Navigation Lights

[willie]

I need some help with the lights guys...
and they say the only stupid question is the one you don't ask so, when do i need to turn on nav. lights, and which ones.... also, if i'm anchored somewhere, is a lantern in the backstay ok?
Is the one about 10' up on front of the mast called the steaming light? I've only been out after dark one time, came in with flashlight, sweeps, sheets...by myself. Learned to head back sooner!

Anyway, if i need that light when i'm out past curfew, i need a new one. Last one had been pieced together a few too many times, so i just took it off and retired it.

I thought that since Santa brought me a new Minn Kota to try out for marina maneuvers i better get the lights working. I guess you can call it being under power.(attn. cmdrpete) Will be interesting to see how it works. The sweeps are fine, but sure would be a lot simplier to have that thing in the well. Getting old and lazy. I need something for locking through the dams too on our summer river cruise. Can't wait! Happy new year.

[commanderpete]

The light on the front of the mast is the "steaming light." Its used when the boat is propelled by "machinery." A boat under oars shows the same lights as a boat under sail.

There is no required place for an anchor light. Its supposed to be an all-around white light, visible for two miles and displayed "where it can best be seen."

[Bill]

A good addition to anyone's sailing library is Chapman Piloting, Seamanship & Small Boat Handling. Very complete discussion of lights in chapter 6, "Navigation Lights and Day Shapes." Elbert S. Maloney is the editor. Publisher is Hearst Marine Books.

[Theis]

I have some good news for all of you, unless something has changed in the last year or two, and I don't think it has.

Those are all Perko fittings, and when I rehabed my little puppy, I replaced the port and starboard lights with the Perko - they are the same as the originals except for the type of light bulb - and I may have replaced the stern light as well. Even if Perko no longer carries them (which I think they do), they might have some that are bright and shiny lying around.

If you can't find them, let me know and I'll look up their catalog number.

[Bill]

Peter, see page 79 of the manual. It has a reproduction of a portion of page 15 from Rostand Mfg Company's Marine Hardware Catalog #20 (their last).

As you know, this company supplied Pierson until the 1970's. The "side lights" are catalog #54, the "stern light" is cat #56 and the "bow light is cat #52. I assume that there is no patent protection on these styles of light fixtures which is why Perko may have something similar. Got photos?

[Theis]

Lookig at the 2004 West Master Marine Catalog, on page 697, the side lights are either West 281147 and 268518, Perko No. 0955oP0CHR and 1264DP0CHR (They are sold in red/green sets and I can't recall which of those two sets is the right size), and the stern light is West 257162, Perk No. 0965DP0CHR. They are also available, I believe, from Defenders

They visually look the same, but the gasketing and the interior lamp design is improved over the original lights. And yes, they are bright shiny chrome.