Lights at Night

[Noddy]

At the recent Beaulieu Boat Jumble I bought a set of navigation lights for the princely sum of £2.00
They are obviously for emergency use only as they come with a mounted clip for each light, ie you screw on the clip and use the lights as and when they are needed. They are powered by dry cell batteries.
I have a 4 metre Avon Searider with no A Frame!
The chances are I will never need to use them but just in case I do:
Is there a minimum height limit that I should mount these lights or is it a case of "as long as they can be seen by other craft then it is ok to mount them either side of the outboard on the transom" Obviously green starboard and port red and I assume the white light should be facing forward at the centre of the boat?
To you regular sailors the above might seem to be silly questions but I would value your advice.

[Matt]

Not 100% sure, but I think on a 4m searider all you need is a single white light.

[Louise]

According to 'Reed's Skipper's Handbook', "vessels under 7m LOA (maximum speed not exceeding 7kn) required to carry a single all round white light but should also carry sidelights if practicable to do so". I would think your speed may well exceed 7 kn??

It also states that (for vessels under 12m LOA) the masthead (white) light must be mounted at least 1m above the level of the side lights - although this is often difficult to achieve in a RIB.

Have a look at this: Tornado owners - a question and : Light up my RIB

[Matt]

Ah-Ha!

[simmons0]

I assume the white light should be facing forward at the centre of the boat?

It should be an allround white light and mat is correct, you do not need Port and Starboard lights on a 4m boat.

Or so i was told..

[DGR]

Looking at the Day Skipper handbook, it implies that you can have an all-round white light on a powered vessel, but if capable of over 7 kts, needs to be used with the red/green navigation lights.

However, the red/green lights need to be showing in the right direction i.e. from directly ahead (0 degrees) to 112.5 degrees (i.e. just beyond the port/starboard beam) - but I don't really see how you would mount these on your transom.

D...

[The Jackeens]

Originally Posted by DGR

but I don't really see how you would mount these on your transom.

D...

I bet that nice Mr HART has em on his SIB !!!! and he has the answer

[DGR]

Yes - or he may choose not to go out at night or in poor visibility......

[Paul Glatzel]

Noddy

Given that your craft is a powerboat and will do over 7 knots you should have an allround white light and the port/starboard (red/green) lights.

As stated try to separate them by 1m (white above the coloureds)

Paul

[Tim M]

You could always mount LED nav lights on the sides of your console....
This is what I am planning to do as I don't have an A frame (yet!!)