to be higher than the highest part of the boat
(by a metre I think it is). You can buy the pole and light as a unit
from various marine dealers. You may as well fit the bow mounted
bicolour as well, then at least you aren't limited to your speed.

Regards,

Nick
--
Nick

In article , Mike
wrote:
In article , David Rees
writes

Can I get away with a bi-colour nav light on the bow and an all-round white
light on the stern?

My boat is a 14ft Plancraft Stingray.

No, you need a Stern Light on the Stern. An all round white 'could' be
seen from ahead.

There is such a thing as Tri-colour, but I believe it can only be used
on a sailing boat when under sail, otherwise that would be ideal for you
on a short mast.

Yes tricolour lights are only to be used under sail so that's out.

At 14 feet you could show just a single all round white light.

In this case full nav lights are optional but a fast vessel capable of
generating current would be much safer with them in which case the correct
set is:
* Red and green sidelights
* White forward facing steaming light AT LEAST a metre above the sidelights
* White sternlight.
When anchored you should display an all round white light.

The combination of bicolour and an all round white, whilst not strictly
correct would probably be accepted as a seamanlike alternative provided
the white light was at least a metre higher than the bicolour. Fit a
separate switch for the bicolour and the white will double as an anchor
light. IF your battery is also your starter you may prefer to have the
anchor light on a separate supply or to use some sort of portable lantern.

The object is to be seen and to tell other vessels your class, activity and
direction as appropriate. What you must not do is adopt lights that
indicate something else.

If in doubt ask advice from the local Harbourmaster or have the RNLI run a
boat safety check and ask then.

Have fun. Night holds little to fear as long as you take sensible precautions
and make sure someone reliable (and/or the coastguard) knows you are out
there and when you expect to return.

Cheerio,

--

I thought port/starboard nav was enough for a boat under a (i forget) size?

"Mike" wrote in message
...
In article , David Rees
writes
Hi,

I have (another!) question for the group...

I'd like to be able to get into the water to watch the national firework
competition here in Plymouth in August.

Can I get away with a bi-colour nav light on the bow and an all-round
white
light on the stern?

My boat is a 14ft Plancraft Stingray.

Thanks in advance,

David


No, you need a Stern Light on the Stern. An all round white 'could' be
seen from ahead.

There is such a thing as Tri-colour, but I believe it can only be used
on a sailing boat when under sail, otherwise that would be ideal for you
on a short mast.

Mike


--------------------------------------------------------------------------
------
British Pacific Fleet Hayling Island Sept 5th - 8th
Castle Class Corvettes Assn. Isle of Wight. Oct 3rd - 6th.
R.N. Trafalgar Weekend Leamington Spa. Oct 10th - 13th. Plus many more
National Service (RAF) Association Scarborough. Nov 7th - 10th (Nearly
Full)

"Ray Norrish" wrote in message
...
I thought port/starboard nav was enough for a boat under a (i forget)
size?

"Mike" wrote in message
...
In article , David Rees
writes
Hi,

I have (another!) question for the group...

I'd like to be able to get into the water to watch the national
firework
competition here in Plymouth in August.

Can I get away with a bi-colour nav light on the bow and an all-round
white
light on the stern?

My boat is a 14ft Plancraft Stingray.

Thanks in advance,

David


No, you need a Stern Light on the Stern. An all round white 'could' be
seen from ahead.

There is such a thing as Tri-colour, but I believe it can only be used
on a sailing boat when under sail, otherwise that would be ideal for you
on a short mast.

Mike



--------------------------------------------------------------------------
------
British Pacific Fleet Hayling Island Sept 5th - 8th
Castle Class Corvettes Assn. Isle of Wight. Oct 3rd - 6th.
R.N. Trafalgar Weekend Leamington Spa. Oct 10th - 13th. Plus many more
National Service (RAF) Association Scarborough. Nov 7th - 10th (Nearly
Full)






All Power boats must show a white light as a 'steaming light, those over 50M
show 2 forward / side facing - the bicolour or red/green nav lights are
optional for a small vessel

In article , Dave Moore
wrote:

All Power boats must show a white light as a 'steaming light, those over 50M
show 2 forward / side facing - the bicolour or red/green nav lights are
optional for a small vessel

Notice the thread title: A speedboat is presumable capable of exceeding the
no r/g limit.

Cheerio,

--

In message , David Rees
writes
Hi,

I have (another!) question for the group...

I'd like to be able to get into the water to watch the national firework
competition here in Plymouth in August.

Can I get away with a bi-colour nav light on the bow and an all-round white
light on the stern?

My boat is a 14ft Plancraft Stingray.

From the ColRegs: (Rule 23, or thereabouts :-)

Any vessel of less than 7 metres and not capable of exceeding 7 knots
may display an all-round white light, but if possible should also
display side lights (i.e. red/port & green/starboard)

So you're under 7 metres; but if you can do more than 7 knots (or about
9 statute mph) you /must/ have coloured side lights.

My boat is only 5 metres, but has one all-round white on the stub mast
and red/green as appropriate. If nothing else, /I/ feel a damn sight
more secure after sunset :-)

And I would imagine that the waters off Plymouth are a little busier
than here in the Clyde...

Do a search on 'International Regulations for Prevention of Collisions
at Sea'.

Or alternatively sign up for an RYA day skipper or coastal skipper
course. Well worth the effort, IMO.
(But you're not likely to get one before August ;-)
--
Russell