Navigation Lights on a catamaran
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- Rank: Lubber
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Posted: Jan 19, 2012 - 08:15 AM
One of the things I'm interested in is overnighting on a beach and maybe someday, a cove where there might not be a landing place for the boat. What do you do about lights. Its been a long time but I used to have a boat that I put a deck on for gill netting and I believe that if it was on the water, weather under power or not, I was required to have a light visible at night. I have thought about sailing on a moonlit night as well as riding at anchor for a little fishing. What are the rules about a sailboat and how do people power such things. On a small catamaran, weight seems to be very important so a big ole deep cell battery to power lights and maybe some music doesn't sound like the best option. Also, what kind of lights and where to put them is something I'm wondering about. Can low voltage LED lights work or do I need at least the slightly higher (more expensive) voltage LED's that are somewhat brighter than the little ones flashing on my computer. At anchor, I believe only a white light is needed. Is this correct and would it need to be hoisted on the mast or just have enough placed around the vessel to be seen from all directions? -
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Posted: Jan 19, 2012 - 09:01 AM
US coast guard does NOT require running lights on small sailboats (without engine), but MUST have at least a flashlight available... (which shall be exhibited in sufficient time to prevent collision)
http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=navRulesContent#rule25
(d) (i) A sailing vessel of less than 7 meters in length shall, if practicable, exhibit the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Rule, but if she does not, she shall have ready at hand an electric torch or lighted lantern showing a white light which shall be exhibited in sufficient time to prevent collision.
We sail a fair amount here near sunset, after dark (when the wind craps out on us) and even out for night sails when we are camping.
You must carry a flashlight. It is best to keep all lights off, and jib furled away to let your eyes really open up and see well in the dark as best as you can.
NO MUSIC - as your ability to hear are extreemly important... (other boats, fishermen at anchor, etc).
What i do in low light (clouds or small moon) is wear a head lamp, turned upside down pointing up on my main sail... others can see the main, but the light is out of my eyes. in extreem cases or when sailing with a pack of cats i sometimes hang little red (port) and green waterproof lights over the sides of my hulls (attached at the side stay chain plate) so i can't see them, but others can see me..... this isn't exactly correct as i am not displaying a stern light ... so technically this isn't legal, but i dont sail in the channel at night so the chances of this throwing off another boat is small.
A reg deep cell is def a big weight (up to70lb), hastle on a beach cat. If you have a big cat... you can put one in each hull (like my friend did on a hobie20) and having above and below the water lights,r adios, bildge pumps, subwooders, blenders etc... but this will add 150 lbs to your cat (not good for speed).
They do make/sell much smaller batteries as well and would probably work depending on your voltage needs (led's are very low draw)
Legally speaking, Yes a all around (360*) light is required for a vessle at anchor. Since small sailboats aren't required to have running lights... i am not 100% sure what the legal answer is for us at anchor.... but no it doesnt have to be hoisted... but meerly mounted on your cat, above deck
Lastly: what kinda lights.... it;s not the light but the visability that counts:
(c) In vessels of less than 12 meters in length:
(i) a masthead light, 2 miles;
(ii) a sidelight, 1 miles;
(iii) a towing light, 2 miles;
(iiii) a white red, green or yellow all-round light, 2 miles.(iiiii) a special flashing light, 2 miles. [Inld] -
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Posted: Jan 19, 2012 - 09:05 AM
Boy, does that bring back memories. My buddies and I used to camp out on the spoils that dotted Dunedin Bay (St. Joseph's Sound) between Honeymoon Island and Clearwater. This was back in the late '70's. After setting up camp, we'd sail our hobies around the bay throughout the evening, mesmerized by the glowing plankton trails (phospherescence) left behind the rudders. It made for some great memories. We'd cook eggs and bacon over a fire in the mornings. Nothing beats the taste of sandy scrambled eggs.
We never used any running lights and I never saw anyone from the CG. I'm sure the area is patrolled more frequently today.
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Karl, Captain of Stayin' Thirsty
2011 Hobie 16SE
Atlanta, GA
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Posted: Jan 19, 2012 - 09:19 AM
well there is a coast guard base in clearwater bay, but they don't mess with us much. ONE time at the clearwater jazz holiday (right under the memorial causeway) a friend pulled his cat (at dusk) up to listen and was asked by a coast guard patrol about his "lack of" running lights, he quoted the rules and showed a flashlight, they didnt even know the rules, radio'd it in ... and couldn't find the rule and let him on his way.
Only 1 time have i ever seen a catamaran stopped on the water around here. It was when a catamaran (who will remain nameless - PHIL heheh) cut into the channel infront of a police patrol. The cop didn't appreciate it and pulled him over. He qouted "right of way rules" (which it's questionable if he was legally correct or not) and after the cop yelled at him a fair amount let him go without ticket.
There is more police on the water with the new marina in clearwater... and we have had a few lethal (power) boating accidents of late, so i wouldn't be surprised to see even more on the water in the future -
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Posted: Jan 19, 2012 - 02:25 PM
We had a full moon sail last month in Clearwater Bay. Several Waves, Getaways and windsurf boards. We used red, green and yellow glow sticks mounted in the appropriate places (port bow, starboard bow and stern.) The wind picked up quite a bit that night and we had a blast.
It was the night of the Christmas boat parade so I expect the CG and police were quite busy on the other side of the bay and didn't notice us, but we had about 12 boats and 3-4 windsurfers tooling around that night.
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Daniel T.
Taipan F16 - USA 213
Clearwater, FL
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Posted: Jan 20, 2012 - 07:52 AM
what was the yellow for?
btw... the lights are suppposed to only be visable for a specific angle ... this allows other boats to see, and be able to tell what direction you are going. If a boat can see both star/port lights... it may throw them off (probably not a huge deal in our bays, but technically not correct, and in the event of an accident ... could work against you
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Posted: Jan 20, 2012 - 09:14 AM
From what I remember yellow lights are to be displayed on a boat if it is towing another vessel at night to alert boaters not to try and pass between the 2 vessels.
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Bob Miller
1983 P16 Sail # 7312
"Miller Time" A work in progress; out of the water for 16 years
Barnegat Bay NJ
Beach Cat Lesson #1 - A free cat isn't
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Posted: Jan 20, 2012 - 10:00 AM
i am not really knowledgeable about the laws... but according to the document i found above, it states
(d) In inconspicuous, partly submerged vessels or objects being towed;
(i) a white all-round light; 3 miles.
and a pretty interesting thread about lights needed during towing
http://answers.yahoo.com/…id=20080905091638AAAv4T8 -
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Posted: Jan 20, 2012 - 10:16 AM
I agree that yellow does not have a place and may mislead other boats out there...so I wouldn't use it. But this diagram applies to boats over 23 ft and less than 65.6 ft in length.. You would not be wrong to display them on a shorter boat but it is not required. I guess the point is, if you do it, do it correctly...and I agree. The technique of shining a white light onto your sails when approached by traffic is what would be expected for a smaller boat without power...I think it is probably most practicle since installing temp lights with the correct angle is beyond me.
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Bert Scott
Niceville, FL
Nacra F18
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Posted: Jan 20, 2012 - 10:25 AM
I've got to move to Florida.
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Nacra 6.0 NA
Ogden Dunes, IN
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Posted: Jan 20, 2012 - 10:35 AM
The yellow was because there are no white glow sticks. I hung the green and red glow sticks off the starboard and port bows to get the angles right (tie a string to the bow stay and hang the glow stick on the outside of the hull.) I taped the yellow stick to the aft-center of the stern beam.
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Daniel T.
Taipan F16 - USA 213
Clearwater, FL
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Posted: Jan 20, 2012 - 12:50 PM
Dang from the title I thought it was about sex on a catamaran. How dissapointing.
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Nacra 5.2
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Posted: Jan 22, 2012 - 03:40 PM
Maybe this is what you are looking for http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTxR8oLoSf8 its made by a
Norwegian company. url is here; http://www.navinorge.no/en/index.html.
You only have to figure out how to mount it on top of the mast. And (important) how to switch it on and off,ha ha.
Runs 120 hrs on 3 penlight AAA batteries.
Since most beachcats are under 7 meters, I believe its compliant within the international rules at sea.
At some kayak shops you will find interesting solutions to.
Used the glowsticks red an green taped to the left and right stays at 2 meter hight. Used ducktape to attach them
and put some ducktape at the rear-side of them to prevent them shining backwards. Made the (white) sails glow red and green.
I was stopped by the water-police, they told me it wasn't legal but gave me a compliment for at least thinking about a solution
and let me go.
On the open water its was a pain, it took away night vision so
next season the nafisafe-ish solution is my way to go.
At my work we have small lasers attached to speakercabinets we
hoist in the theaters. To see they are covering the whole arena. These are switched on and off with a simple tv-remote.
Maybe one of the techs can make this work with a led-light too. Keep you posted
Regards, André
Edited by catmodding on Jan 22, 2012 - 11:03 PM.
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Tornado (80's Reg White)
Prindle 18-2 (sold)
Dart 16 (hired and hooked)
13 mtr steel cutter (sold)
Etap 22, unsinkable sailing pocket cruiser.
Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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Posted: Jan 23, 2012 - 07:55 AM
Bring a monkey with you -
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Posted: Jan 23, 2012 - 06:27 PM
Keeping monkeys as pets is forbidden in Europe.
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Tornado (80's Reg White)
Prindle 18-2 (sold)
Dart 16 (hired and hooked)
13 mtr steel cutter (sold)
Etap 22, unsinkable sailing pocket cruiser.
Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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Posted: Jan 23, 2012 - 08:44 PM
Well technically if the monkey was performing a service, I have to admit this maybe the lamest post yet.
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Nacra 5.2
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Posted: Jan 23, 2012 - 09:03 PM
From what I remember, a flashlight does it for running lights on my P-16. If you plan to overnight, why not find a place where you can beach the boat? Saves a lot of trouble. If it ain't in the water, it ain't got to be lit.
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Mike Brady
Sugar Land, TX
Sailing off Magnolia Beach in Lavaca Bay TX
http://358degrees.blogspot.com/
P16 "Pooh Cat"
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Posted: Jan 23, 2012 - 10:21 PM
question...if the monkey doesn't turn the light on, do you spank it?
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bill harris
hattiesburg, mississippi
prindle 16- "BLUE RIBBON"
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Posted: Jan 24, 2012 - 03:15 PM
Who started the monkey in this thread ?
Back on topic, http://www.navinorge.no/en/index.html., they have dealers in the USA.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTxR8oLoSf8
Putting this on the top of your mast would solve the problem as dtfuqua described.
Regards, André
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Tornado (80's Reg White)
Prindle 18-2 (sold)
Dart 16 (hired and hooked)
13 mtr steel cutter (sold)
Etap 22, unsinkable sailing pocket cruiser.
Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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Posted: Jan 25, 2012 - 03:43 PM
If you want a well trained monkey, you will need to spank it at least a few times a week.
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Karl, Captain of Stayin' Thirsty
2011 Hobie 16SE
Atlanta, GA
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