All-around masthead and night vision

[laurentide]

Hey folks, I'm restoring an old Starcraft cuddy and need some opinions on my nav light set-up.

Here's the boat:

I know that I can get away with having an all-around masthead light mounted on the top of the windshield, where the old perko combo is now, and I know how to wire it for nav/anchor dual purposes, like on most small boats that just have the pole stern light.

My question for those who may have or have had a set-up like this is: will the all-around light greatly interfere with night vision when running without a canopy/bimini?

My alternative is to replace the combo masthead/anchor fixture, which is fine, but I don't want to buy more stuff that I don't need. I'd also keep the stern light that's there in the pic in this scenario.

Many thanks in advance!

 

[NYBo]

Re: All-around masthead and night vision

Sweet looking boat!

If the fixture ends up above your head, a ball cap will keep the light out of your eyes.

I'm not sure retaining the stern-mounted light is necessary or even legal.

 

[Ned L]

Re: All-around masthead and night vision

I understand what you are saying about the glare. Something that used to be common for this was a piece of sheet metal shaped somewhat like a kitchen spatula blade that strapped to the mast and shielded the cockpit from the direct light.

 

[NYBo]

Re: All-around masthead and night vision

Okay, just check the regs. The stern light would have to be higher than the one on the windshield. Navigation Rules Online

 

[laurentide]

Re: All-around masthead and night vision

Awesome, thanks guys. I've got a shorty fold-down all-around light that I'll just mount to the WS and fabricate a shield for the aft side out of aluminum sheet.

Cheers.

EDIT: NYBo, your last post makes it a no-brainer. Thanks.

 

[NYBo]

Re: All-around masthead and night vision

Just make sure the shield doesn't reduce visibility of the light astern. Angle it down.

 

[Don S]

Re: All-around masthead and night vision

You need a plate JUST UNDER the light that prevents the light from shining down on any part of the boat under the light. It won't be big, it depends on the height and bulb location.

 

[dingbat]

Re: All-around masthead and night vision

Most come with a deflector already in place

 

[laurentide]

Re: All-around masthead and night vision

Just make sure the shield doesn't reduce visibility of the light astern. Angle it down.

You need a plate JUST UNDER the light that prevents the light from shining down on any part of the boat under the light. It won't be big, it depends on the height and bulb location.

Got it, thanks a bunch. This makes my wiring scenario a little bit simpler. I'll mess around with the plate size/angle to get it right.

 

[laurentide]

Re: All-around masthead and night vision

Most come with a deflector already in place

Yeah, it may not even be an issue, but I haven't run this boat yet, let alone at night.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: All-around masthead and night vision

having run boats across a pitch black marsh since I was a boy I can tell you that legal lights and safe night vision are a direct conflict. to be safe you need no dash lights, no interior lights, bow lights out of sight, and the anchor at the stern shielded from the front. Your existing stern light isn't legal since it's lower than the structure but that's what I'd use and block the front of it. you r overhead light will kill you.

 

[laurentide]

Re: All-around masthead and night vision

Thanks, HC, appreciate the input. I'll try to balance all this info into whichever way I end up going. I do have a chartplotter (no radar, of course), and while I'm certain that you're right on about running/dash lights killing night vision, I'd like to be legal in this rig. It's a big lake with a CG, state police, and department of wildlife presence. I'll take a look at long stern light poles as well.

Thanks everyone...this has been super helpful.

 

[Pez Vela]

Re: All-around masthead and night vision

I'd also keep the stern light that's there in the pic in this scenario.

Your boat, as pictured, does not comply with the rules. You cannot have all around white lights (360?) mounted fore and aft. You may have two masthead lights (225?) mounted fore and aft, with the aft light mounted higher. That would be quite unusual for a small boat, however. You could solve your night vison problem and keep the lights legal by simply eliminating the all around light mounted on the windshield. You just cannot have both.

The link provided by NYBo is wonderful and illustrates my point.

 

[laurentide]

Re: All-around masthead and night vision

Your boat, as pictured, does not comply with the rules. You cannot have all around white lights (360?) mounted fore and aft. You may have two masthead lights (225?) mounted fore and aft, with the aft light mounted higher. That would be quite unusual for a small boat, however. You could solve your night vison problem and keep the lights legal by simply eliminating the all around light mounted on the windshield. You just cannot have both.

The link provided by NYBo is wonderful and illustrates my point.

Thanks...I think you're right. An all-around stern/anchor on a 6' pole to replace the one on the stern gunwale seems like the way to go. I'll just grab a plug-in one so I can stow it.

 

[NYBo]

Re: All-around masthead and night vision

Also change your instrument lights to red to help preserve your night vision. The rods (low light receptors) in the retina are less sensitive to red. Here is a good explanation of rods and cones: The Rods and Cones of the Human Eye

Biology class dismissed. Don't forget we have a quiz next week.

 

[laurentide]

Re: All-around masthead and night vision

Also change your instrument lights to red to help preserve your night vision. The rods (low light receptors) in the retina are less sensitive to red. Here is a good explanation of rods and cones: The Rods and Cones of the Human Eye

Biology class dismissed. Don't forget we have a quiz next week.

Yeah, I don't even have the console installed yet, but I did get new gauges with red lighting. If I get fancy I may also do red led strips under the gunwales (not for use when running, of course).

Thanks again...what a great resource!

 

[Thalasso]

Re: All-around masthead and night vision

Pez Vela is correct in his explanation. If you haven't installed your dash light yet consider putting them on a dimmer

 

[Thalasso]

Re: All-around masthead and night vision

having run boats across a pitch black marsh since I was a boy I can tell you that legal lights and safe night vision are a direct conflict. to be safe you need no dash lights, no interior lights, bow lights out of sight, and the anchor at the stern shielded from the front. Your existing stern light isn't legal since it's lower than the structure but that's what I'd use and block the front of it. you r overhead light will kill you.

Come on Home. You know the white light is to be an all around light weather running or anchored.

 

[ricohman]

Re: All-around masthead and night vision

My new Islander has a central windshield mounted light. It does not interfere with the bimini, full top or vision at night.

 

[laurentide]

Re: All-around masthead and night vision

My new Islander has a central windshield mounted light. It does not interfere with the bimini, full top or vision at night.

Well, I think this is the holy grail of answers to my question. I plan on having a similar bimini, and since your Islander is basically a larger, more modern version of my Chieftain, I think I have a definitive answer here. And nice boat!

Mind if I ask how long that light pole is?

Many thanks, ricohman, and to everyone else who gave me advice.

Cheers.