Running Lights

[Beefer]

I know I can easily look this up in my Chapman, but I figure some may benefit if I asked it here.

Aside from the red/greens, my boat has a transom (white) light, and an all-around light mounted on the windshield.

At night, the forward all-around blinds me. Since I have a transom light, can I alter the all-around to be a 270* light, where I black out the rear facing 90* of it? My other option would be relocate it to the stern.

This is on a 22' walkaround.

 

[Aviator5]

Re: Running Lights

My windshield mounted light has 2 bulbs in it (front and rear). In "running lights mode" only font bulb is lit, in "ancor lights" mode both of them are.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Running Lights

I am addressing safety, not legality:
For safety reasons, you need a light that can be seen from your stern, so blacking out the rear of the light is not a good idea. A transom light helps, but it depends on how high it is; your stern wave can block it. This is why the anchor/white has to be higher than any structure.
Likewise you need lights that can be seen from abeam (the sides) and bow lights often aren't.
When I see your runnnig lights I need to see a red or green, and also a white, to determine your course, speed and to some degree size.
I understand very well the conflict between safety by being visible an safety by being able to see. No one who hasn't been there can understand that on a wilderness marsh, eventhe bow lights impair vision to a dangerous level, as do dashboard lights, and a white light shining forward is deadly when running. "I know a guy who" puts a piece of cardboard or tape inside the stern light where it faces forward, so "he" gets the protection from a following boat witout compromising vision.

I also believe that in active harbors, one light is dangerously insuffucient. However, if boats have too many ambiguous extra lights, other mariners do not have good information about your vessel and its status.

I know this, too, and hope none of you find out: if you decide it is safer not to use a required light, and you get in an accident, your liability is established and no excuses or explanations will save you.

others can chime in with the regulations.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Running Lights

As long as you have the 360 degree light in the rear then yes you can black out the back of the windshield light.

You may need a taller light for the stern.

 

[ajgraz]

Re: Running Lights

You must have the red/green sidelights of course.

Otherwise, according to the Inland Navigation Rules, you should have either:
1) a 360-degree all-around light at the stern; or,
2) a stern light showing 135-degree arc rearward and a masthead light (your windshield light) showing 225-degree arc forward
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/33/usc_sec_33_00002023----000-.html

What you have now is technically not allowed. From the rear, an all around white light over a white stern light could look like the signal that you are towing astern (two all-around white lights in a vertical line).
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/33/usc_sec_33_00002024----000-.html

You either have to block out the rear portion of your all-around, or move the all-around to the stern and ditch the stern light.

 

[rwidman]

Re: Running Lights

I know I can easily look this up in my Chapman, but I figure some may benefit if I asked it here.

Aside from the red/greens, my boat has a transom (white) light, and an all-around light mounted on the windshield.

At night, the forward all-around blinds me. Since I have a transom light, can I alter the all-around to be a 270* light, where I black out the rear facing 90* of it? My other option would be relocate it to the stern.

This is on a 22' walkaround.

Well, no.

This would be fine for running lights, but would it would no longer qualify as an anchor light.

The light aviator5 mentions would be a good solution. Moving the existing light to the stern (on a pole tall enough to be seen over top of ocupants, bimini, etc.) would be another.

--------------------------------------------

For the "rednecks" among us:

Find a plastic drinking glass that will fit snugly over the existing light. Paint the bottom and 1/4 of the side black.

Slip it over the light with the black painted side facing aft for use as a running light, and remove it when the anchor light is needed.