Masthead light

[leetbeef9999]

Hey,<br /><br />The masthead light has two bulbs that have recently been replaced. They both light up for anchoring at night, however, for navigation the front light does not light up, rather the rear light lights up. Is this an issue of reversed wiring, or can something else be the matter? <br /><br />Thanks

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: Masthead light

Hi there lb. You say your masthead lights are out. Do you mean your red and green running lights? Or do you really mean your white forward facing "Masthead" lights? At anchor for a boat under 26' in length you should only display a white all around light. Underway, you typically will display the same all around white and a port red and starboard green forward facing light. It sounds like you have your switch hooked up backwards. Simply reverse the + light wires and you should be fine. If you have another issue, post again. Hope this helps.

 

[cp]

Re: Masthead light

The answer depends somewhat on whether you're a power or sail boat, how long you are, where you're boating, and what other lights you have, but generally the masthead light must light a 225 degree arc facing forward. So without any other info, it seems like your wiring is crossed or your masthead light is mounted bass-ackward . Check the following link for the official requirements (it's got pictures too, if you click on the colored words):<br /><br />Power Boat Nav Light Rules<br /><br />Good luck.

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: Masthead light

Sounds bassackwards assuming you're in a powerboat. I can tell you from personal experience that wiring these properly to a 3-position lighted rocker nav switch can be a bit tricky. Did it ever work properly? What kind of switch is it wired to?

 

[18rabbit]

Re: Masthead light

Leetbeef9999 - The light is functioning correctly for a sailing vessel under 65-ft. You have a white stern light while underway at night and a white all-around light when anchored.

 

[ThomWV]

Re: Masthead light

Here's how it should work.<br /><br />First you have your side lights, the green one and the red one. They have to be on when running but off when anchored.<br /><br />Then there is the masthead light, which must be at least 1 meter higher than the side lights. It is to be lit forward when running and be an all-around light when anchored. Then there will be the stern light. The stern light can be combined with the masthead light for running but is off when anchored.<br /><br />So in a practicle sense that means is that when running you can have both front and back of the masthead light lit up. That's because its doing double duty as a forward looking masthead light and an aft looking stern light. When you anchor the masthead light will still be lit up all around but the red and green lights will be off.<br /><br />Thom

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: Masthead light

Unless you have a separate stern light as is usually the case. otherwise, with your entire masthead light lighted underway, you can be confused for being anchored not to mention losing your night vision from having a bright white light facing you.<br /><br />When running, with a separate stern light, the forward portion of the masthead light only is lighted along with your stern light. When anchored, both sides of the masthead light are lighted and the stern light is off.<br /><br /> RULE 23:<br />POWER-DRIVEN VESSELS UNDERWAY<br /><br />power-driven vessel underway shall exhibit:<br /><br />a masthead light forward; <br />a second masthead light abaft of and higher than the forward one; except that a vessel of less than 50 meters in length shall not be obliged to exhibit such a light but may do so; <br />sidelights: and <br />a sternlight. <br /><br />"Sternlight" means a white light placed as nearly as practicable at the stern showing an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of 135 degrees and so fixed as to show the light 67.5 degrees from right aft on each side of the vessel.

 

[ThomWV]

Re: Masthead light

The problem with the stern light, which almost no outboard boats have (meaning the use of a stern light is anything but "usually the case") still puts out the same light as the back half of the masthead and when you add the angle requirement of the running mast head light with the angle of a stern light it still comes out to 360 degrees. That's why the allow the use of an All-around light at the masthead for boats not fitted with a stern light. In fact from a safety point of view its probably better to use a all-around masthead light than a stern light anyway, simply because its up higher and can be seen from a greater distance. As to the problem with being mistaken for a boat at anchor, how is that a problem? Do people purposfully try to hit anchored boats in preference to colliding with boats that are under way? It would be a shame to deprive an idiot of his pleasure I suppose but I don't see how its a real problem.<br /><br />Thom

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: Masthead light

I dunno, I know that when I went through inspection I had my masthead wired all around running and my stern light on and got dinged for it and had to rewire for masthead forward and stern light on. Maybe my inspector was anal... Maybe it is a MA Ocean thing but most all I see have a separate mast head and stern light. That is how you also get a sense for the size of the vessel at night. <br /><br />The problem with being mistaken for being at anchor is another vessel could correct coarse for a boat he thinks is stationary but actually moving in potentially any direction.

 

[18rabbit]

Re: Masthead light

Navigation light placement, angle of projection and color are well thought out to provide a signaling indication of the vessel’s size, movement (if any), and course. It doesn’t matter if you can’t distinguish between an all-around anchor light or a mast mounted stern light; the rules of passing or avoiding collision apply to you…you must alter your course. There is no consideration given to the preservation of night vision but there is a requirement prohibiting any other lighting that may be confused with navigation lighting.<br /><br />With what little info leetbeef9999 provided, the mast light is both correct and common for a sailing vessel under 20-meters in length. It is neither correct nor a common scenario for a powerboat, tho possible. The clue is in leetbeef9999’s detail that “two bulbs have recently been replaced”. Lights with multiple bulbs are not cheap! This is typical of a combination light used atop the mast of a sailing vessel. Possibly an AquaSignal series 40 tri-color/anchor, retails around $160.00, give-or-take.<br /><br />Another clue is in the disclosure that both bulbs were replaced at the same time. Normally you would replace the one bulb that burned out, not both…unless access to the bulb(s) was difficult…think top of a sailing mast.<br /><br />Just my guess. If leetbeef9999’s vessel is a sailboat, all is well with the navigation light’s function.

 

[PercussionMafia]

Re: Masthead light

I think this all sounds a little confusing, so I'll clear it up. . .<br /><br />For a vessel of your type and size, you need to display sidelights (red & green), a masthead and stern light (separate units), OR sidelights and an all-around white light (NO separate masthead and stern light).<br /><br />It sounds as if you have the first setup (separate masthead and stern lights). Your masthead light also serves as an all-around light for anchoring purposes ONLY. Like this (please excuse the cardomain thing):<br /><br />

<br /><br />Therefore, when the switch is on the "running" or "nav" light position, the sidelights, stern light, and FORWARD part of the masthead/anchor light should be on. The aft part of your masthead/anchor light should be off. When you throw the switch to the "anchor" position, both halves of the masthead/anchor light should come on and all other lights should be off.<br /><br />It sounds as if your light is either wired up wrong, or turned around. You can figure that out by knowing that the masthead light end has a wider angle of immlumination and therefore should be facing forward.<br /><br />Your setup is unique with the fact that you have a combination masthead/anchor light, as opposed to most people who have just all all-around white light that is used for when underway and at anchor. The other most common type of setup is a separate masthead, anchor and stern light. That's where I think people were getting confused.<br /><br />Good Luck, <br /><br />Peter

 

[Peter J Fraser]

Re: Masthead light

It still has not been established if this is a power vessel or a sail boat and what the LOA is.<br />Also a stern light may be required if the vessel is "under way and under power" not sail. <br />Too many variables without knowing exactly what the vessel is.<br /><br />Regards<br /><br />Peter

 

[PercussionMafia]

Re: Masthead light

Alright then, even though it's not likely a sailboat would have that type of light, but if it does, then it would only need to show the masthead light (along with the stern and sidelights) when under power or motorsailing.<br /><br />Under sail, only show a stern and sidelights. The masthead/anchor combo light should be off when sailing at night. Therefore, most sailboats will have two separate switches. One turns on the stern and sidelights and the other only controls the masthead light (sometimes referred to as the "steaming" light).<br /><br />The light configuration rules do not change for vessel size until 50 meters LOA, except for that the separate stern and masthead light can be combined into one all-around white light only on boats smaller than 12m (39.4'). This is what's most common on small, open boats.<br /><br />A stern light (either a stand alone unit or part of an all-around light) is required on all vessels, regardless of LOA or means of propulsion.<br /><br />Good Luck, <br /><br />Peter

 

[Stumpknocker]

Re: Masthead light

Stay home at night. Safer and you don't need lights at all. Works for me.