Strobe anchor lights

[SeaEsta04]

Originally Posted by rwidman

A flashing or "strobe" anchor light is illegal. That should be the end of the discussion. Do not consider installing one. Read the COLREGS. Read them again if necessary.

You're right. Here's the ColReg Ch 26
Signals to Attract Attention
If necessary to attract the attention of another vessel, any vessel may make light or sound signals that cannot be mistaken for any signal authorized elsewhere in these Rules, or may direct the beam of her searchlight in the direction of the danger, in such a way as not to embarrass any vessel. Any light to attract the attention of another vessel shall be such that it cannot be mistaken for any aid to navigation. For the purpose of this Rule the use of high intensity intermittent or revolving lights, such as strobe lights, shall be avoided.

[Capt.Don]

Aside from not legal and annoying as hell, no-one has mentioned that at night in a dark cove, the flashing strobe causes night-blindness. You may believe you are more visible, but if an approaching boat can't see you or is blinded by your strobe, you are asking for trouble. I saw this a couple years ago entering Turtle Bay - some idiot, anchored right in the middle of the bay had his flashing emergency strobe flashing away -- I couldn't see anything till we got away from him. Thinking about it, I should have pulled alongside and asked what's the emergency (it was 2am!).

You need to follow the colregs. You have a world-class sailing vessel (yacht), not a 3rd world dinghy, panga, row-boat.....

Don

[StuM]

Originally Posted by SeaEsta04

You're right. Here's the ColReg Ch 26
Signals to Attract Attention
If necessary to attract the attention of another vessel, any vessel may make light or sound signals that cannot be mistaken for any signal authorized elsewhere in these Rules, or may direct the beam of her searchlight in the direction of the danger, in such a way as not to embarrass any vessel. Any light to attract the attention of another vessel shall be such that it cannot be mistaken for any aid to navigation. For the purpose of this Rule the use of high intensity intermittent or revolving lights, such as strobe lights, shall be avoided.

COLREGs 26 (That's Rule 26, it doesn't come in "chapters") pertains to fishing boats. You have quoted COLREGs Rule 36.

It's extremely debatable whether "Signals To Attract Attention" covers anchor or other standard lights referred to in Rules 23-31.

[Lepke]

Commercial fishing for tuna, we were too far out to come in and too deep to anchor. At night, drifting, some used strobe lights. At the time (70s & 80s) we still had foreign fishing trawlers and about 12 fishing boats a year were being run down. The strobes were tried as insurance against that, but most of us found a rifle better insurance. Often ships and foreign trawlers wouldn't change course until they lost a couple bridge windows.

[Paul L]

There is a Kiwi boat anchored next me. We are just off the lighted channel entrance to a busy port/marina. He has a white anchor light at the mast head, a flashing blue light at the mast base and an alternating flashing red and green on the stern. The red,/green light lines up nicely with the lit channel markers. It just baffles me when people find the need to think out of the box without any experience in the box.

[double u]

"... people find the need to think out of the box without any experience in the box...."
EXCELLENT, Paul L, excellent!

[Neptune's Gear]

Originally Posted by Paul L

There is a Kiwi boat anchored next me. We are just off the lighted channel entrance to a busy port/marina. He has a white anchor light at the mast head, a flashing blue light at the mast base and an alternating flashing red and green on the stern. The red,/green light lines up nicely with the lit channel markers. It just baffles me when people find the need to think out of the box without any experience in the box.

Paul, on behalf of all Kiwis, I apologize for this guy, he's a muppet

Strobes (white) are for emergencies, have no place as an anchor light, and the colored ones have no place on a real seaman's boat.

Use a colregs compliant anchor light. Use another white light that lights the deck or superstructure if you are worried about visibility.