Navigation lights vs. anchor lights

[cutloose442]

I have a 17' Lowe Roughneck. It has a white pole light (360* visibility) on the back and a red/green light on the front. Is the back light the anchor light and the front the navigation light? Should I wire these so both are on at the same time or only the red/green light on while underway and only the back light on while anchored? My Tracker has a rocker switch. In the down position it says anchor and the up position navigation. However, whether it's up or down, both lights are always on. Is this right?

 

[JB]

Re: Navigation lights vs. anchor lights

Use both lights when underway and only the white light when anchored, cutloose.

Not sure about when adrift, but I suspect that is a navigation situation calling for nav lighting.

 

[cutloose442]

Re: Navigation lights vs. anchor lights

Thanks JB, that's what I needed.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Navigation lights vs. anchor lights

Your switch is wired wrong. There are two types of switches but I suspect yours is an ON-OFF-ON type with three terminals on the back. That type of switch requires a diode to serve a blocking function as shown in this diagram. If its missing, Radio Shack has garden variety diodes for just a few cents. Note its orientation (polarity) .

 

[Reel Poor]

Re: Navigation lights vs. anchor lights

Not sure about when adrift, but I suspect that is a navigation situation calling for nav lighting.

When you are adrift you are underway but not making way. This situation requires all proper navigation lights.

 

[JB]

Re: Navigation lights vs. anchor lights

Well, sure, RP. Good point.

If we get technical about the term, what we so commonly call "underway" was originally "underweigh", meaning the anchor is weighed (up).

 

[cutloose442]

Re: Navigation lights vs. anchor lights

Thanks silvertip. I was starting to wonder how to wire that up.

 

[Boatist]

Re: Navigation lights vs. anchor lights

Under way as defined by the Coast Guard is not at Anchor, Not aground and Not tied to a dock.

Drifting is underway and requires all navigation lights on.

Something to think about is when Drifting You are underway. Even with all the motor off and not making way you can be considered the GIVE WAY vessle. It just all depends on the angle of the two vessels.

A boat trolling toward you off your Starboard Bow is the stand on Vessel and You are the Give way vessel.

Does not sound right but that is the way it is.

Luckly in the ocean or large body of water the trolling vessel always seem to steer around as long as he see you.

 

[I/O WALDO]

Re: Navigation lights vs. anchor lights

I like to use a double pole,double throw,center off,lighted marine rocker switch without a diode.Gives all the connected lights full voltage/current.

 

[95yj]

Re: Navigation lights vs. anchor lights

Another point here is that anyone who doesn't know what lights they should have lit, when, should really take the time to run through one of the online boating classes. There's a lot of free ones out there and they only take a couple of hours to run through. Even though we all know how to drive the boat and have been doing it for years, there's information like this stuck in there that everyone who is sitting behind the wheel of the boat should know.

 

[Reel Poor]

Re: Navigation lights vs. anchor lights

Even though we all know how to drive the boat and have been doing it for years,

Thats debatable. :'(