Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 02-11-2013, 03:12 PM   #1
Guru
 
Steve's Avatar
 
City: Thibodaux, Louisiana
Vessel Name: Gumbo
Vessel Model: 2003 Monk 36
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,882
Spreader lights

Anybody know if it's legal to have the spreader lights on, all night, while at anchor or cruising? Pointed down, and used in conjunction with anchor or nav lights.
I've been thinking about a set of solar dusk to dawn garden type "spotlights" mounted to the spreaders. They are not real bright so I'd leave the existing lights in place and turn them on if I needed more light.
Thanks
Steve W
Steve is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-11-2013, 03:18 PM   #2
Guru
 
psneeld's Avatar
 
City: Ft Pierce
Vessel Name: Sold
Vessel Model: Was an Albin/PSN 40
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 28,146
Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve View Post
Anybody know if it's legal to have the spreader lights on, all night, while at anchor or cruising? Pointed down, and used in conjunction with anchor or nav lights.
I've been thinking about a set of solar dusk to dawn garden type "spotlights" mounted to the spreaders. They are not real bright so I'd leave the existing lights in place and turn them on if I needed more light.
Thanks
Steve W
yes you can have them on...they really can't be misinterpreted as any kind of running light as long as they are white light.
psneeld is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 02-11-2013, 03:25 PM   #3
Guru
 
skipperdude's Avatar
 
City: Whittier AK
Vessel Name: Apache II
Vessel Model: 1974 Donald Jones
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,147
I would think they would be considered work lights.
As long as you have an anchor light and of course Nav lights.

They could be confused if used while running. You may be confused with a tow pushing alongside. That is the only lighting configuration I can find. Or a barge partially submerged. But only marginally confused at best

SD
__________________
If you can't repair it maybe it shouldn't be on the boat
skipperdude is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-11-2013, 04:24 PM   #4
Guru
 
psneeld's Avatar
 
City: Ft Pierce
Vessel Name: Sold
Vessel Model: Was an Albin/PSN 40
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 28,146
Quote:
Originally Posted by skipperdude View Post
I would think they would be considered work lights.
As long as you have an anchor light and of course Nav lights.

They could be confused if used while running. You may be confused with a tow pushing alongside. That is the only lighting configuration I can find. Or a barge partially submerged. But only marginally confused at best

SD
And the same rules apply as both would be considered just a power vessel...

and look at cruise ships and large freighters...I have a hard time finding their running lights amongst the hundreds of other lights....I guess the point is that with enough light...you are preventing the collision unless someone gets really stupid out there....
psneeld is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 02-11-2013, 05:43 PM   #5
Master and Commander
 
markpierce's Avatar
 
City: Vallejo CA
Vessel Name: Carquinez Coot
Vessel Model: penultimate Seahorse Marine Coot hull #6
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 12,559
Absolutely.

__________________
Kar-KEEN-ez Koot
markpierce is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-12-2013, 05:27 AM   #6
FF
Guru
 
FF's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 22,553
If you are just fearful that the locals wont notice a legal anchor light , many cruisers in Euroland where fish gatherers go out at 3 AM, some directly from the Cantina have a simple solution.

Those lights folks use to light a walkway are solar powered and in some places down to $1.00 each.

With a better aftermarket battery (what do you want for a buck?) most will run all night , till dawn at no cost to the boats house battery.

Wont meet the coasties requirement for a real anchor light , but might work to not be crashed into.
FF is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-12-2013, 07:51 AM   #7
Guru
 
CaptTom's Avatar
 
City: Southern Maine
Vessel Model: Prairie 36 Coastal Cruiser
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 2,717
Maybe I've taken too many NavRules exams and taught too many navigation classes. But I had no trouble picking out the nav lights on that NCL ship that Mark posted. I can clearly see the port side light and the forward and aft masthead lights.

+1 on the hardware store solar accent lights. I've heard too many stories about boats being hit at anchor because some dummy didn't know to look UP to watch for anchor lights. Another option would be to keep the deck courtesy lights on, if so equipped. With LED bulbs (or fixtures) these really wouldn't take much juice.
CaptTom is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 02-12-2013, 09:18 AM   #8
Guru
 
psneeld's Avatar
 
City: Ft Pierce
Vessel Name: Sold
Vessel Model: Was an Albin/PSN 40
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 28,146
Quote:
Originally Posted by CaptTom View Post
Maybe I've taken too many NavRules exams and taught too many navigation classes. But I had no trouble picking out the nav lights on that NCL ship that Mark posted. I can clearly see the port side light and the forward and aft masthead lights.

+1 on the hardware store solar accent lights. I've heard too many stories about boats being hit at anchor because some dummy didn't know to look UP to watch for anchor lights. Another option would be to keep the deck courtesy lights on, if so equipped. With LED bulbs (or fixtures) these really wouldn't take much juice.
Try it when all you can see is lights and not the shape of the ship and when almost ALL the cabin lights are on and you can see all different colors when it's really dark....in all the classes I've taught and all the books/pubs...they never illustrate a fully illuminated cruise ship because it would drive students nuts....
psneeld is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 02-12-2013, 09:57 AM   #9
Guru
 
CaptTom's Avatar
 
City: Southern Maine
Vessel Model: Prairie 36 Coastal Cruiser
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 2,717
Quote:
Originally Posted by psneeld View Post
Try it when all you can see is lights and not the shape of the ship and when almost ALL the cabin lights are on and you can see all different colors when it's really dark
Good point. I had fun one dark night trying to distinguish all the nav lights on a dredge from the work lights and shore lights. They really do pop out at you if you know what you're looking for. And yes, this IS my idea of fun. I know, it's a sickness.
CaptTom is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 02-12-2013, 10:49 AM   #10
Guru
 
Moonstruck's Avatar
 
City: Hailing Port: Charleston, SC
Vessel Name: Moonstruck
Vessel Model: Sabre 42 Hardtop Express
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 8,276
If you really want to have fun cruising at night, do it along the ICW during the Christmas season. Red, green, and white lights abound. They are on docks, shore, and boats. Entering into Solomons after everyone has their Christmas lights is almost comical. Many places I have put my cursor near a marker, and told the autopilot to go to it. Picking out the light was a crap shoot.
__________________
Don on Moonstruck
Sabre 42 Hardtop Express
When cruising life is simpler, but on a grander scale (author unknown)
https://moonstruckblog.wordpress.com/
Moonstruck is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-12-2013, 11:13 AM   #11
Master and Commander
 
markpierce's Avatar
 
City: Vallejo CA
Vessel Name: Carquinez Coot
Vessel Model: penultimate Seahorse Marine Coot hull #6
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 12,559
A boat displaying spreader lights is much easier to identify than one showing only running lights or anchor light.

__________________
Kar-KEEN-ez Koot
markpierce is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-12-2013, 04:22 PM   #12
Guru
 
psneeld's Avatar
 
City: Ft Pierce
Vessel Name: Sold
Vessel Model: Was an Albin/PSN 40
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 28,146
Quote:
Originally Posted by markpierce View Post
A boat displaying spreader lights is much easier to identify than one showing only running lights or anchor light.

This picture has you showing the lights of a tug boat with tow under 200 meters.

Doesn't matter...same rules apply....
psneeld is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 02-12-2013, 05:43 PM   #13
Master and Commander
 
markpierce's Avatar
 
City: Vallejo CA
Vessel Name: Carquinez Coot
Vessel Model: penultimate Seahorse Marine Coot hull #6
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 12,559
Quote:
Originally Posted by psneeld View Post
This picture has you showing the lights of a tug boat with tow under 200 meters.

Doesn't matter...same rules apply....
__________________
Kar-KEEN-ez Koot
markpierce is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-12-2013, 06:40 PM   #14
Guru
 
psneeld's Avatar
 
City: Ft Pierce
Vessel Name: Sold
Vessel Model: Was an Albin/PSN 40
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 28,146
Quote:
Originally Posted by markpierce View Post
Coot on steroids!!!! I like it!!!
psneeld is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 02-12-2013, 07:14 PM   #15
Guru
 
Keith's Avatar
 
Vessel Name: Anastasia III
Vessel Model: Krogen 42
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,716
One way to make your boat way more visible at night is to take a bucket and cover the outside with 3M Scotchbrite reflective tape. Man, that thing will light up with the slightest light pointed at it!

If you're going to leave the spreader lights on all night, I'd also look at their power consumption. LED seem to be the answer, albeit expensive.
Keith is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-12-2013, 09:58 PM   #16
GFC
Guru
 
City: Tri Cities, WA
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 4,406
One word of caution....if you're anchored, those lights would be great for lighting up the walkways and decks. But if you're cruising they're going to be hard on your night vision.

No offense, but when I see a boat that is cruising and has all kinds of lights illuminated it reminds me of the GFBL boats you see running with the "headlights" on. They're not smart enough to know those are docking lights.
__________________
Mike and Tina
1981 Boston Whaler 13'
GFC is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-13-2013, 05:56 AM   #17
FF
Guru
 
FF's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 22,553
Your local truck stop will have "conspicuity tape" A DOT required item.

Works fine IF the closing boat is looking, otherwise useless.
FF is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-14-2013, 11:40 PM   #18
TF Site Team
 
FlyWright's Avatar
 
City: California Delta
Vessel Name: FlyWright
Vessel Model: 1977 Marshall Californian 34 LRC
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 13,728
We have LED spreader lights shining aft for night fishing. They also come in handy for keeping an eye on anchor drift at night. In low visibility, we leave them on all night. They consume very little power so battery drain is not an issue.

This shot shows from top to bottom, LED anchor light on photocell, 2 LED spreaders and 2 LED cockpit lights (the stbd LED hidden behind the teak handle near the ladder).



I ran a short distance on the Napa River while repositioning for fishing this week. It's not something we normally do, but since they're mounted high and face aft, there was no negative impact on night vision.
__________________
My boat is my ark. It's my mobile treehouse and my floating fishing cabin. It's my retreat and my respite. Everyday I thank God I have a boat! -Al FJB

@DeltaBridges - 25 Delta Bridges in 25 Days
FlyWright is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Trawler Port Captains
Port Captains are TF volunteers who can serve as local guides or assist with local arrangements and information. Search below to locate Port Captains near your destination. To learn more about this program read here: TF Port Captain Program





All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:42 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2006 - 2012