Running light alternatives

[Figment]

The 1-1/2" deep socket/housing of the original running lights has become an inconvenience. What are my alternatives?

I don't think relocating the existing lights elsewhere on the cabin is the solution. Relocating to the bow pulpit could be an option.

Ideally, I'd like to find lights that could mount in the same location without such a deep intrusion into the cabin, and that don't look completely chinzy on the exterior.

Anyone have any leads other than "check the West catalog"?

[Tim]

I think mounting lights on the pulpit is a better way to go in terms of the visibility of the lights. There's really nothing good about the original location of the Triton's sidelights.

Sadly, I have no specific suggestions.

[jpmathieu]

Have you looked at perko's Web cataloge at www.perko.com.

[CharlieJ]

I removed the lovely bronze side lights from Tehani. They were on the cabin side and pretty much useless when a jib was being used or the boat was hard heeled. Besides, they were very small and required TWO bulbs.

We mounted an Aqua Signal combination light under the bow pulpit- out front where it's clearly visible no matter what sail we have up and it's unlikely to snag a sheet. I drilled a hole into the pulpit upper rail for the wire and then through the end mounting and deck where it bolts down. Filled that hole with 4200 and bolted the pulpit down over it. So I only have about 4 inches of wire exposed.

[Hirilondë]

I use fig 602 white http://www.perko.com./PERKOCat305/Secti ... 5%2023.pdf

I mounted them on the hull just below my toe rail outside of the aft end of my chain locker (1 1/2 ft from the bow). I tried to post a picture, but free image hosting is on strike or something.

[Figment]

Dave those, and another similar LED option, are in the running. Are they truly surface-mounts, or is there still a portion of the housing that penetrates the surface?

Pulpit mount has some attraction as well, though some bracket-welding would probably be required.

[CharlieJ]

I didn't have to weld. I bought an angle bracket from Aqua Signal. Drilled and tapped the underside of the pulpit top rail and used stainless machine screws to hold the bracket on.

[Hirilondë]

The back of them is flat, and they come with their own rubber gaskets. The wire does however come out the back and therefore you need a hole through whatever surface you mount them on. In my case my boat came with holes there already. I removed a really gaudy bulky bow sprit like anchor platform and left those bolt holes and filled the rest.

[bcooke]

I was thinking about lights imbedded in the hull up near the bow. I know I have seen it before. I also heard though that the installation is technically illegal. Apparently, navigation lights need to be at or above the deck line. It could be just a Massachusetts thing. That said something in the pulpit sounds like the way to go.

I am seriously thinking of lights in the rigging but being the performance guy you are I suppose you don't want the extra windage.

Then again, you use your engine for six hours a season. Maybe a masthead tri-color will be enough with a portable battery operated light for those rare occasions when you are steaming at night.

Or just motor with the masthead lights. No one else seems to know the proper lighting rules so why should you worry about it?

-Britton

[Figment]

Ah yes, now I see that mounting bracket in the Defender catalog. I think that makes my decision for me.

Lights recessed in the hull are a typical C&C detail, I think. My primary issue with this is that it seems like an invitation for a leak, particularly on a low-freeboard boat like the Triton.

Every so often I consider shroud boards (yes I know there is an actual term for these but it escapes me at the moment) to solve both the registration number and the running light issues, but for these to be sized to the minimum-mandated lettering size and to the size of the typical lights, they just get so big that they might become a bit clunky and out of scale on a Triton. I think they work well in the 32' and bigger range, though.
Then there's the windage. I can't bear the thought of the big knuckle of turbulent air those boards will throw on the mainsail. Shudder.

I briefly considered a masthead, but my masthead is already a fairly crowded neighborhood. I could create some space by moving my windex off of my VHF whip and onto a standoff bracket, but I'm going to have enough fun fitting my new "wind transducer" up there.

[Hirilondë]

ORC rules require running lights be above the deck, I never heard of any state having any such law. Mast head tricolor lights are great for off-shore visibility but they don't meet USCG requirements for running lights. If you are under power and using a mast head tricolor and the required steaming light your appearance to others would be down right confusing. Boats with mast head tricolors should also have conventional running lights on a separate switch.

[Tim]

The whole idea of running lights is to permit them to be seen by others. I don't know why one would consider relocating them anywhere but in the most visible and practical location. Most running lights on the market barely meet the minimum letter of the law in terms of brightness and visibility under ideal conditions; why stack the deck further against yourself?

If relocating, it makes a lot of sense to put them on the pulpit, which offers much better visibility in a wider range of conditions than on the house or hull. If you really want to be seen when sailing at night, put on a good tricolor and strobe unit at the masthead. Either way, you need regular sidelights for powering, since the tricolor is not applicable for any power driven vessel. For occasional night use, the tricolor is probably overkill.

I can't find any applicable requirement for mounting running lights above the hull, so it must be just the ORC thing. That said, this makes sense for most boats anyway, between unnecessary holes in the hull and the diminished visibility, particularly under sail with the boat heeled.

Anyone with real plans to sail or motor at night should invest in some decent lights that have some brightness. It's all about being seen, and preferably from as far away as possible. I don't night sail currently, so I haven't bothered upgrading my running lights. I would if overnight sailing was in my plans.

Boards in the rigging make sense in some ways because they elevate the lights to a good height, and they look nice on certain boats, but even if the scale could be made to work on a Triton, frankly I think it would look too "kitschy" and quasi-nautical for the design of the boat--sort of like wearing a white captain's hat, or installing a pirate-type wood-spoked steering wheel on (for example) a Pearson 30 or something similarly inappropriate. I'd leave the boards for your traditional schooner, or maybe a Cheoy Lee Clipper or Formosa. Or any large boat where they wouldn't dominate the rigging. I love extra brightwork and other nice touches, but sometimes things can be too much. (Not that I have an opinion or anything!)

[Rachel]

Or just motor with the masthead lights. No one else seems to know the proper lighting rules so why should you worry about it?

La-la-la-la-la-la <fingers in ears> I can't hear you!

R.

(Please, take that back!)

[Figment]

That's the stuff.
(well, apart from the smudged lens and droopy mizzenboom)

[bcooke]

Nameboards, lightboards, whatever would definitely have to be scaled to be appropriate. Something like 1"x2" would be enough I think but I would have to play with it first. I will let you know. You can all ooh, and ahhh at the results and feel green with envy because you didn't think of them first.

Of course I would NEVER seriously suggest flouting USCG regulations.
(other than the discharge of human waste)

72 Colregs, "International Rules", according to Chapman's 63rd edition is where I found the reference to nav lights above the deck line. I forget where the demarcation between Inland and International is but I seem to remember it isn't very far out.

Technically, under the Inland rules you can place the nav lights under the deck line but you still have to place the lights parallel to each other and they must be level so mounting them on a curving, sloping hull without some compensation is also technically illegal.

Finally, Chapman's says masthead tricolors are okay which would be odd if the USCG doesn't allow them. There may be some confusion between Inland/ International/ Whatever other ruling body's regulations. Of course you can't run the masthead with any other lights. It is an either/or situation.

I only mentioned ignoring the regs because 1.) it would be a rare occasion for Mike to even use the lights since he averages ten hours a year on the motor and I suspect a good part of that time is during daylight hours. 2.) Half the boats out there are showing incorrect lights so while you may confuse someone there is no doubt they are already confused by the other 50% out there.

Strobes at night by solo sailors (while they are below sleeping) is a common example I hear. Last year the Triton list had a series of posts recomending leaving an anchor light on at night while underway for "better visibility". We know the rules. It is just that there are plenty of knuckleheads that don't know or don't care so my comment was a tongue in cheek suggestion to hide among the knuckleheads.

La-la-la-la-la-la ...

I guess at least one person understood. Okay, I will take it back. But just for you. Nobody else. And never again.

I could create some space by moving my windex off of my VHF whip and onto a standoff bracket...

Oh, I think you could find the room. A bracket forward for your fancy xsducer, windex on an aft bracket, VHF whip on a bracket to the side, and a combination masthead/strobe right on top of the whole thing. How simple is that?

-Britton

[Figment]

A very appealing pattern has developed. I think that by the time this summer actually rolls around, I'll be using my engine less than 15 minutes per year. I'll feel really silly for even having an engine at that point, but it'll be really nice to use it so little!

:)

[bcooke]

Just trying to help :-)

[JonnyBoats]

I posted links to the Navigation rules on lights in the Technical Data forum at http://www.triton381.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2374

[bcooke]

Hmmm... I guess lights in the rigging wouldn't work too good on this boat when flying the genoa.



Pulpit. That's the way to go.

-Britton