Conference unifix::sailing

If you intend to anchor in an undesignated anchorage where an 
anchor light is necessary, you should be careful to use a lamp 
that has the proper luminous energy for anchoring. I can't state 
what the limit is from memory but I don't think most kerosene 
lanterns meet the legal requirements. I can recall reading 
somewhere about a collision between a power boat and an anchored 
sail boat where the sail boat had a kerosene anchor light. The 
owner of the power boat sued and won his case because the 
anchored boat was improperly illuminated.

Joe

    These are the issues I want to learn about.
    
    What are the options besides kerosene?
    
    Gregg

    You could use Coleman type lanterns/fuel but I would be more hesitant 
    with white gas aboard my boat than gasoline.  Very volatile stuff and 
    not to be trifled with.  
    
    Brian

    There are plenty of oil anchor lamps available.  They have been used
    for centuries.  They have fresnel lenses that amplifly the light
    significantly.  I have used one for over ten years with no problems.  I
    hoist mine to the spreader with a down haul line, in addition I use a
    short loop of line from the top of the lamp to the side stay to keep the
    swinging to a minimum.  A single filling will last for several nights.
    Some care is necessary to adjust the flame height, too high and it will
    smoke up the lense, too low and it could go out.  They are designed to
    stay lit in strong wind.  Last spring we were anchored off the Coronado
    Islands off Mexico and about 18 miles south of San Diego.  About 2am a
    storm came in from the south which was the opposite direction that we
    had set the anchor.  By 6am we were getting 30+ knots of wind and boats
    now ahead of us were breaking anchor and drifting down on us.  We made
    the decision to pull up anchor and run with the storm back to San Diego
    before it got any worse.  I let out about ten feet of the 155% jib and
    with no main we were consistly over 7 knots.  The rain had visibility
    down to about 100 yards and the waves were 6 feet and building. 
    Needless to say we forgot about the anchor light and when we discovered
    it still burning back at the dock I was amazed.  
    
    I would not use a Coleman lamp.  I am not sure that one could pump
    enough pressure to have it burn all night.  Also being under pressure
    it presents a potentially dangerously situation.  They are also much
    heavier and the mantels are very fragile.  
    
    Another lamp I would not use is the old fashion kerosene miner lamps. 
    They are not designed for marine use and do not have the fresnel
    lenses.
    
    Using normal precautions a oil lamp will give you years of service and
    you never have to worry about the draw on your batteries.
                                                               
    Chuck

    I would suggest checking out a Perko catalog for oil anchor lights.
    They are designed for such use and have the fresnel lenses. As I
    recall several sizes and finishes are avaliable. 
                                                     
    	Howard                                       

    How about a very simple alternative like the GUEST anchor light
    (hoisted on a halyard) with a light sensing switch which turns it
    on/off at dusk/dawn?  They cost around $40-75 but burn up 6 volt
    batteries pretty quickly (200 hours) ...
    
    You can also replace your mast head light with a multi-function unit
    which has a anchor light/strobe/running light.  These cost around $100+
    and use your boat's 12 volt battery - which is both a good and bad
    thing.
    
    I guess I don't like flames around a boat...

>>>    How about a very simple alternative like the GUEST anchor light
>>>    (hoisted on a halyard) with a light sensing switch which turns it
>>>    on/off at dusk/dawn?  

These things are not very bright -- they don't even come close to 
meeting the legal requirements for visibility. (Want to buy one -- 
manual, no photocell -- cheap?) The vast majority (80% or more) of the
anchored boats I see do not use any anchor light. As mentioned in an
earlier reply, no anchor light or an insufficiently bright anchor light
leaves you legally liable if someone hits you. (By the way, you should
enter in you log when you turn your anchor light on and off.) We use a
masthead Aqua Signal anchor light which does (so the maker claims)
meet the legal requirements. (I tend to believe the claim as the Aqua 
Signal masthead tricolor light is visible at more than the legally 
required distance. And again by the way, an uncomfortably large number 
of boats have running lights that are way too dim. More legal risk, and, 
worse, they're a real hazard to me.)

    You only need an anchor light when anchored outside of a designated
    area.  We use a lamp with the fresnel lens and it works fine.  No, we
    don't carry it when racing, but when cruising it is a crucial part of
    our gear.
    
    The running light issue is an old one in this conference.  A good rule
    of thumb is to use much bigger lights than look natural for your boat.  
    And watch your batteries.  Which brings up another question, but not
    for this note.
    
    Dave

    Ok, so who sells the oil lamps? How can I get a Perko catalogue -
    anybody have the address?
    
    Thanks,
    
    		Gregg

    re .8
    
    If you are in a designated anchorage technically you don't need a
    anchor light but I would use one.  Also if you are in a designated
    anchorage you are required to hoist a black ball to indicate you are
    anchored.  These seem to be inflateable and about 18" in diameter.  The
    Harbor Police in San Diego bay does enforce this.
    
    Chuck

    Isn't the black ball requirement for large boats?
    Sixty foot length and over, I think.

��      <<< Note 1711.9 by CHRCHL::GERMAIN "Improvise! Adapt! Overcome!" >>>
��                           -< Where can I get one? >-

��    Ok, so who sells the oil lamps? How can I get a Perko catalogue -
��    anybody have the address?
��    
��    Thanks,
��    
��    		Gregg

    Street:
    	16490 Northwest 13th Avenue
    	Miami, FL 33169-5718

    Mail:
    	P.O. Box 64000D
    	Miami, FL 33164-0510

    Phone:
    	(305) 621-7525

    Telex:
    	51-9658 PERCO NMIA

    Fax:
    	(305) 620-9978



    Also, according to Charles F. Chapman:

    "A boat less than 7 meters in length, when at anchor not in
    or near a narrow channel, fairway or anchorage, or not where
    other vessels normally navigate need not show an anchor
    light.  Also, there are locations on inland waters designated
    as "special anchorage areas," where anchor lights are not
    required for vessels less than 20 meters long."  (pp 82 --
    59th edition.)

    Under 'day shapes' and referring to a ball with a diameter of
    not less than 0.6 meter (which may be smaller for vessels
    under 20 meters):

    "Vessels under 7 meters in length need show no shape if they
    are not at anchor in or near a narrow channel or fairway,
    anchorage, or where vessels normally navigate.  Vessels under
    20 meters in length need not display a shape when at anchor
    in a special anchorage area; and vessels less than 12 meters
    in length are not required to show shapes when aground or
    operating with limited maneuverability, except for diving
    operations." (pp 85 -- 59th edition.)

    
    	One of the original questions was, how powerful/bright must the
    light be- COLREGS and Unified Rules both say 2 miles visibility. How
    many candlepower that is, I dunno. But if I was not running the engine
    a lot to charge the batteries, the oil sounds good. Again, that's for
    undesignated anchorages, which I hardly ever get the pleasure of
    visiting.
    
    	-Black Balls? Sounds like some harbormasters I've encountered.
    Their interpretations, no matter how whacky, prevail. They make about
    as much sense on small vessels as steaming cones. Useful tools for
    admiralty lawyers.
    
    	Now where did I leave my Kevlar racing socks?
    
    	Scott.

    On anchor lights the requirement is 360 deg white light.
    
    There have been cases where the light off the spreader is not
    regarded as meeting the reg. (blocked by the mast in one sector)

    
    If someone can't see an anchor light from 1/4 mile away and avoid hitting
    you that close to shore, then I doubt very much that a 2-mile light
    will help.  Lawyers or no lawyers.
    
    And once you throw a few lawyers into the equation, all rules are
    moot anyway, right?  ;-)
    
    Dick
    

re .15:

>>>   If someone can't see an anchor light from 1/4 mile away and avoid hitting
>>>   you that close to shore, then I doubt very much that a 2-mile light
>>>   will help.  Lawyers or no lawyers.
    
True on a clear night. But don't forget that that all night aren't 
clear. On a foggy night (not uncommon in New England) an anchor light
visible at two miles on a clear night might not be visible at 100 feet. 
Last summer I was anchored in just such a fog. 

So far the reasons given for using an anchor light are:

 1. That you are (in most cases) legally required to do so outside of 
    special anchorage areas.

 2. That it reduces the changes of someone running into you. 

There is another excellent reason for using an anchor light besides 
these that was brought to my attention last week. Quite simply, your 
anchor light gives other anchored boats a reference mark that can be
used to determine if they are dragging anchor, and, conversely, their
anchor lights give you a reference. This can be invaluable and
reassuring. 

Last Friday night I was anchored in a secluded cove in Maine. Around
0300 a front passed with heavy rain and strong winds. The ONLY light
that I could see was the masthead anchor light on a nearby Hinckley. The
relative bearing and altitude of this light gave me some idea of whether
or not I was dragging anchor. If the bearing and altitude had changed,
either the Hinckley was dragging or I was dragging. In either case some
action was necessary. Unfortunately, the other two boats also anchored
in the cove did not use an anchor light. If they had, it would have been
possible to determine who was dragging and who wasn't. One of these
boats was very close to shore and very little dragging would have put
him on the rocks. In the dark and rain he was totally invisible, even
though we were all close enough together that an air horn could have
been used to warn of impending disaster. The bottom in this cove was, by
the way, soft mud and dragging was a real possibility. It was a night of
some considerable anxiety made less so by the light on the Hinckley. 

Since you may drag anchor even on a calm night (eg, your anchor may not
reset with the change in tide), using your anchor light may save your
boat or someone else's. Lights on shore may be far enough away that you
can drag some distance before the change in bearing becomes noticeable.
Herein, by the way, is an argument for using a masthead anchor light.
The altitude of the light (angle above the horizon) gives you an
estimate of the distance to the light. This estimate is much less
accurate as the height of the light above the water decreases. It would
clearly be a good idea to note the altitude and relative bearing of all
lights at evening twilight, just in case. 

We always use our masthead anchor light. If only everyone did. 

Alan