Trojan Boat Forum

Bob,

I originally had the same mast light as yours.

It's a night vision killer, no matter how you deal with it.

If working correctly, when flipped up you have port/stbd nav lights running simultaneously with the front part of the white light, added to the stern light.

That combination provides for 360 degree illumination.

Flip the switch to the down position and all you have is the front side and back side of the masthead light.

I eiminated this PITA POS long ago. Put a simple all around light on the radar arch.

Underway I have the port/stbd nav lights, the all around light andthe stern light.

At anchor, just the all aroundlight.

Might be better if you re did the system, FYI the wire runs in the arch go up the stbd side of the arch, behind the panel on mine.

By the way, LED lights ROCK!

RWS

Bob

You have an F26 Hardtop, right? If so, I had the same issue. The anchor light is on top of the hardtop and comes on WITH the bow and stern nav lights. I have a push-pull switch on my panel, not a toggle, but this is a 2 pole switch meant to operate two circuits. What I did (which I'm sure is not kosher) is dedicate the light on top of the hardtop just one position on the switch, and then dedicated the nav lights to the other. So, when I pull the switch to the first stop it turns on the nav lights, and when I pull it to the second it only turns on the "anchor" light on the hardtop. I removed the old Perko mast and replaced it with an LED unit because we do stay out on the lake at night and I did not want to drain the batteries using an incandescent light.

Now if you don't have and F-26 Hardtop this whole thread was just a waste of both our times.

Hope it was a help.

Hi Randy,

You need to change your setup.

Here's the requirements

RWS
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Light rules for small boats.
Boats under 7 meters / 23ft.

Over 7 meters / 23ft.


Over 12 meters / 39.4 ft.



There are several general rules governing the type and positioning of navigation lights on all types of boat.

The colored Sidelights, green on the starboard side and red to port, should be installed above the deck level and clear of any combings.

The masthead or all-round light must be installed at least one meter / 3.3 ft above the sidelights.

The masthead or all-round white light, and the white stern light must be located as close as practically possible to the vessel's fore and aft centreline.

Sidelights should be visible within an arc from dead ahead of the centreline through 112.5º.

The stern-light should be visible through an arc of 135º, 67.5º either side of the fore and aft line.

All ships at anchor must show an all-round white light.

It has become common practice to use and all round masthead light as an anchor light.

In my opinion this may be fine for a short mast but for a tall sailboat the light will be above the line of sight of an approaching vessel and on a clear night will be lost among the stars.

Better to hang the anchor light from the fore rigging a meter or two above the deck.

Sailboats under engine power should, according to the rules display the same navigation lights as power driven ships.


Boats under 7 meters / 23ft.

A vessel under oar or paddles and sailboats or less than 7 metres / 23.0 ft must have an electric torch or lighted lantern showing a white light which can be shown in sufficient time to prevent collision.

However they should if possible exhibit the same navigation lights as those for sailing vessels over 7 meters.

A power-driven vessel of less than 7 meters / 23.0 ft with a maximum speed of less than 7 knots may display only an all-round white light. However, if practical, these should also show sidelights.




Over 7 meters / 23ft.

Power-driven ships must show sidelights and either an all round white light or a stern light.

Sailboats between 7 and 20meters, while underway powered by her sails alone, must show either sidelights and stern light or a tri-color masthead lantern.

A power-driven vessel of between 7and 12 meters / 39.4 ft, must display at least an all-round white light and sidelights.

The masthead navigation light and stern-light should be visible over 2 miles.

Sidelights should be visible at leas 1 mile away.

All-round and a combination lights should be visible for 2 miles.




Over 12 meters / 39.4 ft.

A power-driven vessel of over 12 meters, while underway must display a white all-round masthead light forward as well as sidelights and a stern-light.

If over 50 meters / 164 ft length, then a second masthead light aft and higher than the forward one must also be carried.

On vessels between 12 and 20 metres / 39 and 66 ft in length, the a masthead light, should be visible for 3 miles.

Sidelights and stern light should be visible over 2 miles.

For vessels of 50 meters / 164 ft the masthead light should be visible 6 nautical miles away and the sidelights and stern-light visible 3 miles away.



Read more: http://www.diy-wood-boat.com/Navigation ... z0dL0J8g4c

Koviak, yes I have the radar arch but no lights up top (mine's an '88). I know they changed the layout in '89 so maybe they moved the light.

I only have the radar dome and other antennas on the arch, no lights. That would be a good place for one. I'm going to look around at pics of other '88's and see where they are. Maybe that's why I only have one wire going to the light.


Bob