Running lights in the new tinny

[macman]

G'day,

I have a quick question regarding 3.75m tinny and lights. I had a recent run in with waterways one night and decided to do things a little different in the new tinny.

As far as I can tell the rules for my boat can be summarised thusly.

1. An all round white light has to be displayed at all times
2. The red/ greens should be a) both visible from the front when underway
and b) only one colour visible when side on and c) only switched on when underway.

My question then, is where is the best place to mount the red/greens and should they be two separate units or should they be in the one fitting. The boat is a standard style with a partly covered bow ie where you could mount stuff.

Any opinions or links would be welcome.

Cheers
Matt

[JOCOOL]

Do you have bow rails on it? Some lights can be mounted in teh little patch of alloy in the corner of the bow rail. You can also get lights that will sit on the flat part of the foredeck, but have the light to the side. Some tinnies have them mounted on the hull itself!

As far as the nav lights go, I thought they were supposed to be on at all times after dusk. And by the way, your all round white light needs to be higher than the highest fixture in the boat. So theoretically, if you stand in the tinnie, the light should be higher than you!:eek:

Try the following links.
http://www.biasboating.com.au/lights_nav.html
http://www.bargainboatbits.com.au/Body.cfm?MenuID=3&TopMenuID=3&code_id=72
http://www.bla.com.au/index.php?fn=productGroupView&dId=1&id=2222&eId=10&sId=88fb9efa9c0bb513a555f8a4f8d4909a
http://www.boatshop.com.au/prod142.htm

[macman]

According to Waterways during a personal roasting underneath the Captain Cook bridge, the red greens have to be turned off at anchor.

Matt

[JOCOOL]

This is what I found...and it seems the regs are open to intepretation in a number of ways.:o

Vessel Lights

Navigation lights or an equivalent are required to be shown or (This is where I reckon its a GREY area) be available to be shown by all vessels between sunset and sunrise. Vessels which have navigation lights must also show them between sunrise and sunset when visibility is restricted.
http://www.maritime.nsw.gov.au/nav_night.html

[Bashir]

macman the info you have there is 100% right

also if you are drifting, all the lights need to be on.

[macman]

G'day Joe,

Have a look at the same link where it has the picture "Astern OR anchored"

Matt

[JOCOOL]

I stand corrected!:o

[iain]

You can get LED nav lights which will use less power too.

[macman]

G'day Iain Joe etc,

I saw the LED ones and they look good, I try to run the Navs and all around of SLA batteries as I can get them cheap and it saves me having to weight the boat down with the electric motor battery.

Joe, I thought it was interesting after I got the bollocking from waterways to see just how unclear the regs are, even when you read the web page.

Matt

[Blacky]

G'day Matt,
i bought some nav lights for my 11ft tinny from Whitworths about 2 years ago. They work great and run off 2 D size batteries. Here is link
http://www.whitworths.com.au/main_itemdetail.asp?cat=123&item=53850&intAbsolutePage=1

Never had a problem with them and even pulled an allnighter with them on and they where still going strong the next time i went out. All you need to do to turn them on and off is to turn the screw and the back.

Cheers
Blacky

Included a few pics on how they sit on my boat.

[Chris]

Ive got the same as Blacky but found when the batteries went flat id be out in the boat and have no spares...so i bought a twelve volt glob and hard wired it...

[JOCOOL]

I did exactly what you did Chris.

Met Matt at Bias today, of all places, and I actually discussed it with him. The problem with that unit is when anchoring, it may get in the way.

[macman]

Yeah, it was good to see you Joe.

I'm not sure if anybody is interested, but pass on to any one that West Ryde Fishing Tackle is having 30% off everything and closing down.

Matt

[JOCOOL]

I'm not sure if anybody is interested, but pass on to any one that West Ryde Fishing Tackle is having 30% off everything and closing down.

Matt
Always interested in cheap tackle!:p What's their address?

[macman]

Opposite the Shell and Maccas at West Ryde

Matt

[JOCOOL]

Geez...he aint having a great run that guy. He only recently took over!:eek: If I recall correctly, he used to keep a few blanks in stock. Should go down there.:cool:

[macman]

G'day Joe,

Ended up recycling the old tinny lights, also made these ones removeable, will fit an inline plug etc. I pinched a few ideas from this thread, all very valuable, thansk guys.

Matt

[smoothpiere]

for a vessel under motor power an all round white light above the port and starboard lights. Yes it should be higher than your head if possible so you can see ahead of you. Now your side lights need to be visible from the bow around to two points abaft the beam. Which is an arc of 112.5 degrees each. (one point equals 11.25 deg. this goes back to the bad old days when we had to box the compass.) The reason for this is that if you are an overtaking vessel, at night you can see when you have deemed to have overtaken the vessel ahead. That is you are past two points abaft it's beam. Sounds like a crock but it works so well out on the water on those dark moonless nights. Most emergency lights sold don't have these angles built in as they are only cheap emergency lights.
Under anchor always show your all round white light.
Under weigh show your steaming lights.
Small row boats can get by with a torch. (hold it in your third hand)
Cheers
Tom

[HeckendorfMortgage]

G'day Joe,

Ended up recycling the old tinny lights, also made these ones removeable, will fit an inline plug etc. I pinched a few ideas from this thread, all very valuable, thansk guys.

Matt

Red = Port/left, green = Starbord/ right
Make sure there is only one way for the light fitting to mount otherwise you could have it arse about by mistake.

I suspect you may have the fitting upside down in the above pics.
MH

[iain]

Well spotted Heck!

[the doc]

I did mine by cutting a piece of alum the size of the lights.Bolting them to the gunnel and running the cables inside the gunnel down to the battery(the cable was placed in a clear plastic tube)Worked ok
Cheers the doc

[macman]

G'day guys,

Yeah, the red/greens were reversed, but that was only temporary as I hadn't finished the wiring, I will post up the finished pics. The Unit is removable with a 3 pin XLR as the plug/socket. I can just fit it for night fishing and remove it for general use. I am nearly finished the rest of the fit-out.

Matt