Stern light options?

[atldude]

Hi fellas,

Trying to figure out what my options are for my stern light. The lady and I shipped the kid to the grandparents for about a week and took the boat out late at night. We started at 6pm and made it back around 11:30pm. By 9:30pm or so it was pretty dark.

This was the first time I used the stern light and it was a rather underwhelming experience. I'm not sure if it was just the point of view but it looked like just about anyone else had a much brighter light. Ours appeared almost useless and quite dim.

With this said, I am a newb when it comes to boating and I am not ruling out the possibility of not knowing what I'm talking about.. in other words I don't know if the purpose of this light is more suggestive rather than illuminating so please do school me if I'm on the wrong track here!

Thanks in advance!

PS: just couple of random photos from that night -

 

[bronze_10]

Its.not.meant to be real bright...

 

[Blenderhead]

FYI - the front of the boat is the bow. Don't worry... I was the same way when I first got my boat. The lights on the bow are not to allow you to see where you are going but to allow other people to see you and determine which side they will pass

 

[atldude]

FYI - the front of the boat is the bow. Don't worry... I was the same way when I first got my boat. The lights on the bow are not to allow you to see where you are going but to allow other people to see you and determine which side they will pass

Thanks! Makes sense. I guess I'd see a different combination of white, red and green depending on the relative positions of other boats.

Sorry, I think I made it a bit confusing with posting the pics of the bow. My question is indeed about the stern light.

 

[Blenderhead]

lol...thats cool and I apologize for making that assumption. do I have a stern light? I'm not sure if I do.... thats how much of a noob I am. I will look tomorrow. I know I have a light on top of my tow point....

 

[2nazt]

The stern light shouldn't illuminate your cabin area. It's a reference to show your boat. There is a visibility rating it should be compliant with though. It will also be displayed at night at anchor without your bow navigation lights on. It should also be marked roughly with the highest point of your boat.

 

[atldude]

lol...thats cool and I apologize for making that assumption. do I have a stern light? I'm not sure if I do.... thats how much of a noob I am. I will look tomorrow. I know I have a light on top of my tow point....

No worries! I probably shouldn't have posted the pics but it came as an afterthought ...

 

[Eric Ballard]

@atldude - the white light is referred to as the "anchor light". All three lights are referred to as navigation lights. when you are moving the light switch should be on NAV and if you are stopped or anchored switch it to ANC. In ANC mode only the white light is on. in NAV mode all three are on. Lights need to be on from dusk til dawn and in any other low visibility situations.

 

[Billtex2000]

I switched to an LED bulb in mine which improved the brightness greatly!

 

[atldude]

I switched to an LED bulb in mine which improved the brightness greatly!

Thank you! Would you happen to have a model# or a link to it handy?

 

[0627Devildog]

I too was unimpressed by the stern light pole setup. So much so, I cut my stern light pole down after adding a tow point mounted light. . . . . . Any guesses as to why?

 

[Floyd]

I think that most of the lenses on these lights are designed to focus most of the light out onto the plane of the horizon to increase the visibility to other boaters. Judging the brightness from off-axis is deceiving. Maybe try looking at it from the perspective of another boater, and make sure that corroded terminals aren't the culprit.

 

[Billtex2000]

Thank you! Would you happen to have a model# or a link to it handy?

Mine uses a wedge base bulb similar to these:

https://www.1000bulbs.com/category/led-wedge-base/

 

[bumpy]

I too was unimpressed by the stern light pole setup. So much so, I cut my stern light pole down after adding a tow point mounted light. . . . . . Any guesses as to why? View attachment 59190
View attachment 59191

Nice boarding handle! My guess, anyway! I asked the NH Marine Patrol instructor about the stern light; I almost got hit on a NH lake when we were drifting with just the anchor light on. He told me anchor light meant anchor, not drifting, so I was in the wrong! I haven't forgotten that nugget of wisdom!

 

[Coheeba]

Navigation lights are red (port) green (stbd) 112.5 degrees. An anchor light is an all around shite light (360 degrees) a stern light is white 135 degrees abaft.

Boats under 12 meters(39.4')
Sailboats-Separate or combination red and green sidelights, 112.5°, visible 1 n.m. White stern light, 135°, visible 2 n.m. OR, tri-color masthead light.

Powerboats-Separate or combination red and green sidelights, 112.5°, visible 1 n.m., placed above hull at least 1 meter (3.3') below masthead light. Masthead: white, 225°, visible 2 n.m., at least 1 meter above side lights. White stern light, 135°, visible 2 n.m. OR, one all-round (360°) white light (should also have sidelights).

http://www.bosunsmate.org/seamanship/lights.php

 

[0627Devildog]

Nice boarding handle! My guess, anyway!

Close. . . (Well, not really). . . . How about an Auxiliary 12v port?

 

[bumpy]

Close. . . (Well, not really). . . . How about an Auxiliary 12v port?
View attachment 59331

Oh well, I tried! That is a very slick idea, I could see that for inflatable duty this summer!

 

[0627Devildog]

Oh well, I tried! That is a very slick idea, I could see that for inflatable duty this summer!

Precisely

 

[tocelli]

Here is what I went with for my light.

https://jetboaters.net/threads/battery-powered-and-hard-wired-led-tow-point-mount.1630/#post-24275

I also bought the battery powered light and love it. So glad not to have to bother with the folding light anymore. LED are plenty bright too. Just remember light has to be above the highest point of your boat visible 360 degrees too.