Using a tri-color mast light and a steaming light could confuse your vessel with a vessel towing an object(side views have colored light above white light). It can take only one late night encounter with a towing vessel to appreciate the different light arrangements used for navigation.
Of course, I agree that safety is most important, but it is just as or more important not to rely on others seeing you but that you see them. One of the best and extremely affordable safety investment I’ve made was the purchase of a Standard Horizon VHF with AIS. I have the AIS signal connected to my chart plotter to show AIS data and alarms. Some times, its a PITA(or bonus) when folks leave their AIS on while at the dock, but when sailing offshore in high traffic areas, it is great to have the AIS alarm and comforting to see the AIS data right on the chart plotter. Receiving the vessels MMSI allows for easy DSC VHF calling. More often than not, friendly late night chats are not only informative but enjoyable for both. - Paul E. 1981 C&C 38 Landfall S/V Johanna Rose Carrabelle, FL http://svjohannarose.blogspot.com/ > On Sep 12, 2016, at 10:25 AM, cnc-list-requ...@cnc-list.com wrote: > > Date: Mon, 12 Sep 2016 09:59:26 -0400 > From: "Petar Horvatic" <phorv...@gmail.com <mailto:phorv...@gmail.com>> > To: <cnc-list@cnc-list.com <mailto:cnc-list@cnc-list.com>> > Subject: Re: Stus-List Electrical Question > Message-ID: <007d01d20cfd$e087efb0$a197cf10$@com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > > On the high seas, especially in swell, those deck level running lights might > be useless. Typical example is crossing the gulf stream from FL to Bahamas. > There is so much traffic there and if swell is up, deck level lights are not > visible. Shipping lanes are very busy down there. To me, safety is more > important than if red/green are below or above the steaming light. > Tri-color takes priority for overnight crossings and offshore passages > regardless of what the rules are, especially if going solo. > > > Petar Horvatic > Sundowner > 76 C&C 38MkII > Newport, RI
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