Re: Anchor Lights and Drilling a Mast Channel
Posted: Thu Nov 03, 2011 5:45 am
generally considered much more reliable than incandesant bulbs due to longer life and no heat issues.
Not to anyone in particular, but as far as I know, the USCG does not 'approve' any navigation lights. They do approve lights like those on PFDs (when so equipped), and certain lights on liferafts and such (SOLAS stuff), but not nav. lights. Not that I've ever seen in their listings of approved items (like they approve PFDs), anyway. If someone has an actual citation for such approval, other than manufacturers' claims, it was be instructive to post it.
The only requirement that I'm aware of for visibility of an anchor light falls under the requirement for an all-around light, which for under 12m vessels, is 2 nm. No atmospheric conditions stated, and a pretty subjective requirement at best. I don't know if the Megalight is visible at 2 nm on a crystal clear night with its low-amp bulb, but I compared it (with the 'standard' bulb) to the steaming light on my boat, and the intensity in the line of fire (fresnel lenses have a narrow angle of focus) looked about the same from as far away as I could get, though I was nowhere near 2 nm.
I used the Megalight as an anchor light on my last boat when in a very tight anchorage, especially for things like fireworks displays. The OEM anchor light at the top of the mast was far too high to be seen by some nitwit hauling ass when the show was over, so I hung the Megalight from a flag halyard not much over head height.
solar powered driveway/garden light for the mast top? No wiring, no ON/OFF switch and cheap at Wally World